Image: Cullen Auld Kirk and Burial Ground by Anne Burgess, sourced from Wikimedia Commons and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Medieval fabric, a collegiate-church aisle and exceptionally rich carved monuments survive at the centre of Old Cullen.
Quick facts
- Date
- 13th century onwards; south aisle 1536; later additions
- Architect / designer
- Medieval and later builders; individual designers largely unrecorded
- Type
- Cruciform medieval and post-Reformation parish church with burial ground
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB2218)
- OS grid reference
- NJ 50732 66358
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Rubble walls and ashlar dressings enclose a compact cruciform church beneath slated roofs. Traceried windows, a birdcage bellcote and several cross finials mark the exterior; galleries, a laird’s loft, a sacrament house and the sculptured Ogilvie tombs make the interior unusually important.
Its story
A church was recorded here in 1236. Elena Hay added St Anne’s aisle in 1536, and the church became collegiate in 1543. It remained when the old kirkton was largely removed during creation of the New Town and expansion of the Cullen House policies in the 1820s.
Why it is included
Category A status recognises an outstanding multi-period church whose architecture, sculpture, burial ground and continued use connect medieval Cullen with the present community.
What to notice
- The intersecting tracery of the east window.
- The small birdcage bellcote above the west gable.
- Carved tombs and the sacrament house inside during an authorised opening.
Reading the surroundings
The burial ground can be entered through the signed gate when open. Visit the interior only during worship or advertised guided hours, and treat graves and carved work with care.
Timeline
- 1236 A church at Cullen entered the surviving documentary record.
- 1536 Elena Hay founded the aisle dedicated to St Anne.
- 1543 The church gained collegiate status with clergy and singers.
- Summer 2026 Volunteer guides offered free afternoon visits on five days each week.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The building contains fabric from many campaigns, and the exact date of the north aisle remains uncertain.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Cullen Auld Kirk and Burial Ground, LB2218 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Discover Cullen: Cullen House and Cullen Auld Kirk — Current guided opening, continuing use, access to the grounds and the relationship between the kirk and Cullen House.
Location
OS grid reference NJ 50732 66358 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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