Scotland's Churches Trust

@scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

Celebrating Scotland's rich culture and built heritage since 1978. We preserve, promote and protect Scotland's unique assemblage of ecclesiastical buildings.

https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/

@scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

Day 12 of #31DaysOfGraves - Ordinary

In heraldry, an "ordinary" is the technical name given to shapes that divide up a shield. These can be cross-shaped, chevrons, straight lines or, as in this case, saltires.

This fabulous example is in the 'Poltalloch Enclosure' in Kilmartin Kirkyard, in Argyll.

Three graveslabs are shown, the two on either side are partially revealed, bearing effigies of medieval soldiers in West Highland style armour, the centre stone with a heraldic shield in the centre, featuring a saltire and four stag heads, with stars on saltire. At the top is a Latin inscription and the bottom are various symbols of mortality.A close up of the heraldic shield, featuring a saltire and four stag heads, with five stars along the arms of the saltire. Beneath are various carved symbols, including winged souls, an hourglass and a heart.
@janbarrrker.bsky.socialReposted by @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

#31DaysOfGraves
Day 12: Ordinary

I've many questions about this simple stone I saw in St Nicholas Kirkyard, Aberdeen

- What did James sell?
- Was there anyone waiting for him in London?
- Was he feeling ill when he reached Aberdeen?

Or was it just an ordinary day when he died far from home?

@scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

Day 11 of #31DaysOfGraves - Humorous

It's almost impossibly not to picture Shaun the Sheep and his flock rampaging through this historic graveyard, fully armed and clad in armour, if visitors fail to heed the warning sign on the gate outside the ruined Kildalton Chapel on the Island of Islay.

A green sign is fixed to a gate with the words "Marauding sheep will be our fate if you do not close this gate" printed on it.The ruined Kildalton Chapel sits in the background, under a sunny sky with trees behind, and in the foreground sits the medieval "Thief's Cross", surrounded by iron railings. The 8th century Kildalton Cross sits in the centre of the image. A large Celtic "wheel cross", with richly carved bosses and interlacing knotwork. Other, later gravestones sit behind and it is surrounded by grass and a stone wall. A medieval graveslab showing a warrior in full West Highland style armour of the 14th-15th century and a large sword in his scabbard has been fixed to the wall for safe-keeping (perhaps from marauding sheep!)
@bookscraiccake.bsky.socialReposted by @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

#31DaysOfGraves #Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Day 11. Humour
Karma 😁

The words of Betty Willsher

One side of what was previously a table or ledger stone is engraved with an inscription from the 1800s

Other side of the stone is upside down

A deliberate act by the mason?

Were the family ragin’ when they saw it?

@acspring.bsky.socialReposted by @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

#31DaysOfGraves #Missing There are a few letters missing due to age and illegibility (the stone's, not mine) from this inscription. Dan was my great-grandmother's brother and Mary was his wife. This churchyard is situated in the rural parish of Kinclaven, in Perthshire.

A granite headstone is set in a sunny churchyard with trees and other graves in the background. The inscription reads, "In loving memory of Mary Ramsay Burns beloved wife of Daniel Murray died 19th November 1954 aged 75 years The above Daniel Murray died 19th April 1965 aged 80 years"
@voxossa.bsky.socialReposted by @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

#31DaysofGraves day 10: ‘missing’.
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This is from a visit along the coast to Culross back in January. A lot of the memorials here date from the 1700’s, and some are so heavily worn and weathered that the inscriptions are now entirely missing.

A heavily worn old tombstone set into a tall wall. It has columns on each side, and an arched top. Along the upper horizontal section there are carved skulls and crossed bones, but in the area where the names would be, all there is is worn away sandstone.
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