Church of St Mary the Virgin, Arbroath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin's Church, Arbroath
Denomination	Scottish Episcopal Church
Churchmanship	Central Episcopalian Tradition
Website	http://www.stmarysarbroath.org.uk/
History
Dedication	St Mary the Virgin
Administration
Diocese	Brechin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Scottish Episcopal church building located in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland. It is part of the Diocese of Brechin, which is a larger group of churches in the area.

Discovering St Mary's Church Building

The church building you see today on Springfield Terrace was built between 1852 and 1854. It was designed by a famous architect from Edinburgh named John Henderson. Later, in 1927, Robert Lorimer added beautiful wooden screens and panels inside the church, especially in the chancel area.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The church has a large, long main hall called a nave, and a north aisle which is a side section. It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, and a small side chapel.

A tall tower with a pointed roof, called a spire, stands at the front-left side of the church. This spire has small windows, known as lucarnes, and is a well-known sight in Arbroath. The church walls are made of snecked masonry, which means the stones are laid in a pattern with smaller stones filling the gaps. The roof is made of slate.

The building was officially recognized as a historic building in 1971, given a 'Category B' listing. This means it is an important building that should be protected. The house where the church minister lives, called the rectory, was also designed by John Henderson and has a 'Category C' listing.

The Church Organ

Inside the church, there is a large organ. This musical instrument was built by a company called Blackett & Howden from Newcastle upon Tyne.

A Look Back: History of the Congregation

The people who belonged to the Episcopal Church in Arbroath had a long journey to find their current home. In 1694, they moved out of the main Arbroath parish church and began meeting in different places around the town.

Around 1760, a special group called a Qualified congregation was formed. This was a group of Episcopalians who followed certain laws at the time. In 1806, the different Episcopal groups in Arbroath joined together. They worshipped in the old St Mary's chapel, which was the former Qualified chapel. This old chapel was sold in 1859 after the current church building was finished. Today, the St Ninian's United Free Church (which is no longer used) stands where the earlier St Mary's chapel used to be.

Church Records

If you are interested in the history of St Mary's Church and its members, many old church records are kept at the University of Dundee Archives. They are part of the Brechin Diocesan Library Manuscripts collection.

See also

• St Andrew's Parish Church, Arbroath (Church of Scotland)
• St John's Methodist Church, Arbroath