Church of the Holy Rude facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Rude |
|
|---|---|
| The Parish Church of the Holy Rude | |
|
Eaglais na Crois Naoimh
|
|
A view from Stirling Castle
|
|
 Church of the Holy Rude
Location in Stirling
Church of the Holy Rude
Location in Scotland
|
|
| 56°07′15.1″N 3°56′40.0″W / 56.120861°N 3.944444°W | |
| Location | Stirling |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Presbyterian |
| Website | Church Website |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1129 |
| Founder(s) | David I of Scotland |
| Dedication | Holy Cross |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | 1530 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 60.96 m (200 ft 0 in) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 25.91 m (85 ft 0 in) |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stirling |
| Presbytery | Perth |
| Synod | Forth |
The Church of the Holy Rude (in Scottish Gaelic: Eaglais na Crois Naoimh) is a very old church in Stirling, Scotland. It is named after the Holy Rood, which means "Holy Cross." This refers to a piece of the cross that people believe Jesus was crucified on.
The church was first started in 1129 by King David I. However, the oldest parts of the building you see today were built much later, in the 1400s. This makes it the second oldest building in Stirling, right after Stirling Castle. The main part of the church, called the chancel, and the tower were added in the 1500s.
Because Stirling Castle was a favorite home for Scottish kings and queens, the Church of the Holy Rude became very important to the royal family. It was used for royal baptisms (when babies are welcomed into the church) and coronations (when kings and queens are officially crowned). It is one of only three churches in Britain where coronations have taken place and that are still in use today.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Past
The first church built here in 1129 was destroyed by a fire in 1405. After the fire, people started building a new church. Work on the main part, called the nave, began around 1414. By the 1480s, the roof of the nave was finished.
The building of the chancel (the area around the altar) started later, in 1507, and was completed around 1530. At the same time, the church's west tower was made taller. A very important event happened here on July 29, 1567: King James VI was crowned King of Scots in this church when he was just 13 months old! A bishop named Adam Bothwell led the ceremony, and John Knox gave a sermon.
You might notice some small marks on the church walls. Some people think these marks are from musket shots during a battle in 1651. This was when General Monk attacked Stirling Castle. However, these marks are mostly on one side, facing the castle. It seems more likely that soldiers in the castle were just practicing their aim by shooting at the church's narrow windows.
For a while, the church was actually divided into two separate parts inside. This happened in 1656 because of disagreements among the church members. A wall was built to separate the two groups. This wall stayed in place for a very long time, until 1936.
In 1940, the church was restored, and its beautiful oak beam roof was uncovered again. More recently, in 2023, the church started working with a local tourism group. Their goal is to help more people visit and learn about this amazing historic site.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
The Church of the Holy Rude has many stunning stained glass windows. Most of these colorful windows were added in the late 1800s. They were made by famous companies like Ballantine & Co. and Cottier & Co.
The Apse and its Influence
The church has a special rounded or semi-circular end called an apse. This unique design was so admired that it inspired the apse of another church, St Leonard's-in-the-Fields Church in Perth.
Exploring the Historic Graveyard
The church has a very old graveyard, mostly located to its west and north-west. Some of the gravestones here date back to the 1500s!
In 1851, the graveyard was made larger. This created the Valley Cemetery to the north. It's separated from the old graveyard by just a path. This newer part has several statues by Alexander Handyside Ritchie. These statues show important figures from the Reformation, a big change in religious history.
One very interesting stone in the old graveyard tells a unique story. It has a carving that shows a strange event from 1822. A local gravedigger and his friend took a body from its grave. They were caught but later released due to legal reasons. The body was reburied, and this special stone was carved to remember the unusual event.
Images for kids
-
Musket ball damage on the north side of the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling
-
A view from the churchyard
