St. Serf's Church

On the way home today we made a detour to visit the historical village of Dunning.

Dunning is home to St Serf`s Church which dates from the early part of 1200. The site of the church was chosen because of its association with St Serf, an early Christian missionary. The 75ft Romanesque tower remains much as it would have been when the church was originally built, albeit with the addition in 1890 of clocks on its four faces.

Local landowners the Rollo family paid for extensive alterations after the reformation. The village of Dunning was burned in 1716 by the Jacobite army but the Church survived.

Within this small church there are some fine stained glass windows, by Ballantine and Son. Most of which were installed between 1895 and 1907. The churchyard is also worth exploring as there are a number of unusual gravestones, many from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Now located inside the Church is the famous Dupplin Cross. Carved around 800AD to honour Constantine, son of Fergus, he was King of the Picts from 789AD to 820AD. This is the only complete example of a Pictish Cross to survive. The church is now in the care of Historic Scotland.