Rathven

Coordinates: 57°40′41″N 2°56′02″W / 57.678°N 2.934°W / 57.678; -2.934

Rathven (Scots: Raffin) is a village and former civil parish in Moray, Scotland. The parish was last used as a census subdivision in 2001 when the population was 12,378 and included the former burghs of Buckie, Findochty and Portknockie.

Churches

In the village, as well as Rathven Kirk is the Roman Catholic St Peter's Church. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as a cathedral. St Gregory's Church, Preshome and St Ninian's Church, Tynet are served from here. The church was built in 1851-7 to a design by Bishop James Kyle and Alexander and William Reid. In 1907 the chancel, altar and baptistry were altered by Charles Jean Ménart, who also designed St Aloysius Church, Glasgow.

Notable people

The Addison family in Rathven can be traced back to the 17th century and this branch includes the Canadian-Czech philanthropist, Vincent Peter Addison (d. 2007) and the travel writer, David M. Addison whose latest work "Confessions of a Banffshire Loon" contains much information about the Addisons of Rathven as well as the Addisons of nearby Portknockie where Joseph Addison was the first provost. There are also a couple of chapters on the Gordons of Letterfourie who were the lairds and masters of the people of Rathven.