ancient church of Yester has already been described. It was superseded last century by the present structure, which is a plain oblong chamber of the usual style of the period, but with a tower on the south side (Fig. 1613), which is a good example of that class of erection at the period.
NOTE.
The illustration or tailpiece on the following page shows a remarkable
specimen of early Scottish sculpture, preserved in the Museum of the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The stone, which is about 6 feet in length, was found in the River May, Perthshire, and is supposed to have come from an ancient church which formerly occupied a site within a rath or stronghold which stood on the Holy Hill, on the bank of the river, near Forteviot, about two miles from Forgandenny.[1] The last traces of the rath and church were swept away by a flood which occurred in the beginning of this century.
This early church is probably that referred to in the legend of St. Andrew given in the Pictish Chronicle as the church built at Forteviot by Hungus, the Pictish king (731-761), in the last year of his reign, after the arrival of the relics of St. Andrew in Scotland.[2] Although the character of the sculpture seems rather to suggest a date not quite so early, it may, nevertheless, be surmised that the figures depicted on the stone are those of King Hungus and his three sons, seated in the usual royal attitude, with the sword across the knees.
From the arched form of the stone it seems most likely to have been a chancel arch, a feature which would scarcely be expected in Scotland in the eighth century. The primitive church may, however, have been rebuilt, possibly in the tenth century, when a church with a chancel would more probably be erected, having the stone in question for its chancel arch. The small upright animal in the centre of the arch, having a cross in front of it, seems to represent the Paschal lamb; while the other nondescript animal at the feet of the king may be an early example of the practice usual in mediæval monuments of resting the feet of the effigy on an animal.[3] On the Ruthwell Cross the figure of the Saviour appears standing on the heads of two animals.
