Church Recorders

Since 1973, groups of NADFAS members have been systematically recording the contents of churches and chapels throughout the United Kingdom, including monuments, stained glass, plate and metalwork, woodwork, textiles, bells and musical instruments. With permission from the church authorities, written, drawn and photographic records are made. Normally less than 10 copies of each Record are reproduced and given to NADFAS House, the appropriate Church Authority in Scotland, The National Library, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments in Scotland, the Local Archive and of course a copy to the Church in question.

Church Recording is a very important part of NADFAS; those who take part find it fascinating and challenging, and one is endlessly learning.

Having completed Recording Birnie Kirk, which dates from 1140 and claims to be the oldest church in Scotland that has been in continuous use since its inception, the Recorders then moved on to The Gordon Chapel in Fochabers.

The Gordon Chapel, Fochabers

The completed record for The Gordon Chapel was presented at a special Evensong Service in August 2009.

Elizabeth, Duchess of Gordon, wife of the fifth Duke, realised a longstanding dream to have a Scottish Episcopalian Chapel and Schoolroom in Fochabers. The Chapel was dedicated on 12 August, 1834. The cost was £1100 and the Duchess sold some jewels to pay for the project and her husband sold some of his horses!

The fortunes of the Chapel varied with the financial circumstances of the family. Eventually, in 1950 with the help of Mr and Mrs William Baxter (of Baxters of Speyside) and the Dunderdale Trust, the Chapel was bought for the Congregation.

Of particular note are six Burne-Jones windows, five of which commemorate the lives of members of the ducal family. There is also a fine Crear McCartney window commemorating the life of Lt General Sir George Gordon Lennox and a Petri Anderson window commemorating the lives of Mr and Mrs William Baxter.

Our Recorders are now working at St. John’s Church in Forres.