Tour Crathie Church

The uniqueness of Crathie Church is due to the close
association Deeside has with the Royal Family. Since
1848, when Queen Victoria first visited the area, every
British monarch has worshipped with the local
congregation at Crathie on a Sunday.

The present church was built in 1895 to replace the
building of 1804, and its foundation stone was laid in
1893 by the Queen. In style it is Gothic, although it has
some Norman features. The tower houses four bells
gifted by Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Beatrice.
The Royal Family has endowed the church with many
other gifts, including an boa marble communion table
donated by George V in memory of Edward VII.
Edward VII himself had gifted two white marble
medallions in memory of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and
Gotha, and of Princess Victoria, Queen of Prussia.
Queen Victoria presented a Father Willis organ, and
our present Queen gifted a royal-crested Bible.

The south transept of the church is set apart for the
Royal Family and household, while the north transept
contains the pews of the lairds of Invercauld and Abergeldie.

Old Royal Deeside

Queen Victoria's Life in the Scottish Highlands:
Depicted by Her Watercolour Artists

If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:

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