Dirleton Kirk facts for kids
Dirleton Kirk is a historic church located in the village of Dirleton, in East Lothian, Scotland. It stands just north of the village green. Dirleton is a small village on the southern coast of the Firth of Forth, about 21 miles east of Edinburgh.
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Early Churches in the Dirleton Area
Before 1612, the main church for this area was the 12th-century St. Andrews Church in Gullane. This old church was also known as Golyn. It's believed that Cistercian nuns lived near the old church in Gullane in the 1100s. Another group of Cistercians had a home in a lost village called Eldbottle.
Around the same time, a family called de Vaux built a chapel in Dirleton dedicated to All Saints. Later, in 1444, the Haliburton family, who were the lords of Dirleton Castle, started a college of priests at their church in Dirleton.
The old church at Gullane continued to be used even after the Reformation, a big change in the church. However, in 1612, Sir Thomas Erskine asked the Scottish Parliament to move the main church to Dirleton. He explained that the old church in Gullane was too exposed to strong winds and blowing sand from the nearby beach. So, the church moved to Dirleton.
An interesting fact: in 1576, Andrew McGhie, who was the last vicar (a type of priest) at Gullane St. Andrews, was told off by King James VI for using too much tobacco!
Building the New Dirleton Kirk
Dirleton Parish Church, which is dedicated to St. Andrew, was built soon after Sir Thomas Erskine's request in 1612. It was designed to be long and wide, with rounded windows.
Over the years, the church was changed and made bigger. The Archerfield, or Dirleton Aisle, was built over the grave of James Maxwell, 1st Earl of Dirletoun. This part of the church is thought to be the very first example of neo-classical architecture in Scotland. Neo-classical architecture is a style that uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. In 1836, the church tower was given Gothic pinnacles, which are pointed decorations, making it blend nicely with the rest of the building.
Mary Nisbet Hamilton (1777–1855) helped the church a lot. She paid for a new house for the minister in 1828, made sure the tower was finished, and added a vestry (a room where clergy prepare). As a way to remember his wife, Mr. Russell of Archerfield gave a beautiful stained glass window. This window shows 'St. Francis and the animals', and it has more than ninety animals in it! Miss Margaret Chilton designed this amazing window.
It's quite special that the church records go all the way back to 1655. Since 1576, there have only been twenty ministers serving the parish. In 1971, Dirleton Kirk was given a special status as a Category A listed building, meaning it's a very important historical building.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Dirleton Kirk has several stunning stained glass windows, each telling a story or showing an important figure.
- South (porch): This window shows St Francis of Assisi and was designed by Margaret Chilton. It has three panels.
- Main east window: This large window also has three panels.
- South-west: This window shows the Christ Child and was made by Ballantine and Gardiner in 1899.
- South central: Titled "Suffer the Little Children," this window was created by Daniel Cottier in 1892.
- North: This window depicts Samuel anointing David and was designed by Douglas Strachan in 1916.
- North-east: This window shows Jesus as the Shepherd.
Dirleton Kirk Today
Today, the parish of Dirleton includes the villages of Dirleton, Fenton Barns, Archerfield, part of North Berwick called Westerdunes, and the small village of Kingston. Since 1989, Dirleton Kirk has been linked with the Abbey Church in North Berwick. The current minister is Dr. David Graham.
Important People Connected to Dirleton Kirk
Many notable people have been associated with Dirleton Kirk over the centuries.
- Sir Thomas Erskine: He was Lord Dirleton and played a key role in moving the parish church to Dirleton.
- Sir James Maxwell of Dirleton: The Archerfield Aisle was built over his grave.
- Sir John Nisbet, Lord Advocate: He was a very respected lawyer and a man known for his honesty and strong belief in the law.
- Mary Nisbet Hamilton: She contributed greatly to the church, funding improvements and additions.
- Mr. Jackson Russell of Archerfield: He donated the beautiful stained glass window in memory of his wife.
