St Mary's Kirk, Auchindoir

St Mary's Kirk is a medieval church building in Auchindoir with stone walls featuring a Norman-arched doorway with chevron decorations and a sacrament house from the early sixteenth century. The structure retained its walls but lost its roof during the nineteenth century.

Construction of St Mary's Kirk began in 1201 and it served as the church for a nearby motte-and-bailey castle. Worship there ended in 1810, after which the building was abandoned.

The church displays architectural elements of First-Pointed style, with its walls made of rubble and freestone quoins representing medieval Scottish craftsmanship. These building methods were typical for religious structures in the region during that period.

The building is located between Rhynie and Lumsden in Aberdeenshire and is easy to find. Since it has no roof, visitors should seek shelter during bad weather or plan their visit for better conditions.

This building follows an unusual north-south orientation instead of the traditional east-west alignment common in Christian churches. This rare orientation makes it an interesting example of deviation from standard church designs in medieval architecture.

Location: Aberdeenshire

Location: Auchindoir and Kearn

Inception: 13 century

GPS coordinates: 57.30763,-2.86891

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20