Duffus

We should, firstly, realise the importance of the ancient geography of this area because it has had a significant impact on Duffus and the other churches and Christian sites in the vicinity. In the days of the Early Church, and during much of the Medieval Period, this area was dominated by a huge tract of inland sea, now known as the Loch of Spynie. This is a huge subject and immensely important to ecclesiastical historians, but rather than repeat myself here I would suggest that the reader visits The Loch of Spynie  to read the contents of a paper there. Although still in draft,  it contains most of the information which is of significance as far as Duffus is concerned.

The lands of Duffus are associated with some of the most powerful families of Morayshire - the de Moravias, the Sutherlands, the 'le Chen' family (Cheyne of Inverugie), and the Dunbars - and we should not be surprised to find that the ecclesiastical history of St Peter's is inexorably associated with those families. Only a little distance to the south of the church are the stunning remains of Duffus Castle, one of the most sturdy buildings ever to grace the military landscape of Moray, if not the whole of Scotland.³⁰   The castle was built c.1150 by Freskyn (de Moravia), a Flemming who founded a powerful dynasty whose members are frequently found in the historical sources relating to both the secular and ecclesiatical power bases within the Province. By marriage, there are very few of the famous families of Scotland who are not related in some way to the de Moravia family. The present-day representative may be accepted to be His Grace the Duke of Atholl, who still bears the modern form of the surname - Murray. He is the only person in the kingdom, indeed in Europe, who is currently legally entitled to have his own private army - the Atholl Highlanders.

It is believed that a church of St Peter was built on the present site - the Kirktoun of Duffus - by William, the son of Freskyn de Moravia, some time between 1150 and 1200. But, as the article about the Loch referred to above suggests, there was, from the Dark Ages, a collection of muinntirs of the Early Church around the Loch, the nearest being that at Unthank. It is hardly surprising that, as the diocese of Moray came to be formed, along with its network of parishes, the church beside the main military power-base of the province should become a parish church of some importance, and so it was.

According to notes written in the margins of the Moray Registers, added it seems by Bishop Alexander Stewart (1529-37) in the 13th century, three lords of Duffus - Hugo 'Beatus', his son Walter, and grandson Freskyn II - were laid to rest in St Peter's. Hugo's tomb was near an altar dedicated to the Blessed Catherine, and Freskyn II's tomb was in St Laurence's Chapel, which he himself had built and endowed. Hugh (1162 - c.1222) was the first lord of Duffus, Walter (c.1205 - 1263) the second, and Freskyn II (b.c.1235 - d.c.1269) the third. The old Well of St Laurence is in the field in front of Duffus House {NGR: NJ 175685}.

The present remains of the church are mostly those of an 18th century building, very much in the mould of post-Reformation prsebyterian structures of the time. However, portions of much older work are preserved, incorporated into the later building. Most notable is a very fine early 16th century porch with groined vaulting which is believed to have been built c.1524 during the incumbency of Alexander Sutherland, canon of Moray and prebendary of Duffus. His arms and initials appear on the central boss of the vaulting. But older still are the possibly 14th century foundations of the 'stump' of the tower that once stood at the west end of the church. This structure is likewise groin-vaulted and has been used as the burial place of the Sutherlands of Duffus.

But the question of whether Freskyn's foundation here was made de novo, or whether a church had existed previously, remains unanswered. My personal belief is that the muinntir at Unthank, only a little distance away to the west, was the site of the earliest church but that this was considered unsuitable when Freskyn set about establishing his power-base in the area. The Kirktoun of Duffus is situated on a slight rise that would have placed it well above the waters of the Loch of Spynie. For a church which was to have a cemetery this would have been an obvious advantage!

We know that a re-building project was completed at the Old Church in 1782. But, in 1869, a completely new church was built at a more convenient location within the village, and the Old Church was allowed to fall into disrepair.

Other Churches and Chapels in the parish .

(none known.)

Parish Clergy :