Colinton Parish Church facts for kids
Colinton Parish Church is a community belonging to the Church of Scotland. The church building is in Dell Road, in the Colinton area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands right beside the Water of Leith.
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A History Through Time
A church has been on this site for about 1,000 years. The story of this church community goes back even further, starting in 1095.
Early Beginnings
The first church was founded in 1095 by Ethelred, who was the Earl of Fife and a son of King Malcolm III of Scotland. At that time, it was known as the parish of Hailes. The church was placed under the control of the famous Dunfermline Abbey.
In 1248, a new church building was dedicated on the site. Sadly, it is believed this building was destroyed during an English invasion in 1544.
Rebuilding and Modern Design
The church we see today was mostly built in 1908. It was designed by the architect Sydney Mitchell. However, it includes a tower from an older church that was built in 1837 by another famous architect, David Bryce.
Inside, the church has a beautiful and unique design inspired by ancient Byzantine art. It features columns made of pink sandstone. A new church hall was also built next to it in the 1990s to provide more space for the community.
By 2001, the church had over 1,100 members, making it one of the largest congregations in the Church of Scotland.
Leaders of the Church
Over the centuries, many ministers have led the congregation at Colinton. A minister is a religious leader in the Church of Scotland, similar to a priest or pastor. Some of the ministers here became very important leaders in the national church.
Several former ministers served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is the highest position in the church for that year. One of them was the Very Reverend Dr William Bryce Johnston, who was Moderator in 1980.
Another well-known minister was Rev Lewis Balfour, who served from 1824 to 1860. He was the grandfather of the famous Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson.
Famous People Buried Here
The church's graveyard is the final resting place for many notable people from Scottish history. Here are a few of them:
- Dr George William Balfour, a famous doctor.
- Rev Lewis Balfour, minister of Colinton and grandfather of author Robert Louis Stevenson.
- Alexander Lorne Campbell, an architect.
- James Gillespie (philanthropist), a merchant who left his money to build a school for boys.
- Admiral John Inglis, a high-ranking naval officer.
- Very Rev William Bryce Johnston, a minister at the church who also became Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
- Phoebe Traquair, a celebrated artist known for her beautiful murals and embroidery.
- Ramsay Heatley Traquair, a respected naturalist and expert on fossil fish.
Colinton Cemetery
Next to the old graveyard, a larger cemetery was added in the late 1800s. In the middle of this cemetery stands the village's war memorial. It was designed by the sculptor Pilkington Jackson to honor local people who died in wars.
The cemetery also contains a Norwegian war grave, which is not very common in Scotland. This grave honors a person from Norway who died during wartime.
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