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St Mary's Kirk, Auchindoir

Between Rhynie and Lumsden, Aberdeenshire
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Open all year round
ruined church building with no roof standing in a grassy area covered in weathered gravestones

Wander the tranquil grounds of a simple parish church built in the late 1200s or early 1300s.

St Mary’s Kirk at Auchindoir is a rare survival. Like other parish churches of this date it is built simply, and yet some fine architectural details are preserved.

This includes a fine example of a sacrament house – a cupboard for storing the wafer believed to become the body of Christ during mass. This was likely added in the early 1500s.

roofless chapel on a grassy incline scattered with gravestones and autumn leaves
stone wall with an arched doorway and an iron plaque reading "St Mary's church. The ancient parish church, built in the 13th century, was extensively altered in the 17th century with larger windows replacing all but one of the original lancets. Outstanding features surviving from the mediaeval church are this south door, richly detailed externally, and the sacrament house on the north wall, designed to hold the consecrated host."
gable end of a stone church with bell tower and grave stones, and autumn leaves filling the top left corner of the frame

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