Tarbat
Associated Chapels: Chapel Bar {NH897792}; Wester Arbol (Skinnerton) {NH864829}; Balnabruaich {NH909840}; Portmahomack {NH917846}; Teampul Eraich {NH926834}; Alhansallach {NH914840}; Cadboll Mount {NH884791}; Hilton of Cadboll {NH 873769}; Bindal Hermitage {NH 9387 8502}.
Parish Church: OS Ref: NGR NH 915840 H.E.S. No: NH98SW 4.00 Dedication: St Colman
The old parish of Tarbat consisted of two districts - Fearn, generally level and arable, and Tarbat, a low bare promontary terminating eastward in the point known as Tarbatness, which some scholars believe to be the Torfnaes of the Norwegian chroniclers.
In the year 1227, Andrew the vicar of Tarbat was a signatory of the charter recording the settlement between the Bishop of Ross and the Bishop of Moray regarding the churches of Kintarlity and Ardersier. [Reg. Mor. no.75, p.81]
Before the year 1529 one of the Bishops of Ross granted to the canons of New Fearn (Fearn Abbey was a house of Praemonstratensian Canons) the vicarage of the church of St Colman situated in the place called Tarbert. [Balnagown Charters] The canons had also the teindsheaves in the town called Alen in Terbert, four acres of land beside the church of Terbert, and an acre of land in the town called Terbert. [ibid.] In 1529, all these were, with the canons other possessions, confirmed to them by Pope Clement VII. [ibid.]
At the Reformation, since the parish church of Terbert was included in the rental of the bishopric of Ross given up to the collector of thirds, it is very probable that the parish had become one of the mensal churches of the Bishop by this time since the Abbey had become ruinous by then. In 1539, King James V recommended to Pope Paul III that Robert Cairncross, Bishop of Ross (1538-45, be appointed abbot of Fearn, primarily because Cairncross, as a man of wealth, was deemed capable of restoring the buildings, which had fallen into disrepair.
The church was probably re-built on the same site as its predecessor in 1628 when the parish of Fearn was established out of Tarbat, each receiving 10 davachs of land by the special consent of the Bishop and whole diocese. Under it, till the year 1707 or later, there was a vault 30 feet long, said to have been built as a church by Saint Columba (Colman?). [Macfarlane, p.215] This association with St Columba is supported by the name which a port, about ¼ mile to the north of the church, bears in some old charters - Portus Columbi. "But now it is called Portmahobuagg, where there is a convenient harbour for barks and small ships and an inn for entertaining strangers." [Macfarlane, p.215]
The Parish of Tarbat was, in the time of Prelacie(before the Reformation), one of the bishops' mensal churches, so that the Crown became Patron after the Reformation, but the Earl of Cromartie has a tack of the teinds. [Macfarlane, p.216]
On the coast near the old castle of Tarbat or Ballone there was a chapel known as Teampul Eraich, and near it a well named Tobair Mhuir or Mary's Well.
Between 1486 and 1516, Thomas McCulloch, abbot of Fearn, built a chapel at Mid Genie, which afterwards came to be known as Chapel Barr being probably dedicated to St Barr.
Before the year 1529, Pope Clement VII confirmed to the canons of Fearn all of their possessions, including the place in which the monastery was situated with its pertinents; the vicarage of the church of St Colman situated in the place called Tarbert; the Chapel of St Mary situated in the place called Cathabul, and the teindsheaves in the town called Alen in Terbert belonging to the said vicarage; four acres of land which they held beside the said church; the free passage which they held at the small ports of Ardnacolternach, Hardnanen, and Ardnadoler; the land called Davnaclerach situated near the towns called Cathabul and Gathenn; the land which they had in the place called Innerladour; the use of timber and trees they had in the woods of the Earl of Ross, granted of old to the monastery by Ferchard Earl of Ross; an acre of land they had in the town called Terbert; an annual revenue of 8 lbs. of wax they had in the town called Conten; two measures of land commonly called davachs in the place called Inuercharron; the pasture they had in the land called Halchmaguli, Braghlugudie, and Salki; the fishing they had in the water of Okeal in the place called Banaff; and the fishing commonly called Choro in the town of Kyncarden; a davach in the town called Greater Fern, and a hald davach in the town called lesser Fern; the land they had in the place called Archanagart, with the fishing and ferry of the same; a davach and a half in the place called Dwne; three davach in the town called Rathne and Pitkeri, and the lake called Lochslin in the same place; a davach in the town called Gathne; another davach in the same town; two davachs in the towns of Rochani and Balmochi; a davach in the town of Cathbulnacrene; a half davach in the town of Lachelawak.
The chapel of St Mary situated at the place called Cathabul. This is probably the the small chapel, the outlines of which are still to be seen amid a clump of trees in a field named Baleachan (Hector's Town) on the farm of Cadboll Mount formerly named Hill of Geanies.
There is a ruined chapel at Hilton of Cadboll on the Moray Firth.
In 1693 Alexander Corbatt of Arkboll was served heir male to his father John Corbat of Arkboll in two-thirds of the lands of Arkboll, including Portnawest or the Harbour of Saint John, with the chapel of St John. The chapel stood at Wester Arboll and was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
There was also a chapel at Alhansallach, apparently dedicated to Saint Bride.
An interesting feature of the OS Six-inch 1st Edition Map, 1843-1882, is a Hermitage shown on Bindal Moor where it meets the sea. The hermitage is recorded on the HES Canmore database {NH98NW 1} but no further information is known about it.
