Crathie Kirk, Parish church in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Crathie Kirk is a parish church in Aberdeenshire on the banks of the Dee, roughly nine miles west of Ballater. The Gothic Revival building uses grey granite from local quarries and pine timber from surrounding forests, with stained glass windows and a small tower at the entrance.
Saint Manire founded a church at this site in the 9th century to baptize Pictish inhabitants along the Dee. The current building was completed in 1895 and replaced a smaller predecessor that no longer accommodated the growing parish and royal visitors.
The British royal family attends Sunday worship during stays at Balmoral Castle and sits in a dedicated section of the nave. Local parishioners share the space with royal visitors and follow the Presbyterian rites of the Church of Scotland.
Worship takes place on Sunday mornings, and visitors can attend regular services if space allows. The church lies on the main road between Ballater and Braemar, with parking available near the entrance.
Princess Anne married Timothy Laurence here in 1992 because Scottish law permitted remarriage after divorce. The ceremony took place at this parish because the Church of England did not allow such weddings at the time.
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