Bolton Parish Church, East Lothian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolton Parish Church |
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| Location | Bolton, East Lothian |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Churchmanship | Reformed, presbyterian |
| Website | Yester, Bolton and Saltoun Church website |
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| Parish | Bolton & Saltoun |
| Presbytery | Lothian |
Bolton Parish Church is a historic church located in Bolton, East Lothian, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. This church, along with Yester Church and Saltoun Parish Church, serves the local area known as the parish of Yester, Bolton and Saltoun.
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History of Bolton Parish Church
The very first church in Bolton was built around the year 1240. For about 300 years, it was looked after by the Canons of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. By 1804, the old church was in poor condition. The local landowners, called heritors, decided something needed to be done.
In January 1805, these landowners met. They chose to build a brand new church instead of fixing the old one. They planned for the new church to hold 250 people. By the end of 1809, the new church was finished. Later, in 1930, the pulpit (where the minister speaks) was moved. The choir area was also changed. In 1957, a central aisle was added, which made the seating area smaller.
Interesting Features
The Graveguard
In the church porch, you can see a special item called a "graveguard." This was a clever device from the Victorian era. It was designed to stop "body-snatchers." These were people who would secretly dig up recently buried bodies from graveyards. They would then sell the bodies to medical schools in Edinburgh for study. The graveguard and its tools are on display in the church porch.
Burials and the Bolton Hearse
Important people are buried under the church's aisles. These include the Lords Blantyre and the Stuarts of Eaglescairnie.
Bolton Church also has a very special item called the Bolton Hearse. A hearse is a vehicle used to carry a coffin at a funeral. This particular hearse is pulled by horses. Experts believe it is the oldest surviving piece of Scottish coachwork (like a carriage) still in existence. The Bolton Hearse is now kept at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, where you can see it.
See also
