The parishes of Slains and Forvie were united about 1573, Slains being dedicated to St. Ternan, and belonging to the Knights of the Order of the Temple. As far as we know the present church was built around 1800, what is now the lower cemetery being the original manse garden. The present church was built on a small knoll just next to the farm of Kirkton of Slains and just before the road which takes you down to Cransdale or as it used to be called St. Ternan's Haven where he is supposed to have landed to found the church.
From legend we find that it was never a very peaceful place. Referring to Thomas Mair's records, you find tales of murder, alcoholism and even witch craft among the ministers.
One hapless minister was unable to control his intransigent flock gathered in drunken revelries in the various taverns along the coast and decided to join them. However he was given the benefit of the doubt as to his drunken state, it was termed Epilepsy!
There was also a certain fishwife named Margaret Cruickshank who had a most venomous and filthy tongue. It was said that when she was spewing out her wrath one could hear her from Perthudden to the Needles Ee and up as far as the Smiddy. As this often occurred on the Sabbath, she was frequently put to her knees in sackcloth praying for forgiveness on the Stool of Repentance!
In the presbytery records of 1620 the Slains minister was accused of witchcraft by a Dame Agnes Gordon, who stated that the minister claimed he was able to discover a thief by making a cock crow under a cauldron!.
At one time, in 1714 an attempt to ordain a John Forbes as minister was so vigorously opposed that a crowd of parishioners and elders chased the representatives from the village as far as the Waulkmill bridge across the Forvie Bum and he was ultimately ordained at Logie.
At the bottom of the present cemetery, on the seaward side, there used to be a spring called St. Ternan's Well at which there was once an iron cup chained to the wall. As far as can be made out this disappeared shortly before the Second World War. The parishioners would take a suppie of water on their way to the kirk on a Sunday morning. Inside the church there are memorials to the War dead and to the crew of “The New Fair Wind" of Collieston which sank with all hands off Peterhead, and also a memorial to a Major Evans, a one time inhabitant of Collieston.
Bicentennial
In 2007, Slains celebrated iits bicentennial. Visit the Photo Gallery for photos taken during the events.
Readers may be interested also in viewing this web site about Collieston including Slains Church
War Memorial
A Monument dedicated to the memory of those lost during the 1914 - 1918 War stands within the walls of the churchyard at Slains. Until now, only a small brass plaque in the church has marked the lives of the six local heroes killed during World War Two.
This year has seen the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Slains Kirk and Collieston Amenities Committee’s 50th Anniversary. In marking both events it seemed fitting to join forces in a project to provide an addition to the churchyard Memorial. Ellon Branch of the Royal British Legion also contributed financially to the project.
A large number braved the rain to attend a Service of Commemoration and Dedication at Slains Kirk yard on Saturday 10th November. Members of Ellon Parish Church and The Royal British Legion joined the villagers of Collieston to see the unveiling of a granite Memorial inscribed with the names of the men of the Parish of Slains who lost their lives in the 1939 – 1945 World War.
The service was conducted by Rev Stephen Emery of Ellon Parish Church. Wreathes were laid by the British Legion, Rear Admiral (Retired) Steve Ritchie representing the church and community and Councillor Debra Storr on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council. The parade was led by Standard Bearers from the British Legion to the piping of Major George Thom TD and the Homage for the Fallen and Kohima Prayer were recited most meaningfully by John Robertson.
Following the short act of remembrance, a very welcome dram, with soup, sandwiches, delicious home bakes and a cuppa to help it all down were generously provided by Collieston Amenities Committee in the Community Centre.
KOHIMA PRAYER
When you go home tell them of us and say, “For your tomorrow we gave our today”.
HOMAGE FOR THE FALLEN
They shall not grow old as we are left to grow old, age shall not weary them, or the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
Visit the Photo Gallery for photos taken during the event.
The parishes of Slains and Forvie were united about 1573, Slains being dedicated to St. Ternan, and belonging to the Knights of the Order of the Temple. As far as we know the present church was built around 1800, what is now the lower cemetery being the original manse garden. The present church was built on a small knoll just next to the farm of Kirkton of Slains and just before the road which takes you down to Cransdale or as it used to be called St. Ternan's Haven where he is supposed to have landed to found the church.
