Cromarty, parish

Grid reference

NH 790 670 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

0 0

Object Classification

Parish (extant in 1975)

Relationships with other places

Contains St Bennet's Chapel, Cromarty

Contains St Bennet's Well, Cromarty

Contains St Mary's Well, Cromarty

Contains St Regulus's Chapel, Cromarty

Parish details

Cromarty

Parish TLA

CRO

County

Ross-shire

Medieval diocese

Ross

Parish notes

The parsonage revenues were quartered in 1256 between the dean, chanter, chancellor and treasurer of Ross, following upon re-erection of the chapter in the previous year (Vet. Mon., nos. lxxx, clxxxii). The subdivision continued at the Reformation, the cure being served by a vicar perpetual (Assumptions, cited OPS ii pt. 2, 558; RSS xlix 89, lii.105). Cowan 1967, 39. The church stood originally on ground now covered by the sea, and a sand-bank which still retains the name of the Old Kirk apparently marks its site. Also the original burgh, first mentioned in 1264 (ER i, 26), now under water at high tide. For more details see OPS ii pt 2, 559 & 565. The present church stands at the east end of the town (ibid.). 1561-66 Sir Andro Robertsoun was chaplain of the chaplainry of Sanct Regule (Ass. 644; also quoted in OPS loc. cit.). In 1584 James VI confirmed a charter by Jas. Burnet chaplain of Saint Regula near the burgh of Cromartie - this chapel stood on a detached wooded knoll east of the town of Cromarty, having on the south a deep ravine with a small stream. (OPS ii pt 2, 559-60). Four other chapels in the parish: one ded. to St Benedict (Bennet) near which is St Bennet’s Well - a cloutie well. The chapel was ‘on a steep ridge overlooking the Moray Firth’, and ruins still visible in mid 19th century ibid. 560. One chapel dedicated to St Duthac. The other two have totally disappeared, and their dedication is unknown (ibid. 560). OPS ii pt 2, 558-66. No changes to the parish boundaries noted in Shennan 1892.