Cloudy Early Summer Road Trip Drive B961 Road To Parish Church Monikie Angus Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video of a cloudy early Summer road trip drive, with Scottish bagpipes and drums music, on the B961 cross country road through Newbigging on ancestry visit to the interior of the parish church in Monikie in Angus Region. Monikie Church is situated 1 mile east of Monikie on the edge of a large farm, in Kirkton of Monikie. A previous church stood on this site. In around 1211 a church at Monikie was dedicated to Arbroath Abbey. The original interior of the church was very different to what is present today. Two doorways in the south wall gave entry to the church, and the pulpit was placed centrally in the south wall with galleries on the east, north and west walls. The sanctuary is now located on the east wall. It has red carpet and two steps lead up to it. The sanctuary is surrounded by a low wooden rail. Within the space is a small communion table, reading desk, pulpit and an impressive carved wooden back board. Above is a stained glass window dedicated to Reverend John Reid, Minister here for 45 years. The wooden pews face the east wall and the lower part of the walls are lined with wood.

The Scottish violinist and fiddler James Scott Skinner lived in Monikie from 1906 to 1909. Skinner was born on 5 August 1843, the youngest of six children in Arbeadie village which later became part of Banchory, near Aberdeen. His father William Skinner was a dancing master on Deeside. His mother Mary Skinner, née Agnew, was originally from Strathdon. James was only eighteen months old when his father died. When he was seven, his elder brother, Alexander Forbes Skinner, gave him lessons in violin and cello. Soon the pair of them were playing at local dances. In 1852 his mother remarried and he moved to Aberdeen where he lived with his sister Annie, attending Connell's School in Princes Street, Aberdeen. In 1862 he won a sword dance competition in Ireland. The following year he won a strathspey and reel competition in Inverness. Gradually he broadened his district of clients until Queen Victoria learned of his reputation. She requested him to teach callisthenics and dancing to the royal household at Balmoral Castle. In 1893 he toured the United States with Willie MacLennan, the celebrated bagpiper and dancer.. After returning to Scotland he virtually gave up dancing and concentrated on the fiddle. He died on 17 March 1927 without giving another public performance. His body was buried in Aberdeen, where his marble memorial gravestone was unveiled by Sir Harry Lauder. Over 600 of his compositions were published, among the best known being The Bonnie Lass of Bon Accord, Cradle Song, Bovaglie's Plaid, The Music o' Spey, and Hector the Hero. He made over 80 recordings.

John Skinner, a convict, was transported aboard the Ann on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia; George Skinner, a convict, was transported aboard the Albion on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia; Thomas Skinner, aged 19, a brickmaker, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship Oliver Lang in 1856; Richard Skinner, settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, in 1706; Edward Skinner, settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, America, in 1630.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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