The parish records spell the name in various other ways such as Deare, Diere and Dier.
Columba and his nephew
Drostan founded a monastery here in 719, of which no trace remains. The
Book of Deer is a most interesting relic of the monks, which was discovered in 1857 in the
Cambridge University library by
Henry Bradshaw. It was probably stolen during the
Wars of Scottish Independence by English troops. It is a small manuscript of the
Gospels in the
Vulgate, fragments of the liturgy of the
Celtic church, and notes, in the Gaelic script of the 12th century, referring to the charters of the ancient monastery, including a summary of that granted by
David I of Scotland. These are among the oldest examples of
Scottish Gaelic. The manuscript is also adorned with Gaelic designs. It had belonged to the monks of Deer and been in the possession of the University Library since 1715. It was edited by
John Stuart for the
Spalding Club, by whom it was published in 1869 under the title
The Book of Deer ('''' in Gaelic). In 1218
William Comyn, earl of Buchan, founded the
Abbey of St Mary of Deer, now in ruins, farther up the river than the monastery and on the opposite bank. Although it was erected for
Cistercians from the
priory of
Kinloss, near
Forres, the property of the Columban monastery was removed to it. The founder (died 1233) and he and his countess were buried in the church. The parish is rich in antiquities, but the most noted of them is the Stone of Deer, a sculptured block of
syenite, which stood near the abbey; it was destroyed in 1854. Deer Parish Church dates to 1788. Its tower, with pyramid spire, was designed by George Reid. Internal fittings were by
Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. Ruins of its predecessor survive in the grounds. Across Abbey Street is St Drostan's Episcopal Church, dating to 1851. Its roof has a
bellcote at its western end. ==Aikey Brae stone circle==