Fowlis Wester - St Bean's Church

The present church was the gift of Gilbert, the Celtic Earl of Strathearn, the site of whose castle lies just three-quarters of a mile due east of the village. The church, which is a pre-Reformation building, was restored in 1927 through a united effort under the leadership of Captain and the Honourable Mrs Drummond Moray of Abercairney and the architect Geoffrey Waddell. In the chancel is a beautiful stained glass window which was installed in 1946 in memory of Captain W.S. Home Drummond Moray and his wife the Honourable Mrs Drummond Moray of Abercairney. There are many interesting features of the church well worth seeking out. The low window on the right hand side of the chancel was once a lepers' squint, allowing the afflicted to watch a celebration of mass (the church was Roman at that time) without contaminating other worshippers. In the north transept is the original headstone from the lych gate at the south entrance to the churchyard and it is inscribed "Tak heid to thy foot when thow enterest to the bows of God. 1644.". Also in the north transept is an intriguing and fine 8th century Pictish stone, carved to depict Jonah being swallowed by the whale. When the church was rebuilt it was found buried from sight in the foundations and a closer look at it provides the probable answer; on the right hand side of the stone, is a large gash which must have caused the carver to emit a few muffled Pictish oaths! He appears to have tried continuing the carving into the split but obviously gave it up as a bad job. From Pictish workman to American spaceman may seem a far leap but it is one that the church encompasses - displayed is a portion of the McBean tartan, taken to the moon by U.S. astronaut Alan McBean - another sample is held by the Tartans Museum in Comrie. The Perfect Solution Last updated November 1999