Former Newmill Parish Kirk

Image: © Anne Burgess Taken: 8 Oct 2020

The kirk is now a private house. Built into it is said to be a datestone of 1663 with the initials of George and Margaret Gordon of Glengarrick or Glengerrack Castle, which stood here but had vanished by the end of the 18th century. The church was opened on 7 June 1871, and the farewell sermon was preached on 22 June 2001. The architect was Mr James Matthews of Aberdeen, and the contractors were Mr Barclay, Portsoy (mason), Mr George Gray, Portsoy (carpenter), Mr J Taylor, Fife-Keith (slater) and Mr John Wilson, Keith (plasterer). The old bell of Keith, which had been languishing in storage since 1819, was installed, but its tone was found to be unsatisfactory. The total cost was about £750, and funds were raised from subscriptions, including £100 each from Mr Alexander Black and the Earl of Fife's trustees, and £25 from Gordon Bennet, founder of the 'New York Herald', who was born in Newmill on 1 September 1795. A grant of £187 10s was given by the Home Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland.

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