Alves Parish Church

1845, probably John Urquhart, architect, Forres,

remodelled with extensive interior refitting and with

rear wing, A and W Reid and Melvin, 1878 (church dated

1878). Rectangular church with N facing entrance gable

and long 3-bay E and W elevatons. Harled, tooled and

polished ashlar margins and dressings.

Centre bay in N gable projecting as tower with

round-headed entrance leading to recessed porch, louvred

opening 2nd stage, square open balustraded bellcote with

shaped angle finials above. Paired narrow bays flanking

entrance delineated by shallow margined pilaster strips

clasping angles and supporting simple entablature

returning by 1 bay. 2 round-headed windows each side of

porch, 2 in gable head, 3 similar windows to E and W

elevations; large wheel window in centre of rear (S)

gable. Lattice-pane glazing. Slate roof.

1878 single storey, 4-bay gabled room at rear; harl

pointed rubble, tooled ashlar dressings; 12-pane

glazing. Ridge stack; slate roof.

INTERIOR: galleried interior, the gallery supported by

slender cast-iron columns rising through gallery to

ceiling, the centre portion of which is barrel vaulted

longitudinally. 1878 pine panelled front to gallery;

1878 balustraded platform type pulpit reached by flight

of stairs.

2 bells by Michael Burgherhys Holland, dated 1637 and

1639, removed from old Alves parish church in 1978, now

displayed in church

ENCLOSING WALL: church enclosed by simple drystone

rubble wall with entrance flanked by square gatepiers

with shallow pyramidal caps; pair cast-iron gates.