A Category B-listed 19th-century church on a Morayshire hilltop, reimagined as a warm and deeply practical home, with a working bell tower, two acres of gardens, and the Speyside coast on its doorstep.
Formerly the Old Church of Urquhart, this Category B-listed Scottish kirk was completed in 1843 on a modest hilltop surveying the Morayshire countryside in every direction. Nearly two centuries later, its fabric, the soaring stonework, the stained glass and the working bell have been carefully preserved, while its interiors have been reimagined into a singular home that balances genuine historic presence with warmth and liveability. Set within roughly two acres of landscaped gardens, it is a building with a story to tell and a setting that lets it breathe.
For anyone drawn to the idea of adaptive reuse, of saving a piece of architectural heritage by giving it a useful, contemporary life, Parrandier is a textbook case, and a rather romantic one at that.
A Kirk Reborn
Completed in 1843, the church occupies its hilltop as if it was always meant to be there: a landmark in the landscape rather than a building imposed upon it. The conversion has been handled with respect for that legacy. Soaring stonework remains, stained glass still filters the light, and a working bell tower rises above it all. It is the warmth and liveability of the reinvention, though, that sets it apart from many a preserved-but-precious conversion.
The planning is genuinely clever: the upper floor functions as a private residence, while the ground floor operates independently, a layout that lends itself to multi-generational living, generous guest accommodation or an income-producing use. Planning consent is already in place for up to three holiday chalets in the lower gardens, subject to the usual consents and checks.
The Private Home Above
Arrival brings an immediate sense of calm and continuity. Original double doors open into a generous reception hall, from which two stone staircases rise in symmetry, framed by ornate balustrades and stained glass. It is the kind of entrance that sets the tone for everything that follows.
The principal living spaces have been arranged to celebrate the volume of the church. A sweeping, split-level lounge and dining room unfolds beneath the curved roof, bathed in natural light from four great arched windows. It is a room that feels expansive without ever feeling cavernous. The light does the work.
The principal bedroom reads as a retreat in its own right. An en-suite bathroom feels almost spa-like: original stone walls, a high chapel ceiling and leaded glass are paired with a luxurious copper roll-top bath, walk-in shower and underfloor heating. Elsewhere on this floor, a bespoke oak kitchen-breakfast room offers wide, uninterrupted views across the surrounding countryside; two further bright double bedrooms, one currently used as a second sitting room overlooking the pond, share a shower room; and a private study set within the bell tower provides a calm, characterful place to work, with built-in storage to match.
The Guest Level Below
Downstairs, the ground floor has been planned with holiday and guest use in mind, though the way it has been constructed means most internal walls could be reconfigured if required. Original external stonework and timber wainscoting remain in situ, lending the entire level a strong sense of continuity with the building’s past.
The former altar area now forms a striking reception room, complete with original pews, panelling and leaded windows, a space that retains the quiet dignity of its ecclesiastical origins while serving an entirely new purpose. An arched doorway leads to the former vestry, with WC, and out to the gardens. A central lounge and bar area acts as a social hub, with a fitted bar and a kitchenette that can serve guests or double as additional family living space. Alongside this sit a self-contained studio with its own kitchen and a recently installed bathroom, plus four further double bedrooms with private or shared en-suite facilities, including a Jack and Jill arrangement that makes the layout particularly adaptable.
The Bell Tower
The bell tower is the signature moment of the whole property.
Fixed stairs rise to the original bell platform, with a further flight leading out onto the roof, where the view stretches across farmland to the coast. The original bell remains in working order, operable by hand or electrically, a rare and genuinely romantic flourish that connects daily life directly to the building’s past. Few homes, after all, can announce a wedding or mark a moment with the peal of their own bell.
Two Acres in the Sunshine Belt
Approached via a private road, with a secondary path that could be reopened as an additional access, the property sits within around two acres of landscaped grounds.
The hilltop setting lends itself to layered lawns, rustic terraces and a series of outdoor dining spots, all oriented to capture light and views. A large lily pond brings colour, reflection and movement in summer. On occasion, the gardens have hosted small weddings, the peal of the church bell marking the moment. It is, in every sense, a property that knows how to celebrate.
Life Between Elgin, Speyside and the Moray Coast
Parrandier lies roughly half a mile from the village of Urquhart and five miles from Elgin, in a corner of Morayshire celebrated for its unusually dry, sunny climate, Scotland’s “sunshine belt”. It is a part of the world that rewards the curious.
Elgin, the capital of Moray, is a handsome cathedral town a short drive away. Its ruined medieval cathedral, founded in the 13th century and known as the “Lantern of the North”, is one of Scotland’s most evocative historic sites. The town also hosts the Glen Moray distillery, the renowned Johnstons of Elgin woollen mill, and Gordon & MacPhail, one of the world’s great whisky emporiums.
Speyside is whisky country, home to more than fifty distilleries, more than half of Scotland’s total. The Malt Whisky Trail threads through Glenfiddich, The Macallan, Aberlour, Benromach and Glen Moray, among others, offering tours and tastings year-round. The annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival brings the region to life each spring.
To the north, the Moray Firth is famous for its resident bottlenose dolphins, one of the largest populations in the UK. They can be spotted from the shore at Spey Bay, home to the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre, and along the coast, while boat trips run from Lossiemouth and Buckie. The Moray Coast Trail, a 50-mile waymarked route from Findhorn to Cullen, strings together golden sandy beaches, fishing villages, cliffs and coves, a coastline often celebrated among Scotland’s most unspoilt.
Lossiemouth, the “Jewel of the Moray Firth”, is a short drive away with its long East Beach and harbour marina; the wider coast offers championship golf, forest trails and, in season, skiing within reach of the Cairngorms. Six miles south-west of Elgin, the medieval Pluscarden Abbey, founded in 1230 and the only medieval monastery in Britain still inhabited by monks, sits in a sheltered, south-facing glen, a place of profound quiet.
In practical terms, the A96 is about ten minutes away, and Elgin’s railway station links to Inverness, Aberdeen and the wider Scottish network. The neighbouring village of Lhanbryde provides a regular bus service. It may well be rural living, but it’s connected, not cut off.
A Building Enjoying a Second Life
Parrandier is, above all, a building with a generous spirit, a 19th-century kirk saved from obsolescence by becoming a warm, practical and genuinely characterful home. Eight bedrooms and six bathrooms across two thoughtfully planned levels, a working bell tower, two acres of hilltop gardens, and the whole of Speyside and the Moray coast within easy reach. It is a home that could house a large family, host guests, generate an income or simply be lived in deeply and well.
For anyone who has ever wanted to ring the bell on their own front door, here’s your chance.
Watch the video tour of Parrandier
Parrandier Church, formerly the Old Church of Urquhart, Meft Road, Urquhart by Elgin, Moray, IV30. Category B-listed, LB14876. Eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, approximately two acres. Freehold. £650,000. Viewings by appointment with Unique Property Company. 020 3987 1739.
