Basic Site Details Name: | Forfar Parish Church | Town, district or village: | Forfar | City or county: | Angus | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | O.S.A. v 6 p. 523-534 N.S.A. v. 11 p. 701 Hay, Post Ref. Chs. 82, 164, 175, 222, 232 Heritors' Records
HS list description: Samuel Bell 1790-1, originally plain gothick rectangle with 4-window S. flank, coursed rubble; ashlar classic W. spire 150' high with Roman doric pedimented doorpiece and gothick openings at upper levels executed by Patrick Brown from Bell's design, 1813-14. Additions and alterations James Brewster 1836 and again John Carver 1881, N. aisle added.
Gifford: 'Both an inscription on the church and 'The Scots Magazine' for 1814 record that Patrick Brown of Lochee (in Dundee) was the architect for this work. However in 1790 Samuel Brown had been asked to inspect the old steeple and receive instructions for construction of a replacement and the steeple built in 1813-14 is to an unexecuted design by Bell for the steeple of St Rule's Church at Monifieth. Probably Brown was the executant architect or contractor rather than the designer.'
Woodwork of organ case designed by Langlands and carved by Alexander Bain.
Colvin: In January 1788 John Gibson 'architect of St Cyrus' was invited to design a church but in March a plan submitted by James Millar, mason of Bridgeton was approved 'and recommended to Mr Samuel Bell Architect in Dundee to make out the dimensaions for every part of the work'. In 1790 Bell was invited to inspect the old steepl and to receive insyructionsfor the new one. Nothing, however, was done until 1813, when the Town Council 'advertised for contractors for the new steeple to be built to the plans of the late Samuel Bell'. Although the existing steeple bears the name 'Patricj Bell Architect', the design is identical with one of Bell's drawings for the steeple of Monifieth Church, and Brown must only have been the executant. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Forfar East and Old Parish Church | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Church | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | East High Street | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1790 | 1791 | | Original church | | 1813 | 1814 | Build/construction | Bell Tower | | 1836 | | Alterations and additions | | | 1881 | | Addition | Additions and alterations - including session room | | 1900 | | Build/construction | Pews and pulpit | | 1911 | 1912 | Addition | Hall added |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | James Millar | | J | 1780s | | Provided plan for church | | Samuel Bell | | B | 1788 | 1791 | Based on plan by James Millar, mason, Bridgeton | | Patrick Brown | | A | 1813 | 1814 | Perhaps acted as executant architect for Bell Tower | | James Brewster | | F | 1836 | | Alterations and additions | | John Carver | | C | 1881 | | Additions and alterations, including session room | | James Hendry Langlands (senior) | | D | 1898 | 1899 | Alterations | | Robert Blackadder | | E | 1900 | | Pews and pulpit | | Alexander P Rough | | J | 1911 | 1912 | Hall added |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Adam, D T | 1967 | Review of the Administration of the Town's Affairs by Successive Town Councils between 1660 and 1965 | | Forfar. | pp29-30 | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Gifford, John | 2012 | The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee | | Yale | p467-9 | | Hay, George | 1957 | The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843 | | Oxford: Clarendon Press | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Dundee Advertiser | 14 May 1813 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 31479 | | | National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO) | Heritors Records | HR 415/3 | | | National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO) | Register House Plans | RHP 7929-32 | Tracings of drawings of the church made by Bell in 1795. |
|