Dirleton Kirk, East Lothian, Scotland
The beautiful village of Dirleton is a couple of miles from North Berwick. The parish church dates from the early 17th century and according to British Listed Buildings is, "arguably the first post reformation church in Scotland, before Greyfriars in Edinburgh." The tower was raised to four stages in 1825. The building is Category A listed.
The Archerfield Aisle, which projects from this side of the building in Scottish Renaissance style, dates from 1656-74 and was begun by Elisabeth Debousy at cost of £45, allegedly to cover the grave of James Maxwell. According to British Listed Buildings, the three-light window may have come from an earlier collegiate church at Dirleton.
There were 42 collegiate churches in Scotland during the period 1250-1567, the earliest being the Church of "Saint Mary on the Rock" at Saint Andrews. Usually founded by powerful families, one purpose of the collegiate church was to pray for the souls of those members of the founding family that found themselves in purgatory. The Protestant reformers of the 16th century did not accept the existence of purgatory, therefore these institutions became redundant, and all ceased to function by 1567 when the Catholic mass was abolished by act of Parliament.
In England I am used to churches being dedicated to saints, but in Scotland things are much plainer and hence this is simply Dirleton Kirk (church).
Dirleton Kirk, East Lothian, Scotland
The beautiful village of Dirleton is a couple of miles from North Berwick. The parish church dates from the early 17th century and according to British Listed Buildings is, "arguably the first post reformation church in Scotland, before Greyfriars in Edinburgh." The tower was raised to four stages in 1825. The building is Category A listed.
The Archerfield Aisle, which projects from this side of the building in Scottish Renaissance style, dates from 1656-74 and was begun by Elisabeth Debousy at cost of £45, allegedly to cover the grave of James Maxwell. According to British Listed Buildings, the three-light window may have come from an earlier collegiate church at Dirleton.
There were 42 collegiate churches in Scotland during the period 1250-1567, the earliest being the Church of "Saint Mary on the Rock" at Saint Andrews. Usually founded by powerful families, one purpose of the collegiate church was to pray for the souls of those members of the founding family that found themselves in purgatory. The Protestant reformers of the 16th century did not accept the existence of purgatory, therefore these institutions became redundant, and all ceased to function by 1567 when the Catholic mass was abolished by act of Parliament.
In England I am used to churches being dedicated to saints, but in Scotland things are much plainer and hence this is simply Dirleton Kirk (church).