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All the United Kingdom Scotland Sandhead Kirkmadrine Stones
AO Edited

Kirkmadrine Stones

Dating back to the 500s, these stones include some of the oldest Christian memorials in Scotland.

Sandhead, Scotland

Added By
katielou106
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Stone with Biblical verse “Alpha and Omega”   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Stone with Biblical verse “Alpha and Omega”   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
The earliest of the stones   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Kirkmadrine Stones   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Cross carved inside a rectangular frame   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Kirkmadrine Chapel   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The eight Kirkmadrine Stones include three of the oldest Christian memorials in Scotland, which date back to the 500s. (Only the Latinus Stone in Whithorn is older.) These stones have Latin inscriptions and Greek chi-rho crosses. They commemorate priests and stood in the burial ground surrounding the chapel until the 1840s.

The earliest stone commemorates two "holy and outstanding priests," Viventius and Mavorius. One stone has a Biblical inscription "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." The remaining five stones date from between 700 and 1100.

The stones confirm that there was an early Christian church located at Kirkmadrine, which must have been historically important. It is believed that Christian worship at this location dates back beyond the building of the church, with a monastery located here in the 400s. They are currently located in a glass-fronted porch at the west end of Kirkmadrine Chapel. The church that stands here today was built in the late 1800s, though some of the medieval masonry may have been included in its structure.

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Christianity Monuments Stone Churches

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There is a small pull in at the end of the wooded walkway to the church.

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Added By

katielou106

Edited By

rbenn250

  • rbenn250

Published

May 31, 2022

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  • https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/sandhead/kirkmadrinestones/index.html
Kirkmadrine Stones
Sandhead, Scotland, DG9 9JZ
United Kingdom
54.793534, -4.987818
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Nearby Places

Port Logan Fish Pond

Port Logan, Scotland

miles away

Dunskey Castle

Portpatrick, Scotland

miles away

Chapel Finian

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

miles away

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Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Port Logan Fish Pond

Port Logan, Scotland

miles away

Dunskey Castle

Portpatrick, Scotland

miles away

Chapel Finian

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

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