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St James, Stonehaven: A brief history
Notes extracted from a booklet by William Christie: 'The Church in Stonehaven'
The first church in the neighbourhood of Stonehaven was planted at Dunnottar, but only the name survives in St Ninian's den. The parish church of Dunnottar remained for some centuries until a new church, dedicated in honour of St Bride or Bridget, was built by the Earl of Marischal in Dunnottar Woods, where a more modern church now stands. The parish church of Fetteresso (built in Kirktown) in honour of St Kiaran was dedicated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews, in 1246. The history of these churches before and after the Reformation followed similar lines to the history of churches all over Scotland.
Shortly after the Revolution, the Episcopalians, now apart from the Establishment, worshipped in the Tolbooth, Stonehaven under Mr Peter Rose. In 1737 a cruciform chapel was erected in the High Street and, although never consecrated, was used for worship until 1877. It was this chapel that Cumberland gutted as he passed through Stonehaven on his way to Culloden: the pews were burnt in the street and the pulpit was used as a sentry box. Nothing is left of this chapel, except the belfry stone which is preserved in the porch of St James, and the altar cross and candlesticks, which were given to St David's, Inverbervie.
With the increased rigour of the Penal Laws of 1746, it was an offence to conduct services in the presence of more than five people. Nevertheless, services were conducted at various houses in the High Street. The Rev Alexander Greig was convicted in 1748 for this offence and, after trial, spent the winter of 1748-49 in the Tolbooth jail with his companions from Drumlithie and Muchalls.
After worshipping in various houses for a time, the Episcopalians built a small chapel in Cameron Street near Keith Lodge. They worshipped here until 1815, when they sold their chapel and applied for money to make improvements to the older chapel, to which they returned.
By the 1860's the old chapel had become too small, so Robert Thom, Dean and Alexander Penrose Forbes, the Bishop (and a former Rector) planned a new church. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Forbes on St Matthew's Day (21st September) 1875. The nave took two years to complete and was opened for service on 1st October 1877. The nave was hardly sufficient, so a chancel was added, opening in 1885, so the church could accommodate 520. At that time there were 900 adherents, 400 communicants and 230 pupils in the Sunday School. The Baptistry was dedicated in 1906.
general history of the Episcopal Church in North Mearns
see 1864 Ordnance Survey map of Stonehaven at the National Library Scotland