St Mary's Collegiate Church, Cullen

St Mary's Collegiate Church is a cruciform building incorporating elements from the 13th century, with a choir and nave (now the east and west aisles), a south aisle added in 1536, a 16th-century chancel, and likely an 18th-century north aisle. A vestry was added in the northeast re-entrant angle in 1967. The church is constructed of rubble with tooled and polished ashlar dressings.

The main entrances are in the centre of the west and north gables, and in the south elevation of the chancel. A round-headed entrance in the southwest corner is blocked. A forestair is located in the south wall of the west aisle. A pointed-headed window with intersecting tracery is set in the east gable. Y-traceried windows are found in the south wall of the chancel, and a four-light window in the south gable of the 1536 south aisle. Other windows are predominantly with lattice-pane glazing. An 18th-century bird cage bellcote sits atop the west gable apex, with various cross apices and Banffshire slate roofs.

Inside, the pulpit and communion table are centrally positioned at the crossing. Galleries are present in the west and north aisles, featuring late 19th-century stencilled detailing. A Laird's loft, dated 1602, is located on the south side of the east aisle, accessible by a staircase with silhouette balusters. The loft is supported by columns framed by re-used panels from former pews, including two panels dated 1590 and 1608. A circa 1550 Sacrament House is surmounted by a carved panel depicting a pair of angels holding a monstrance, and inscribed with Latin text from John vi, 54-6. Ornate, richly carved Ogilvie tombs from around 1554 are also found on the north wall of the chancel. One tomb features a cusped ogee arch above a wall tomb with a recumbent knight, flanked by shafts enclosing a canopy with decorative cresting, containing two roundels with carved figures. The front of the tomb is divided into eight cusped panels, each containing a figure.

The south aisle includes what was formerly St Anne’s Chapel, said to have been founded by Elena Hay in 1536. A round-headed mural niche contains a recumbent figure believed to be Elena Hay’s son. A carved tomb front displays two panels depicting knights on horseback. The area also contains mural memorials to the Earl of Seafield (killed 1914), Mia, Countess of Seafield (widow), and Nina, Countess of Seafield (1906-1969), alongside other memorial plaques, including a granite plaque dedicated to the memory of Rev. John Guthrie, Minister of Cullen 1937-1986. Stained glass is present in the east window, created by Aitken of Aberdeen in 1933.

The church is surrounded by a burial ground enclosed by high rubble walls. The eastern entrance features a pair of tooled rubble gatepiers topped with ball finials, and a pair of spearhead cast-iron carriage gates. An incised slab depicting a knight in armour, dated 1414, is located near the west doorway. The burial ground contains 17th, 18th, and 19th-century tomb stones, and a small Seafield burial enclosure.