Forgue Church, Forgue

Forgue Church, St Margaret's

Designed by the respected north-east architect Archibald Simpson and built in 1819, this imposing rectangular parish church stands on raised ground overlooking its graveyard and the site of an earlier 17th-century church. The building was constructed to replace St Margaret's Church and introduced the reformed worship plan of the early 19th century. Its interior was remodelled in 1872 and again in 1926.

The church is built of granite rubble, squared at the west end, with granite quoins and dressings throughout. The west gable projects as a vestibule and gallery staircase, featuring a deep-set two-leaf timber door, a raised-centre tripartite window with plain Y-tracery, and a slender stone bellcote containing a bell. A raised base course and eaves course continue as a band course at the gable ends.

The nave is lit by alternating roundel windows and pointed-arch traceried windows. The south elevation contains three neo-perpendicular timber-traceried two-light windows set over raised cills, with four circular windows positioned high in the spandrel areas above. The east end has two tall windows with similar tracery, while the west displays the raised-centre tripartite and flanking set-back lights already noted. The windows retain their original diamond-pattern zinc glazing with hand-made glass. The roof is covered in grey slates with ashlar-coped skews and stone finials.

The interior retains several features of architectural interest. The original 1819 painted plaster ceiling survives, along with remnants of acanthus design stencilling and some dado panelling. The 1872 alterations introduced new pews and a Conacher organ. The 1926 works included the installation of a west gallery supported on three cast-iron columns, which were re-used from the original U-plan gallery. A pendulum clock of 1870 commemorates the baptism of John Alexander's father on 1 March 1826 and hangs within the gallery. The pulpit was relocated to the east end and dedicated to Reverend Brebner, Minister from 1871 to 1927.

The church was built following an advertisement placed in the Aberdeen Journal of 14 January 1818 requesting estimates and builders to contact the Reverend Mr Allardyce at Forgue or architect A Simpson in Aberdeen. Two fragments of a 1638 Frendraught pew from the earlier church were incorporated into the new building and are now housed in the separately listed Episcopal Church.

Originally serving one of the largest parishes in north-east Scotland, Forgue Church remained the focal point of parish worship until 1962, when the parishes of Forgue and Inverkeithny amalgamated. The church continued in use following further parish unions in 1978 and 1992. It closed in 1992 when Auchaber United parish was formed, and some furnishings were transferred to Auchaber Church. In 1997, the building was purchased from the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland by the Friends of Forgue Kirk and now operates as a community facility with monthly use by the Parish of Auchaber United.

The church is positioned within a separately listed churchyard that also contains the Morison family vault, originally from the south aisle of the earlier St Margaret's Church. The group interest is further enhanced by the presence of a nearby manse and steading, which are separately listed.