Ninian Comper’s complete early church unites a battlemented tower, curvilinear Gothic structure and unusually coherent furnishings and glass.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1903–1905
- Architect / designer
- Sir J. Ninian Comper of Bucknall & Comper
- Type
- Gothic Revival Episcopal church
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB36899)
- OS grid reference
- NO 38326 54375
Architecture and continuing use
A four-bay nave with north aisle leads to an aisleless two-bay chancel, while a transeptal south porch and western battlemented tower create a varied outline. Comper designed fine fittings and stained glass as part of the whole interior.
Its story
Built in 1903–1905 after an earlier church was destroyed by fire, St Mary’s became one of Comper’s earliest complete Scottish commissions. He included a memorial window to his father. The linked Episcopal charge continues regular worship.
Why it is included
Category A listing recognises the exceptional completeness, craftsmanship and national architectural importance of Comper’s church and furnishings.
What to notice
- The battlemented west tower.
- Curvilinear tracery and carefully integrated stained glass.
- Comper’s recurring strawberry signature in decorative details.
Reading the surroundings
This is an active church. Consult current service information, enter only when open or invited, and respect worship, pastoral activity and private events.
Timeline
- 1903–1905 Bucknall & Comper built the present church.
- 1905 The completed interior brought architecture, fittings and glass into one scheme.
- 2026 Regular Episcopal worship continued at West Hillbank.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The brief statutory account does not date every individual furnishing or window within the otherwise unified scheme.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: St Mary’s Episcopal Church, LB36899 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB36899 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Kirriemuir — Current congregation, service times and continuing use.
- Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane: St Mary’s — Current diocesan identity, architectural summary and accessibility information.
Location
OS grid reference NO 38326 54375 · 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.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.