St. Mary's Church, Grandtully

St. Mary's Church, Grandtully

St. Mary's Church, located near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland, is a historic site renowned for its remarkable 17th-century painted ceiling. The church's origins trace back to around 1250, with a structure likely built in 1533 by Alexander Stewart of Grandtully Castle. In 1636, Sir William Stewart and his wife, Dame Agnes Moncrieffe, expanded the church, adding a westward extension and the distinctive painted ceiling. (historicenvironment.scot)

The painted ceiling is one of only two surviving examples of its kind in Scotland. It features 28 roundels depicting saints, proverbs, and the achievements of the Stewart family, interspersed with motifs of fruit, flowers, and angels. At the center, a vivid scene of the resurrection portrays the dead rising from their graves at the summons of angels, with a dying figure in a canopied bed being struck down by death. (historicenvironment.scot)

The church remained in limited use after a new parish church was built in 1806 and ceased its ecclesiastical function in 1892. It was taken into state care in 1954 and remains under the guardianship of Historic Environment Scotland. (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)

Visitors can explore the church and its surroundings, which include a churchyard with 19th-century gravestones and a boundary wall. The site is accessible via a minor road off the A827, approximately 3 miles northeast of Aberfeldy. Parking is available, and the church is open daily from April to September and during the winter months, with free admission. (historicenvironment.scot)

St. Mary's Church offers a unique glimpse into Scotland's religious and artistic heritage, making it a valuable destination for history enthusiasts and art lovers alike.