Ardersier

Associated Chapels: Dalyards {NGR NH 853556}.

Parish Church: OS Ref: NGR NH 780567 H.E.S. No: NH75NE 1 Dedication: (unknown)

The church of Ardersier would, at first sight, seem to have been in the territory governed by the Bishops of Moray, but it was, in fact, in the Diocese of Ross. This followed upon an agreement in 1226 between Andrew, bishop of Moray, and Robert, bishop of Ross, regarding the churches of Kyltallergy and Ardrosser. The bishop of Ross resigned his rights in the church of Gylltalargyn {Kiltarlity} and Andrew, bishop of Moray resigned his rights in the church of Ardesier. The bishop of Ross also agreed to pay "unam petram [cerre]" a pound of wax, which John Byseth (Bisset) had previously gifted to the cathedral of Ross. The reasoning behind this agreement becomes apparent when we realise that the Chapter of Ross operated the ferry that plied between Adersier and the Chanonry and it was a major source of income for the Fortrose canons. It made a great deal of sense for them to control the parishes on both sides of the water. The composito was signed on the Vigil of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Andrew's episcopal manor at Kenedor (2 February 1226).

The church stood on the carse near the botom of the sea-terrace, where its cemetery may still be seen. It was rebuilt with 'clay' in 1766, and about 1790 was ruinous.

The Knights Templar had lands in this parish. The preceptory/fortilace, the ruins of which remained at the beginning of the 19th-Century, stood at Dalyards {NGR NH 853556}.

Ardersier was the main crossing point of the Firth for pilgrims on their journey to Tain. In 1508, James IV crossed using the Ferry of Ardersier on his way to Tain, on which occasion he paid 13 shillings to the 'feryaris'.

In 1255/6 this church was re-assigned to the dean of Ross with whom it continued, both parsonage and vicarage revenues being apparently thus annexed. The parish was the property of Campbell of Cawdor who held it of the bishop of Ross.

In the land-grab that was associated with the Reformation, Bishop David Panitar of Ross disponed the lands of Delnies and Ardersier, in 1556, to his brother-uterine Robert Lesley.

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