Description

1790. 1 x 2-bay traditional hall church of rectangular plan. Harled walls with droved sandstone ashlar dressings. Entrance gable to E comprising 2-leaf vertically-boarded timber door with semicircular fanlight centred at ground and 16-pane round-arched fixed-light centred above; stugged ashlar gabled belfry with bell contained in round-arched opening. Matching N and S elevations; round-arched windows with timber traceried coloured glazing in each bay. W gable; window matching side elevations centred at upper level; gabled vestry wing projecting at left, S elevation with vertically-boarded timber door, 4-pane timber fixed-light, and 17th century memorial panel carved with inscription and coat-of-arms.

Purple-grey slate roof with ashlar skew copes; harled single-flue apex stack to vestry, coped, with octagonal can.

KIRKYARD WALL: harl-pointed rubble wall enclosing graveyard.

MONUMENT: Mid 18th century. Aedicule-like classical monument to James Bonar, 1752, and Jean Smith, 1737, on substantial rubble semi-pyramidal structure. Inscribed slab with flanking engaged Corinthianesque columns supporting steep pediment with pinnacles (possibly for ball finials) and carved tympanum depicting coat-of-arms flanked by angels

INTERIOR: not seen 1997.

Statement of Interest

The narrow plan of Fetlar Kirk gives it a tall appearance compared to other Shetland churches of this date. A photograph by Charles Spence from the early 1870s shows the church with 12-pane timber sash and case windows in the side elevations suggesting the present traceried windows are part of a later or late 19th century remodelling.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17851938

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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