Duddingston Kirk
Encyclopedia
Duddingston Kirk is a Parish Church in the Church of Scotland
, located adjacent to Holyrood Park in Duddingston Village
, on the east side of the City of Edinburgh
. Regular services are held at the Kirk, conducted by the minister, Rev Dr James A. P. Jack (from 2001).
This ancient church was built in or around 1124 by Dodin, a Norman
knight, on land granted to Kelso Abbey
by King David I of Scotland
. As originally built, the Kirk consisted of the chancel
, nave
and square tower
. The traditional pattern of an east-west axis was adopted. The original entrance on the south wall includes a particularly fine example of Scoto-Norman
stone carving, with a round-topped doorway. Following the enlargement of the parish boundaries, the Prestonfield Aisle was added in 1631. This consists of a gallery, downstairs area and burial vaults were on the north side. In 1968 the Kirk’s interior was reconditioned, with the former pipe organ removed.
The entrance to the Kirkyard from Duddingston village is notable for its gatehouse, built as a lookout point to deter “bodysnatchers” in the early 19th century. The Edinburgh bodysnatchers, known as 'resurrectionists', stole recently-buried corpses to sell to anatomists, and, as in the notorious case of Burke and Hare, sometimes also resorted to murder.
Given its proximity to central Edinburgh, Duddingston has long been a favourite location for many of the city’s artists and professionals. The novelist Walter Scott was ordained an elder at Duddingston in 1806. A famous former minister in the mid 19th century was the Reverend John Thomson
, also a notable painter and friend of Raeburn
and Turner
, who was widely admired locally. His pastoral ministry gave rise to the popular Scottish expression "We’re a' Jock Tamson’s bairns
”.
Another minister of this parish, James Macfarlane, was Moderator of the General Assembly
in 1865.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, located adjacent to Holyrood Park in Duddingston Village
Duddingston
Duddingston is a former village in the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, next to Holyrood Park.-Origins and etymology:The estate wherein Duddingston Village now lies was first recorded in lands granted to the Abbot of Kelso Abbey by David I of Scotland between 1136–47, and is described as stretching...
, on the east side of the City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Regular services are held at the Kirk, conducted by the minister, Rev Dr James A. P. Jack (from 2001).
This ancient church was built in or around 1124 by Dodin, a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
knight, on land granted to Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey is what remains of a Scottish abbey founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I. It occupies ground overlooking the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot waters, the site of what was once the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
by King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
. As originally built, the Kirk consisted of the chancel
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
, nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and square tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
. The traditional pattern of an east-west axis was adopted. The original entrance on the south wall includes a particularly fine example of Scoto-Norman
Scoto-Norman
The term Scoto-Norman is used to described people, families, institutions and archaeological artifacts that are partly Scottish and partly Norman...
stone carving, with a round-topped doorway. Following the enlargement of the parish boundaries, the Prestonfield Aisle was added in 1631. This consists of a gallery, downstairs area and burial vaults were on the north side. In 1968 the Kirk’s interior was reconditioned, with the former pipe organ removed.
The entrance to the Kirkyard from Duddingston village is notable for its gatehouse, built as a lookout point to deter “bodysnatchers” in the early 19th century. The Edinburgh bodysnatchers, known as 'resurrectionists', stole recently-buried corpses to sell to anatomists, and, as in the notorious case of Burke and Hare, sometimes also resorted to murder.
Given its proximity to central Edinburgh, Duddingston has long been a favourite location for many of the city’s artists and professionals. The novelist Walter Scott was ordained an elder at Duddingston in 1806. A famous former minister in the mid 19th century was the Reverend John Thomson
Reverend John Thomson
The Reverend John Thomson was the minister of Duddingston Kirk near Edinburgh, Scotland and a distinguished amateur landscape painter.-Early life:...
, also a notable painter and friend of Raeburn
Henry Raeburn
Sir Henry Raeburn was a Scottish portrait painter, the first significant Scottish portraitist since the Act of Union 1707 to remain based in Scotland.-Biography:...
and Turner
J. M. W. Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
, who was widely admired locally. His pastoral ministry gave rise to the popular Scottish expression "We’re a' Jock Tamson’s bairns
Jock Tamson's Bairns
"We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns" is Lowland Scots and Northumbrian English for we're all John Thomson's children, It is a popular saying in Scotland and the far north of England, and is known in other parts of the world...
”.
Another minister of this parish, James Macfarlane, was Moderator of the General Assembly
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
in 1865.
See also
- DuddingstonDuddingstonDuddingston is a former village in the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, next to Holyrood Park.-Origins and etymology:The estate wherein Duddingston Village now lies was first recorded in lands granted to the Abbot of Kelso Abbey by David I of Scotland between 1136–47, and is described as stretching...
- EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
External links
- Duddingston Kirk
- Church of Scotland Presbytery of Edinburgh
- Duddingston Kirk Photosynth of Duddingston Kirk