Braemar, St Margaret's Church

St Margaret's Church, Braemar

Now an event venue, St Margaret's Church, Braemar, was begun in 1899 to meet the needs of English tourists visiting Royal Deeside. It was completed in 1907 and is an outstanding example of a design by perhaps the finest British ecclesiastical architect of the 20th century, Sir Ninian Comper. Highlights include a stunning rood screen and superb stained glass, all designed by Comper.

History

When Queen Victoria made Balmoral Castle the royal family's favoured residence, it sparked an interest in the Scottish Highlands. As a result, visitors flocked to Deeside, and each year brought more tourists to the region.

To meet the spiritual needs of the large numbers of English visitors, a new place of worship was needed that catered to the Anglican, or Episcopalian form of worship. In 1880, James Ross Farquharson, Laird of Invercauld, gave a plot of land in Braemar to build an Episcopalian chapel, dedicated to St Margaret. Among those to worship in the chapel was Prime Minister Gladstone.

The church interior

The church was extended in 1891, but it proved too small for the influx of visitors, and the simple wooden building was too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

Fundraising in 1895 procured money for a new side chapel, but it was not until 1899 that a completely new stone building was begun. This new church was designed by the Aberdeen-born architect John Ninian Comper, a leading exponent of Gothic Revival design.

This is considered Ninian Comper's finest church in Scotland. The new building was constructed with granite source from the Invercauld Estate and roof slates from Old Mar Lodge, donated by the Duke of Fife.

Though the church was finished in 1907, it was not until 1910 that Comper's superb rood screen was installed. The screen was in memory of Eliza Scholfield, one of the church's most generous benefactors. Scholfield is also commemorated in a pair of painted-glass windows in the nave, both designed by Comper.

The rood screen

In 1921 the wonderful wooden rood, also by Comper, was added over the screen in memory of those who died in WWI.

Another window with glass by Comper was installed in 1928 in memory of James Reid. The money for the window was given by Reid's widow, Dame Clarissa Reid, a regular visitor to Braemar.

St Margaret's Church was closed in 1974 due to low numbers of worshippers. Sporadic attempts to reinvigorate the congregation could not stand up to decay in the building's structure, and the church closed for good in 1998.

Ownership was transferred to Historic Churches Scotland in 2013 and in 2015 a charitable foundation known as the St Margaret’s Trust was formed to operate the church as an arts and heritage venue.

As a result, St Margaret's is not normally open to visitors outside event times. We were fortunate that we happened to be in Braemar during the annual Heritage Open Days event and found the church open to visitors.

The east window, by Comper

Sir Ninian Comper

St Margaret's Church is a perfect example of Ninian Comper's ability to blend Gothic Revival and Classical styles. He is perhaps the last great British architect to work in the Gothic Revival style, echoing the glory of medieval church architecture. His symbol was the strawberry, and you can see examples of this symbol throughout the church.

Comper was born in Aberdeen in 1864. He was educated at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford and worked for several years with leading architectural firms and stained-glass artists in London. He went into business with William Bucknall in 1888.

He became known for his ecclesiastical designs, and worked extensively in England, though infrequently in his native Scotland. Perhaps his most well-known work is a series of windows in the north nave wall of Westminster Abbey. He died in 1960 and his ashes were scattered under the line of abbey windows that he designed.

The high altar

What to See

The two main reasons to visit sty Margaret's Church are the stunning rood screen and the superb window glass, all designed by Comper. The east window was inspired by Greyfriars in Aberdeen (now demolished). The tower windows are modelled after windows at Iona Abbey. Comper also designed the ornate altar frontals.

Visiting

The church is normally only open during events, and for the annual Heritage Open Days in September. It is ridiculously easy to reach on foot from central Braemar, and there is easy parking in the Braemar visitor car park.