OS1/25/3/39

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 39
ABERNETHY [Continued]
The church is remarkable for nothing but its antiquity. There are no records nor so much
as a tradition when it was built. Here was an Episcopal See and there were three elections
of bishops when there was only one bishop in Scotland or at least in the Kingdom of the Picts
When Kenneth III King of Scots had entirely Subdued the Picts he translated the Episcopal
See to St. Andrews. After this the church of Abernethy became a Collegiate Church possessed by
the Culdees. While the held it, there was an university here for the education of youth as appears
from the priory book of St. Andrews. - In the year 1273, (by which time the Culdees were much
were much discouraged) it was turned into a priory of regular Canons of St. Augustine, it is said
from the Abbey of Inchaffray. - Forbes in his treatise on Tythes, says that, " the Collegiate Church
was founded by the Earl of Angus" probably he meant Archibald Earl of Angus Lord of Abernethy
who gave the town a Charter of Privileges August 23, 1476. The Earl might be a benefactor to the Collegiate
Church, or restore it to a better State than it had been in for Sometime before and on that account
might be said to have founded it. To the above Charter, a venerable man Sir John Frizzle (that is
Frazer), Provost of the Collegiate Church of Abernethy, was one of the witnesses. This Charter was renewed
by William Earl of Angus at Holyroodhouse on the 16th" of November 1628. By this Charter the government
of Abernethy is vested in 2 bailies and 15 Counsellors.
Old Stat. Acct. [Statistical Account] Vol. [Volume] 11 p. [page] 445-6

There are few parishes so rich in antiquities as Abernethy and the town itself. though no longer occupying
any prominent claims to attention on other grounds is to be traced to a very remote period and was
much more populous and extensive than at present. According to traditions which exist and which are
confirmed by the discovery of ruins of buildings. it extended a considerable way to the eastward of
the present village. We may here introduce a curious passage as given by Sir James Balfour from