Dunbar Collegiate Church facts for kids
Dunbar Collegiate Church was a very old and important church in Dunbar, Scotland. It was the first "collegiate church" in the Lothians area, started way back in 1342. This means it had a special group of priests who worked together. The church stood in the same spot where the main church in Dunbar is today, on Queen's Road.
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A Church with a Long Story
The first time anyone wrote about a church in Dunbar was in 1176. It was called Eclessia de Dunbar. This church was dedicated to St. Bega. It served all the people in the area until 1342.
Becoming a Collegiate Church
On April 21, 1342, Patrick, the 9th Earl of Dunbar, was given the right to own the church. He made it a "collegiate church." This meant it would have a special team of church leaders. These included a dean, an archdean, and eight prebendaries. These leaders were responsible for different areas around Dunbar, like Spott, Belton, and Stenton.
The Dunbar family often supported religious places. They had already helped start a group of Trinity friars in 1218. Later, in 1263, they helped create a monastery for Carmelite monks.
Changes Over Time
Dunbar Collegiate Church continued as planned until 1435. At that time, it was taken over by the King. For a while, the Duke of Albany used the church during the time of King James III of Scotland. But then, it went back to the Dunbar family.
In 1483, the church was taken by the King again. It stayed under royal control until 1560. This was when the Protestant Reformation happened. This was a big change in how people practiced Christianity in Scotland.
After the Reformation
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Unlike many other churches and monasteries, Dunbar Collegiate Church was not destroyed during the Reformation. People were very angry at the old ways of faith, but this church was saved. It became the main church for the area once more, but now for the new Protestant faith.
Over the years, the church was repaired and updated many times. It looked like a mix of different old building styles. In 1779, almost the whole church was rebuilt. Then, between 1819 and 1821, a brand new church was constructed. It opened on April 20, 1821. The Reverend John Jaffray was the first minister in this new building.
Inside the church, there is a grand monument. It honors George Hume, 1st Earl of Dunbar (1556-1611). He was a very important government official for King James VI and I. He served as the High Treasurer of Scotland and the Chancellor of the Exchequer of England.
A Famous Church Leader
Columba de Dunbar became the dean of the Collegiate Church in 1412. Later, he became the Bishop of Moray at Elgin Cathedral. He passed away in 1435 and is buried in a special part of Elgin Cathedral called the Dunbar Aisle.
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