List of parish churches in the Diocese of Aberdeen

The development of parish churches in the Diocese of Aberdeen began, as in the rest of Scotland and Europe, in the earlier Middle Ages. The expression parochia changed over time from its original meaning in the 12th century of being the territory over which a bishop had authority to its later definition of being a locality that was subject to the ecclesiastic charge of a baptismal church. This shift was complete by the 13th century when parochia and parochia ecclesia became entirely associated with the parish church.Cowan, Parochial System, pp. 43-4 The development of the parochial system in Scotland has been attributed to the reforming zeal of King David I and his introduction of Anglo-Norman lords yet it is also true that the process had begun under David's predecessors and the native Scottish aristocracy. Some of the early parochial-type entities that had formed remained unaltered under David's reshaping of the ecclesiastical landscape.Rogers, Parish Units in Perthshire, P. 5Taylor, Shape of the State in Medieval Scotland, pp. 282-3 Importantly, David played a significant role in formalising the role of the parish church and securing its sustainability.Taylor, The Medieval Parish in Scotland, pp. 97-8

Deaneries

Aberdeen Dean of Christianity first recorded date:1250 x 1256Watt & Murray, Fasti, p. 28 + Parish Map reference Foundation / confirmation Appropriation Cure of souls Aberdeen–St Machar Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 2 Church, also known as Kyrkton, was that of the vill of Old Aberdeen. Confirmed to Bishop of Aberdeen as the cathedral church in 1157—also described as "baptismal and parochial" Provided as the dean's prebend by 1256, retaining both the parsonage and vicarageA pensionary vicar provided the cureAberdeen–St Nicholas<ref name="Cowan (1967) p.2"Cowan & Easson, Religious Houses, pp. 214-5This was the church of New Aberdeen. Confirmed to Bishop of Aberdeen in 1157Provided as the bishop's prebend by 1256, retaining both the parsonage and vicarage. The vicarage also supported two chaplains in 1427. In 1491, the church had 22 chaplains but around the same time, the number of chaplains was reduced to 16. In 1540, St Nicholas was a constituted collegiate church when the vicarage and 6 choir boys were provided to 'the Colledge of the Chaplenis of the said Sanct Niclas Kirk . . . for the sustentatioun of ane provest' In 1345, the cure was served by a perpetual vicar. Aberdeen–Snow Fraser, Historical Aberdeen, pp. 82-87 The parish was erected following a papal bull of 1497 and confirmed by Bishop Elphinstone in 1498 Appropriated to the university (later King's College) in 1499. Known to the parishioners as the Snaw Kirk, the Snow referred to the dedication St Mary ad Nives, or St Mary of the Snows. The vicar (later called parson) had the prebend and had to lecture on canon law The cure was provided by a curate.Aberdeen–Spittal Cowan & Easson, Religious Houses, p. 169 Apparently emerged following the limited suppression of the hospital of St Peter in 1427. Bishop Henry had found that 'the masters of the hospital had been applying the revenues to their own use without regard to the poor'The fruits of the parish founded two cathedral chaplaincies. Later a new cathedral office of sub-chanter was created (1526x34) and had appropriated to it the revenues of the 'hospitale kirk of Sanct Petir'. The hospital retained some endowments and was still functioning in 1541 One of the founding chaplains provided the cure. Banchory–Devenick Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 15 Confirmed to Bishop of Aberdeen as cathedral church in 1157 Erected into a prebend of the cathedral by 1256 receiving the revenues of the parsonage onlyA perpetual vicar is later present to provide the cureBanchory–Ternan Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 13 Also known as Banchory-Trinity. Granted to Arbroath Abbey by William the Lion (1178) and confirmed by Bishop Mathew (1178–99) Only the parsonage was annexedA vicarage arrangement was documented in 1257 presumably for a vicar perpetualBelhelvie Confirmed to Bishop of Aberdeen as cathedral church in 1157 Erected into a prebend of the cathedral by 1256, retaining all its revenues.The cure was provided by a vicar pensionerCulter The parish of Culter had been annexed to Kelso Abbey from the time of David I and confirmed to Kelso by William the Lion (1187x99) and by John, Bishop of Aberdeen to the uses of Kelso (1200x07). The chapel of Maryculter was founded in this parish by the Knight Templars (1221X36). Kelso objected to the Templers' having a chapel within the parish. In 1286, the Templars' rights were upheld and this led to a division of the parish. The original parish church of Culter was renamed Peterculter and remained annexed to Kelso while Maryculter remained with the Templers along with the parsonage and vicarage. See Maryculter and PeterculterSee Maryculter and PeterculterDalmayock Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 44 Also known as Dalmaik and Drumoak. Confirmed to Bishop of Aberdeen in 1157Was erected as a prebend in 1368 and subsequently remained as that The cure was provided a vicar pensionaryMaryculter Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 143 Originally a chapel built by the Knights Templar (1221x36). (The parish was partitioned following a dispute with the house of the Knights Templar. See Culter, above, for the dispute between Kelso Abbey and the Knights Templar)Became a parish church with the parsonage and vicarage annexed to the Knights TemplarThe cure was served by vicar pensionaryPeterculter Cowan, (1967) Parishes, pp. 143, 164 This is the original parish church of Culter confirmed to Kelso Abbey by William the Lion (1187x99) and by Bishop of Aberdeen (1200x07). (The parish was partitioned following a dispute with the house of the Knights Templar. See Culter, above, for the dispute between Kelso Abbey and the Knights Templar) Only the parsonage was annexedThe cure was provided by a vicar perpetual

