Blog Post

The Little Church with the Big Story

Vikki Brightman • 3 November 2020

To continue our local tour of Caithness places, I decided (well, Jake made the final decision as I couldn't decide between Canisbay Kirk & John O'Groats) on Canisbay Kirk.


Canisbay Kirk sits on a prehistoric mound, covering the ruins of a broch (a topic I will touch on in a later blog), the site of an earlier Celtic church dedicated to St. Drostan.   Drostan headed a mission Pictland in the 6th century.  There is mention of a church in church documentation of 1222.


Legend says that the current steeple was erected on the site of a previous round tower, which would have been seperate to the small church of the time.  The church, as it stands now, was erected around 1720.




Amongst the jumble of tombstones and monuments, dating from back to the 16th century, there are many fascinating inscriptions, but the most intriguing for me is The Groat (Grot) Tombstone which now sites in the entrance.  Luckily, there is a plaque which transcribes the inscription, which in places, is difficult to read.  This is a monument to the original John O'Groats (who you will hear more about in an upcoming blog), or Jan de Groot which reads: 


"Donald Grot, son to John Grot, laid me here April 13th day of 1568 M.D.L. Likewise and Donald Grot and his Donald lad and the forebears of Donald. Hence God called me the 13th day of April T.D. M.D.L. 1568".  


The stone was uncovered during restorations in 1893 and renovated by John Nicolson of Nybster, who worked alongside Frances Tress Barry on many archaeological excavations of Caithness (their full story is one for another time).


Make sure if you visit to take a look at some of the intrguing tombstones, the carved hearts, the inscriptions which don't quite fit and the skull & crossbones.

Canisbay Church has not only historical connections, but Royal connections too.  Having bought The Castle of Mey (or Barrogill Castle as it was known at the time), Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, became a regular parishioner during her holidays at the castle, attending the Sunday Service with the other parishioners.  This tradition has continued with HRH Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothsay, who attends Sunday Service during his time staying at the castle.  One of our campers was lucky enough, in 2019, to attend a service with him, and was taken aback by the normality of the service. 

References:


www.her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG1723

MHG1723 - Canisbay Parish Church

Accessed 3rd November 2020

www.thebrochproject.co.uk/single-post/2017/11/26/the-broch-under-the-church

The Broch Under the Church

Accessed 3rd November 2020

Lest We Forget - The Parish of Canisbay

Edited by Anne Houston

Printed by Highland News Group Ltd., Henderson Road, Inverness.

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The Little Church with the Big Story

by Vikki Brightman • 03 Nov, 2020
To continue our local tour of Caithness places, I decided (well, Jake made the final decision as I couldn't decide between Canisbay Kirk & John O'Groats) on Canisbay Kirk. Canisbay Kirk sits on a prehistoric mound, covering the ruins of a broch (a topic I will touch on in a later blog), the site of an earlier Celtic church dedicated to St. Drostan. Drostan headed a mission Pictland in the 6th century. There is mention of a church in church documentation of 1222. Legend says that the current steeple was erected on the site of a previous round tower, which would have been seperate to the small church of the time. The church, as it stands now, was erected around 1720.
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