Dalarossie

The ancient names of this parish - Dullersy, Dolerwsy, Dulergussyn, Dulergussi 'Haugh of Fergus', Tallaracie, Dulerus - reveal that the dedication of this church was to St Fergus.¹ This "... is probably the Church of Dalgergussyn in Stratherne, which Bishop Andrew de Moravia confirmed to the church of the Holy Trinity of Elgin, (i.e. the cathedral), about 1224-42".² The bishop gifted Dalarossie to the Cathedral to pay for the 'lights', i.e. wax for tapers and candles. Up to this time, Dalarossie had been part of the Bishops' mensa.

The kirk of Dalarossie is still believed to be haunted - at least, there is a grim story of a skull which mysteriously appears and disappears within the precincts of the kirk. And there is a second 'haunting' supposed to take place on 25 December when the date falls on a Sunday. The story is told that on a certain Christmas Day, which was also a Sunday (the Sabbath), the local people (of the families of Shaw of Strathnairn and Mackintosh of Strathdearn) decided to take to the field to play a game of shinty. That it was Christmas Day was not a problem - I can still remember the shops being open on Christmas Day in Elgin; that it was the Sabbath Day most certainly was a problem! The Mackintoshes thought better of the idea and did not turn up for the match, which was going to be played at the Kirk Glebe of Dalarossie. The Shaws, unperturbed, chose two sides from amongst themselves and the festivities were immense! But ever since, in death, the players - who are all supposed to have died during the course of the following year - as part of an everlasting and dreadful penance that they must pay for daring to disgrace the Sabbath Day in such a way, are required to return to the field of play on any Christmas Day that falls on a Sunday.⁴

In the graveyard there is a wonderful reminder of times gone by and the Highland tradition of the wake which was always held as part of a funeral. It is said that turf banks were built in or around the graves for the sole purpose of aiding in the dispensing of whisky to the mourners!³

In 1618, Dalarossie was united with a part of Moy parish.