CHRISTIAN GRAINER [née FLETCHER] (1619-1691) later Lady Abercrombie
Christian Grainger nee Fletcher was born in either 1619 or 1620. In 1642 she married James Grainger the Presbyterian minister of Kinneff church. She achieved fame for helping to prevent the Honours of Scotland (the crown, sceptre and sword of state) from falling into the hands of Oliver Cromwell's forces. The Honours had been used at the coronation of Charles II at Scone on 1 January 1651 but could not be returned thereafter to Edinburgh Castle which had fallen to the Cromwell army. In June 1651 the Honours were taken to Dunnottar Castle on the coast of Kincardineshire near Stonehaven.
By September 1651 it was apparent that the castle would soon fall to the invaders and a plan was hatched with the involvement of the Countess Marischal, Elizabeth Douglas wife of George Ogilvie the governor of the castle and Christian Grainger to remove the Honours from the castle. There are several different accounts as to how this was done but they all involved Christian and her maidservant who smuggled them out of the castle either on one occasion or more in March 1652. Christian and James Grainger had been allowed to pass through the ranks of the besieging forces as it was thought that they would not cause any problems and would be company for Mrs Ogilvie.
The Honours were buried in Kinneff Church by night and in secret. On 24 May 1652 Dunnottar Castle surrendered and the Cromwellians were exceedingly angry to find the Honours had disappeared. The Countess Marischal told them a story that her son, John Keith, had removed them to the continent and this threw the English off the scent and the hunt was scaled down. The Honours remained at Kinneff Church and every three months they were dug up, aired, cleaned and reburied in fresh cloths. On 8 October 1660 they were given to Royalist forces and were taken to Edinburgh Castle. The Countess Marischal continued to insist that her story was true and secured monies and titles for her son. Ogilvy secured a lesser reward by claiming the main role in saving the Honours and a bitter feud broke out between the families. However, an act of the Scottish Parliament in January 1661 recognised that Christian had been most active in securing the safety of the Honours and awarded her a sum of 2000 merks Scots. This money was, however, never paid.
James Grainger died around 20 May 1663 and on 18 October 1663 Christian married James Sandilands, Lord Abercrombie who granted her the life-rent charter of the estate of Largie. Nothing is known of the rest of her later life, and she died in February 1691.
Christian Grainger epitomises the fact that women took most of the risks in saving the Honours while men took most of the glory.
In the rebuilt church of Kinneff now known as Kinneff Old Church there are monuments honouring James Grainger and Ogilvy and his wife but nothing acknowledging the involvement of Christian. There is a modern interpretative display detailing the history of the church and its role in Scottish history. If it had not been for the bravery of Christian Grainger, the Honours would have been seized by Cromwell and destroyed for ever. The church is open daily to the public.
Entry written by Kinneff Old Church Preservation Trust.
By September 1651 it was apparent that the castle would soon fall to the invaders and a plan was hatched with the involvement of the Countess Marischal, Elizabeth Douglas wife of George Ogilvie the governor of the castle and Christian Grainger to remove the Honours from the castle. There are several different accounts as to how this was done but they all involved Christian and her maidservant who smuggled them out of the castle either on one occasion or more in March 1652. Christian and James Grainger had been allowed to pass through the ranks of the besieging forces as it was thought that they would not cause any problems and would be company for Mrs Ogilvie.
The Honours were buried in Kinneff Church by night and in secret. On 24 May 1652 Dunnottar Castle surrendered and the Cromwellians were exceedingly angry to find the Honours had disappeared. The Countess Marischal told them a story that her son, John Keith, had removed them to the continent and this threw the English off the scent and the hunt was scaled down. The Honours remained at Kinneff Church and every three months they were dug up, aired, cleaned and reburied in fresh cloths. On 8 October 1660 they were given to Royalist forces and were taken to Edinburgh Castle. The Countess Marischal continued to insist that her story was true and secured monies and titles for her son. Ogilvy secured a lesser reward by claiming the main role in saving the Honours and a bitter feud broke out between the families. However, an act of the Scottish Parliament in January 1661 recognised that Christian had been most active in securing the safety of the Honours and awarded her a sum of 2000 merks Scots. This money was, however, never paid.
James Grainger died around 20 May 1663 and on 18 October 1663 Christian married James Sandilands, Lord Abercrombie who granted her the life-rent charter of the estate of Largie. Nothing is known of the rest of her later life, and she died in February 1691.
Christian Grainger epitomises the fact that women took most of the risks in saving the Honours while men took most of the glory.
In the rebuilt church of Kinneff now known as Kinneff Old Church there are monuments honouring James Grainger and Ogilvy and his wife but nothing acknowledging the involvement of Christian. There is a modern interpretative display detailing the history of the church and its role in Scottish history. If it had not been for the bravery of Christian Grainger, the Honours would have been seized by Cromwell and destroyed for ever. The church is open daily to the public.
Entry written by Kinneff Old Church Preservation Trust.
