Rafford Village Church placed on market by the Church of Scotland
Another historic local building has been put up for sale - this time, for offers over £143,000.
Gothic Revival-style Rafford Church - built in 1826 to replace a smaller 18th century kirk - has been put on the market by the Church of Scotland (CoS), following Alves Old Parish Church (offers over £118,000) and Edinkillie Church (offers over £40,000).
A CoS spokesperson said: “The building could be used as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum, art gallery or public library.
“Alternatively, subject to appropriate planning consents, it also has potential for other uses including as a theatre, cinema or entertainment venue, retail space or community resource.”
Rafford Church was built on a gift of Blervie land on the north side of the Rafford Burn in 1826 by architect Gillespie Graham to accommodate 600 people. It consists of a large nave, south tower, hall and vestry extension.
It has roughly-coursed granite rubble – taken from the original church across the burn – with joints rendered in lime mortar. There are a number of carved stoneworks and embellishments of fine ashlar stone. The shallow-pitched nave roof is slated.
The south elevation is dominated by its square tower, rising three stories and topped with a pinnacled parapet. The main doorway is on its south face. Alexander Walker - a native of Rafford and, in 1907, the president of the Colonial Bank in New York - gifted the clock on the south wall.
The west elevation of the church has three large, pointed-arch windows.
The north gable has a single large pointed-arch window with a stained glass window that was installed in 1918 as a memorial to Major Harold Bessemer Galloway, of Blervie, who was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915. The three main panels show scenes from the life of Christ and there are smaller details including angels and a dedication. Around the walls of the nave are various memorials to local families, ministers and to Major Galloway. On the gable is a tall celtic cross finial.
The east elevation has a pointed-arch window at the southern end, matching those on the west.
The hall is fairly low and single-storied with a small round-arched doorway and pointed-arch windows. The east face is harled and has rectangular windows and doors.
The interior was extensively re-modelled in 1907, funded by, among others, Lord Strathcona. Architect P. MacGregor Chalmers of Glasgow, removed the original three-sided galleries and replaced the pews. Three new gothic windows were installed in the east wall, together with a vestry at the north end.
A small octagonal pulpit set on a stone base with steps has detailed carved wooden panels. There is a matching wooden communion table, chair, and reredos behind.
The vestry built as part of the 1907 works was re-roofed in 1950, and was incorporated into the current hall building which dates from 1994.
The CoS spokesperson said: “The church is on the south-western slope of Knock Hill, which rises above Rafford.
“The grounds are bordered by mature trees on three sides and there is a B-listed burial ground with memorials from the 17th, 18th and early 19th century.”
For more information visit https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/departments/property-and-church-buildings/properties-for-sale/properties/churches-and-halls/rafford-church-rafford-forres-iv26-2rt