Before 1825
| The earliest evidence of human habitation in and around the Banchory area is provided by flint arrowheads discovered on terraces above the Dee. These are estimated to be about 8500 year old. By 5500 years ago the area was being farmed, with the earliest known building in the area being the ‘Balbridie barn’ found in 1977 some three miles east of Banchory. |
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St Ternan established the first church in Banchory some time after 400AD. As might be expected we have little reliable information about him, but he is believed to have been born in 440AD at Fourdon, educated at Whithorn and later to have travelled to Rome before coming back to Banchory to establish his small monastery, about 100 years before St Columba arrived on Iona. He had the title ‘Archbishop of the Picts’ conferred upon him by the Pope. The site he chose for the monastery is on the north side of the Dee, near the currant graveyard. The monastery itself probably consisted of little more that a heather-thatched hut, which acted as a base from where he and his followers preached the gospel to the people of the area. While based in Banchory, Ternan is believed to have travelled as far west as Benbecula. |
| The story of Ternan features two key artefacts, his copy of Matthew’s Gospel and his bell or ‘Ronnecht’. The copy of Matthew’s Gospel was bound in silver and gold and remained in Banchory until the time of the reformation, when it was destroyed. The bell has an altogether more interesting story. It is said to have been brought here from Rome by Ternan, and is last recorded as being transferred to the custody of Alexander Symson, vicar of Banquhoriterne in 1491. when the glebe lands were being excavated for the railway in 1863 an old bronze bell was found. The navvy who found it gave it to the lady he was lodging with in Strachan, where she used it as a doorstop. She sold the bell on to Major Kerr of Inverey for two shillings and six pence (12.5p). After his death the Kirk Session approached Mrs Kerr to investigate whether the family would be willing to donate the bell to the church, and a second approach was made after her death to her daughter, but to no avail. When Mrs Waygood, as she was then, died the bell was still in possession of the family. The other members of the family then bought it from the estate and presented it to the church. It now hangs on the front wall of the church next to the pulpit. It is not clear whether this really is Ternan’s bell, but it does provide us with a very visible reminder of the debt that we owe to this early pioneer of Christianity in Scotland. The Ronnecht and the Gospel bound with silver and gold are both depicted on the stained glass window of St Ternan. Two other items survive from these times that provide evidence for the very early establishment of a church in this area. The first is a Pictish Wheel Cross, now built into the wall of the former East Manse (Celtic Cross). The other is a large stone built into the wall of the Tilquhillie vault. This stone bears the faint impression of two Pictish Crosses. The stone itself is well worn, which suggests that is might once have formed the threshold of a church or other monastic building in this area. |
| The first documentary evidence of the church in Banchory comes form 1143, when the Abbot of Arbroath received a grant of land that included Banchory. A settlement was established around the church in the area of the current graveyard. Several churches may have been built here, but the first recorded was from 1664-54. The bell which hung in this church was made by the famous bell-founder, Peter Oostens of Rotterdam, and was one of only three in the north of Scotland made by him. the bell now hangs in the watchtower in the graveyard. This church was replaced in 1775, but very soon the congregation out-grew it and in 1824 it was dismantled and the stone used in the building of our present church. This building was opened for worship in 1825. |  |
| The Mercat Cross, which now stands in front of the Church, is an ancient Banchory artefact. Many years ago it stood near Cobbleheugh, now the sire of Banchory Lodge Hotel. A weekly Fair was held there and on the 12th of June each year a public holiday marked a Special Fair dedicated to Saint Ternan. Some time later the cross was removed to Silverbank near the present day Banchory Woollen Mill, then for no reason, on to the Burnett Park and thence to its present position in 1975. |