Archibald Simpson’s granite kirk places a much older sacrament house inside a crisp nineteenth-century Gothic shell.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1819; incorporates a sixteenth-century sacrament house
- Architect / designer
- Archibald Simpson
- Type
- Gothic granite parish church
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB36310)
- OS grid reference
- NJ 79324 16296
Architecture and continuing use
Dark granite, a slated roof and pointed Gothic openings give the church a disciplined profile beside The Square. The historic sacrament house embedded within the building preserves fabric from the pre-Reformation church tradition.
Its story
The present church was completed in 1819 to a design by Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson. It continued in ecclesiastical use through later congregational change and now serves the Kintore worshipping community within the wider Bennachie parish.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises both an important Simpson church and the survival of sixteenth-century liturgical fabric within an active parish building.
What to notice
- The simple Gothic treatment of the granite exterior.
- The church’s close grouping with the Town House and symbol stone.
- The older sacrament house preserved inside.
Reading the surroundings
Attend an advertised service or arrange a visit through the congregation. The churchyard can be entered respectfully, but interior access, photography and safeguarding arrangements must be followed.
Timeline
- 1500s A sacrament house served the earlier church community.
- 1819 Archibald Simpson’s present granite church was completed.
- 2024 A parish union placed the Kintore congregation within Bennachie Parish Church.
- 2026 Published parish notices continued to advertise worship at Kintore.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Congregational arrangements and service times can change; the parish’s current notices are the appropriate guide to entry.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Kintore Parish Church, LB36310 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB36310 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- Bennachie Parish Church: Kintore worship notices — Current parish identity and advertised Kintore services in 2026.
Location
OS grid reference NJ 79324 16296 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · 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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