Alvah Church

Alvah Church, built in 1792 and renovated in 1882, features additions and alterations likely by A and W Reid of Elgin around 1900. This rectangular-plan, four-bay church has a gabled porch on the west side and a later vestry addition from 1882 that is positioned at right angles to the north. The exterior is harled with ashlar margins, and the vestry has Turriff sandstone dressings.

On the west elevation, there is a boarded door located in the south re-entrant angle of the gabled porch, with a window featuring a hoodmould to the north and another window above in the gablehead. Notably, there is a re-used ashlar, corniced birdcage bellcote dated 1645 on the gable, which has round-arched openings, a stepped pyramidal roof, and a ball finial. The bell is currently housed in Banff.

The south elevation consists of four bays and includes an early 18th century memorial to the Ogilvy family set into the wall at the center. This memorial is flanked by engaged composite columns, a cornice, and a shaped pediment that encompasses a portrait head, topped by an urn. There are two tall windows flanking the memorial and two smaller windows in the outer bays.

On the east elevation, there is a door at ground level with a window above it leading to the gallery. A window to the vestry is accompanied by a plaque displaying the Ogilvy arms to the right.

The north elevation features a lower, single-storey vestry with a door on the west side that has a strip fanlight, along with a window to the left and another window to the church on the right. The sash and case windows exhibit 12-, 20-, and 30-pane glazing patterns. The roof is covered with grey slates, and the gables have ashlar coped skews and ball finials.

Inside, the church was remodelled around 1880, showcasing a panelled pulpit on the south side with a decorative timber balustrade. There are low arcaded timber screens and a gallery supported by cast-iron columns on three walls. The interior features a boarded dado, painted walls, and a flat ceiling.

The graveyard is enclosed by ashlar gablet-coped retaining walls, with gatepiers and cast- and wrought-iron gates on the east and west sides, both topped with fleur-de-lys finials. It contains some 18th century gravestones.

Additionally, there is an Ogilvy burial enclosure designed in an Egyptian style, which is a square-plan walled structure made of harled rubble with ashlar dressings. It features a base course, eaves course, and coping, along with a battered doorway in an advanced, pedimented panel that incorporates a heraldic bearing. The pediment and corners are adorned with uncarved acroteria.