Bellie Parish Church, The Square, Fochabers

Bellie Kirk stands in the heart of Fochabers, a neat Georgian church built in 1798 for the 4th Duke of Gordon. It replaced an older parish church that had fallen into disrepair after the congregation moved. Designed by Edinburgh architect John Baxter, who studied in Rome, the building shows neoclassical influences. The church has remained in continuous use as a Church of Scotland place of worship since it opened. It was granted Category A listed status in 1971 for its architectural importance. The Gordon Tomb from 1826 still stands in the old churchyard nearby. Inside, the church faces north towards Fochabers’ High Street across The Square. Its tetrastyle portico, the first of its kind in Scotland, features Roman Doric columns of finely worked ashlar sandstone. A square clock stage dated 1798 tops the spire, which ends in an octagonal belfry with a copper weathervane. Three doors open into an entrance lobby with mirrored staircases leading to galleries along the east and west sides. These galleries, supported by Greek Doric columns, may date from 1835 alterations by Archibald Simpson. The interior now uses movable seating after a 2010 renovation led by Rev Alison Mehigan. A trilogy of stained glass windows by Shona McInnes was added in 1998, depicting growth and harvest, the tree of life, and the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The church continues to hold weekly Sunday services at 10.30 am, led by the current minister Rev Eddie Enslin. The Gordon Chapel nearby was also designed by Simpson, linking the church to its planned village setting.