History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

EDZELL — OLD KIRK. 7
original castle, and, down to a late period, were difficult and often
of dangerous access ; for, before the Stop-bridge was thrown over
the so-called old channel of the West Water, the inhabitants of
the village and other eastern parts had to ford the den on step-
ping-stones and ladders, and as this mode of transit was ineffi-
cient when the river was swollen, there was frequently no
sermon, because of " the watters being in spaitt."* In short,
the kirk latterly assumed altogether a very comfortless aspect,
the snow and rain found easy access through the roof, and the
floor being some inches lower than the surrounding ground, the
area was frequently inundated.
But of this crazy fane, where so many of the proud lords of
Edzell and their humble retainers bowed the knee, there is,
as before intimated, no prominent trace. The not inelegant
archway, which separated the kirk from the burial aisle, is built
up, and the old area used as a place of common sepulture ; and,
within these few years, the bell has been transferred to the new
kirk, and the belfrey allowed to fall into decay. Although an
object of no great antiquity, still the presence of the bell added
considerably to the romantic aspect of the place, and to the
convenience of the few scattered inhabitants who peopled the
south-west side of the parish ; and having, together with a hand
bell, been made from a mould constructed by an ingenious
villager, and cast in the woods of Edzell by a band of tinkers,
who had made good their quarters for a time, it may be said to
possess a more than ordinary local interest. It now lies as lumber
about the new church, and may soon, alike with its unfortunate
predecessor of St. Lawrence, be altogether lost sight of.f
It is also worthy of notice that the old kirk was perhaps
amongst the earliest slated of our landward churches ; for so
early as 1641, we are not only informed that a payment was
made to " the sclaitter for poynting the kirke," but have a
glimpse at the extras or overpayments of the time, in the curious
item of "mair of drink siluer to hys boy, 6d."
Nothing is known of the state of religion in Edzell prior to
the date of the parochial register, which begins on the third of
* Par. Reg., Nov. 12, 1618, et sub.
t The kirk bell bears :— " the . parish . of . edzell . mr. . iames . Thomson . mink.. .
made . at . sclat . ford . BY . ioiin . easton . 172G." On the hand bell :— " EDZELL . PARISH .
ioa . easton' , fecit . 17'JG." The bell on tho new kirk bears the date of 1S19.