Description

Archibald Macpherson, 1905. Aisleless Scots Gothic church with attached single storey and attic presbytery to S. Gabled entrance porch to NW. Dominant 3-sided canted apse to E with central upper level niche containing carved stone statue of St Nathalan. Steeply stepped base course. Grey granite stepped and pinnacled parapet. Pink squared and snecked rock-faced granite with grey granite dressings. Set back from the road within own spacious grounds.

2 hoodmoulded geometric windows to gabled W end with circular window above. Predominantly timber 4-pane casement windows to presbytery, some bipartite with granite central mullions. Grey graded slate. 2 lateral wallhead stacks to S.

INTERIOR: largely original simple whitewashed interior with open timber ceiling. Nave with small N and S transepts. Timber dado panelling to sanctuary and transepts. Timber pews, altar and pulpit. Raised timber gallery to W. Simple coloured glass to W end window with fleur-de-lis motif. Largely original floor plan to presbytery. Timber shutters and chimneypieces. Predominantly 4-panel timber doors.

BOUNDARY WALLS: to E, S and W, rubble granite with rubble coping. Square gatepiers to E with saddleback coping.

Statement of Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such. St Nathalan's is a well detailed church with a distinctive E end apse, which is situated facing the entrance gate to the church grounds. It is a typical example of the understated architecture of Archibald Macpherson. The Roman Catholic Church for the area was previously situated in a smaller building at Glengairn, to the North of Ballater, but as the majority of the congregation came from Ballater the building of St Nathalan's provided a more central and convenient place of worship.

An Edinburgh architect, Macpherson was frequently commissioned by Roman Catholic Dioceses and his work included St Aloysius College in Glasgow.

Category changed from B to C(S) in 2006.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56626411

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

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)