A compact granite Gothic church preserves a richly fitted nineteenth-century interior and continuing Episcopal worship.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1863
- Architect / designer
- Ross and Joass
- Type
- Granite Gothic Episcopal church with chancel, spire, stained glass and memorial fittings
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB16228)
- OS grid reference
- NJ 81190 27929
Architecture and continuing use
Ross and Joass used pinned granite, chequered arch stones and freestone geometric tracery to distinguish the nave and chancel. Collar-braced roofs cover the worship space, where a three-seat sedilia, stained glass by Hardman and an elaborate Arts and Crafts memorial enrich the interior. A spire marks the church from the northern approach.
Its story
The present church replaced an earlier building on the same site and was consecrated in 1863. Its design reflects the nineteenth-century Episcopal recovery of medieval liturgical planning. The congregation marked the building’s 150th anniversary in 2013 and continues Eucharistic worship under the St Matthew and St George dedication.
Why it is included
It combines named architects, carefully handled granite, important glass and memorial art with an unbroken living congregational role.
What to notice
- Chequered voussoirs around openings.
- Geometric tracery and Hardman stained glass.
- The elaborate memorial to Beauchamp Colclough Urquhart.
Reading the surroundings
Consult the congregation for services and visits. Respect worship, prayer, memorials and any limits on interior photography.
Timeline
- 1863 Ross and Joass’s new church was consecrated on the site of its predecessor.
- 1898 An elaborate Arts and Crafts memorial commemorated Beauchamp Colclough Urquhart of Meldrum.
- 2013 The congregation marked the church building’s 150th anniversary.
- 2026 The denominational directory continued to advertise Sunday worship.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Service times and clergy arrangements can change; visitors should rely on current congregational or diocesan notices.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: St Matthew’s and St George’s Episcopal Church, LB16228 — Current designation status, statutory identity, official mapped point, date, fabric and significance.
- Scottish Episcopal Church: St Matthew and St George, Oldmeldrum — Current denominational directory evidence for the church’s identity, address and advertised worship.
- Open Library: 1864 account of St Matthew’s consecration — Bibliographic access to the contemporary 1864 account of the church’s design, construction, consecration and original fittings.
- Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Alexander Ross — Scholarly architectural database evidence identifying Alexander Ross and listing St Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Oldmeldrum, among his 1863 works.
Location
OS grid reference NJ 81190 27929 · Location confidence: High for the current HES designation point; public text separately qualifies access, component identity and current use. · 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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