Boyne Dean of Christianity first recorded date: 1250 x 1256 Watt & Murray, Fasti, p. 30 + Parish Map reference Foundation / confirmation Appropriation Cure of soulsAberdour Henry Cheyne, bishop of Aberdeen is acknowledged as the originator of the parish in 1318. The first definite confirmation of its status was in 1432.Confirmation of the church as a cathedral prebend was made at its creation. The appropriation was of both parsonage and vicarageA vicar pensioner served the cureAlvah Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 6thesis (2016) Marjory, countess of Atholl (widow of John, earl of Atholl) granted the patronage to Coupar Abbey, c. 1308 for its own uses and confirmed by the bishop of Aberdeen On 28 January 1315 but for some reason the grant was ineffective for around 50 yearsAll revenues were annexed to the abbeyThe cure was served by a perpetual vicar pensioner Banff Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 14 Confirmed to the uses of Arbroath Abbey by Mathew, bishop of Aberdeen (1178 – 1180) and by William the Lion (1212 x 14) who was likely the donorThe abbey retained the parsonageIn 1257, the vicarage settlement revealed that the churches of Banff and Inverboyndie had united. The now single vicarage (vicar's status unknown) served the cureCullen Cowan, (1967) Parishes, pp. 40 – 41Cowan & Eason, Religious Houses, p. 218Originally called Invercullen, it was a pendicle chapel of Fordyce. In 1236 it was supplicating for parochial rank which it later successfully achieved The church of Fordyce retained the revenues of the parsonage and the vicarage which in turn were held by the common fund of the canons of Aberdeen cathedral before 1272The cure was served by a chaplain until 1543 when, following the foundation of the collegiate church of Cullen by Alexander Ogilvy of Findlater, the church's parochial functions were provided to the collegiate church's prebend of St Mary the Virgin with the chaplain's position incorporated to the collegiate church. See Fordyce, belowDeskford Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 46Historic Environment Scotland, Statement of Significance, pp. 1-2 Originally a pendicle chapel of Fordyce and was rebuilt in 1541. It is mentioned as a church in 1551 when Alexander Ogilvy of that Ilk and his wife gift an elaborate sacrament house to the church Appropriation of the parsonage and vicarage to the canons of Aberdeen CathedralA curate served the cureFordyce Cowan, (1967) Parishes, p. 68 This was a common church with its pendicle chapels of Cullen, Deskford and OrdiquehillBoth Parsonage and vicarage were appropriated to the canons of Aberdeen cathedral before 1272 Fordyce had a vicar pensioner for its cure.