Duddingston Kirk facts for kids
.jpg)
Duddingston Kirk is a historic parish church belonging to the Church of Scotland. You can find it right next to Holyrood Park in Duddingston Village, a part of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. The church still holds regular services for its community.
Contents
The Story of Duddingston Kirk
Duddingston Kirk is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh, with a history that goes back almost 900 years!
How It All Began
The church was built around the year 1124 by a Norman knight named Dodin. The land was given to Kelso Abbey by King David I of Scotland. The Normans were famous for their strong and beautiful buildings, and they brought their style to Scotland.
When it was first built, the church had a simple layout with a main hall (the nave), an area for the altar (the chancel), and a square tower. The original entrance is on the south side and is a fantastic example of Scoto-Norman carving. This style mixes Scottish and Norman art, and you can see it in the rounded top of the doorway.
Growing and Changing
Over the centuries, the church has been updated. In 1631, as more people joined the parish, a new section called the Prestonfield Aisle was added. This gave the church a new gallery and more space downstairs.
The inside of the church was updated again in 1968. At that time, a large pipe organ was removed to change the layout of the interior.
A Place for Famous People
Because it's so close to the center of Edinburgh, Duddingston has always been a popular spot for artists and important people.
The famous novelist Walter Scott, who wrote books like Ivanhoe and Rob Roy, was an elder at this church. An elder is a respected member who helps lead the church community. He was chosen for this role in 1806.
The church has also been used as a performance space during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a huge arts festival that takes place in the city every year.
Art and Stained Glass
Duddingston Kirk is not just a place of worship; it's also full of beautiful art.
Beautiful Windows
The church has several stunning stained glass windows. These windows tell stories and remember important people from the church's past.
- One set of windows on the north side was designed by the famous artist Douglas Strachan. They are a memorial to Joan Carfrae, the wife of Allan Pinkerton, who started the famous Pinkerton detective agency in America.
- Another window near the pulpit honors Stevenson Macadam, who was a scientist and an elder at the church.
Ministers of the Kirk
A minister is the person who leads the church's services and community. Duddingston Kirk has had many interesting ministers over the years.
- John Thomson was the minister from 1805 to 1840. He was also one of Scotland's most famous landscape painters! He painted beautiful scenes of the Scottish countryside, often from right outside the church.
- He was followed in 1841 by James Macfarlane.
- Other ministers from long ago include Charles Lumsden and Robert Monteith of Salmonet in the 1600s, and Robert Pollock in the 1700s.
The Historic Kirkyard
"Kirkyard" is the Scottish word for a churchyard or cemetery. The graveyard at Duddingston Kirk is the final resting place for many notable people.
Some of the people buried or remembered here include:
- William Dick-Cunyngham - A memorial for this brave soldier who was awarded the VC, the highest award for bravery.
- James Macfarlane - A former minister of the kirk.
- Mackintosh MacKay - A minister who was a leader in the Free Church of Scotland.
- Thomas Meik - An important engineer.
- John Thomson of Duddingston - The famous painter and minister is buried here.
- James Browne - A writer whose grave is said to be in the base of the church tower.
See Also
