ST. MOLOC’S CHURCH, Alyth, Perthshire.
Alyth is now a busy manufacturing town, and forms the terminus of a small branch line off the main railway between Perth and Forfar. It stands on the north side of Strathmore, at the point where the hills begin to rise, and the houses of the old part of the town are picturesquely terraced on the hillside. On one of these terraces may be seen the ruins of the ancient
Fig. 1439.—St. Moloc’s Church, Alyth. Plan.
church of St. Moloc or Malachi, according to the Statistical Account, but Mr. Muir calls it St. Ninian’s. The original fair of the village is still called St. Mologue’s and the date corresponds with the day of St. Moloc. Before the Reformation the benefice of Alyth was attached to one of the prebends of Dunkeld, and the patronage was exercised by the Bishop.
Fig. 1440.—St Moloc’s Church, Alyth. Arcade.
The old church was demolished about 1845, having been unroofed at that date when the last Statistical Account was written.
The portion which still survives (Fig. [1439]) in the middle of the churchyard consists of the south arcade of the nave and part of the chancel. The arcade (Fig. [1440]) has plain octagonal pillars and three round arches with broad splays. The caps and bases are moulded, and indicate a late date.
The chancel is surrounded with a plain wall 6 to 7 feet high, and has a piscina in the south wall.