Built in 1380, the amazing Gothic church originally featured a simple shingle roof, which was changed into its now notorious coffin-shaped lead sheet iron form in the 1730s. The church and surrounding ensemble of buildings were once home to a small group of Carthusian monks from Bohemia, a peculiar brotherhood who favoured among other eccentricities a Trappist lifestyle and sleeping in coffins. Inside, find a rich collection of Baroque altars, 29 elaborately carved wooden seats for the monks, a large collection of 17th-century religious paintings and the famous clock pendulum on which hangs a white angel swinging a scythe, accompanied by the eerie words ‘each passing seconds brings you closer to your death’. The church is considered by many to be one of the most interesting religious buildings in Europe and is an absolute must-see and includes a cafe where you can watch a film about Kartuzy.
References:The Aberlemno Sculptured Stones are a series of five Class I and II Early Medieval standing stones found in and around the village of Aberlemno. The stones with Pictish carvings variously date between about AD 500 and 800.
Aberlemno 1, 3 and 5 are located in recesses in the dry stone wall at the side of the road in Aberlemno. Aberlemno 2 is found in the Kirkyard, 300 yards south of the roadside stones. In recent years, bids have been made to move the stones to an indoor location to protect them from weathering, but this has met with local resistance and the stones are currently covered in the winter.
Aberlemno 4, the Flemington Farm Stone was found 30 yards from the church, and is now on display in the McManus Galleries, Dundee.