Description

John Gall, Aberdeen, 1827-9, interior completed and
re-modelled by Bishop James Kyle, possibly with design
assistance from Rev Walter Lovi, 1843-4. Gothic Church;
orientated approximately E/W with entrance in gabled W front.
Tooled pink granite ashlar front and dressings, harl pointed
flanks and rear. Unusual plan incorporating priest's quarters
under the same roof.
3-bay W front delineated and flanked by stepped buttresses
terminating with pinnacles; coped and partially crenellated
wallhead. Centre pointed-headed recessed entrance with
(blank) datestone above; narrow flanking 2-light windows and
3-light above door, all with simple wooden tracery and
lattice-pane glazing.
3-bay flanks with windows as in W (at extreme E divided
vertically and half blind). Simple square-headed doorway in
NE.
E gable with similar fenestration as W with no buttresses and
small centre ground floor window.
Apex crosses; slate roof.
INTERIOR: simple entrance lobby with local flagstone floor.
Lofty vaulted interior with narrow side aisles; ribbed
vaulting supported by timber panelled cast-iron columns with
decorative plaster capitals and matching corbel stones set in
aisle walls. Altar set in shallow chancel; W gallery houses
organ with decorated pipes.
Area between chancel and E gable formerly served as
Presbytery (access by door in N elevation); now empty.
BURIAL GROUND: square rubbled walled burial ground; 19th and
20th century tombstones, many of those of 19th century date
being of finely inscribed local slate.
Burial ground wall (1843) continues around W front of church
with wide entrance flanked by simple capped gate-piers.

Statement of Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such.

A priest served the Tombae area from at least 1745, living

further upstream at Kinakyle by 1794. Nearby a 'new mass

house' was built about 1790, the ruins of which are marked on

1st ed OS, circa 1870. This 'masshouse' was superseded by

present Tombae church, which was opened for worship on Feb 2,

1829, though unfinished. Interior re-modelled and completed

1843-4 including insertion of priest's dwelling accommodation

in E portion; interior vaulted, lobby and organ gallery above constructed.

Tomintoul RC Church also has Presbytery incorporated within

building.

River Livet formerly spanned by bridge opposite W entrance.

Upgraded B to A 9.11.87

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17569746

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)