Dunbar Collegiate Church facts for kids
Dunbar Collegiate Church was a very important church built a long time ago in a place called Lothian, Scotland. It was special because it was the first "collegiate church" in that area, started in 1342. This old church was located right where the Dunbar Parish Church stands today, near the center of Dunbar town.
Contents
The Story of Dunbar Collegiate Church
Early Beginnings
The first time anyone wrote about a church in Dunbar was in 1176. It was called Eclessia de Dunbar and was dedicated to a saint named St. Bega. This church served the local community for many years.
Becoming a Collegiate Church
In 1342, something big happened. On April 21, Patrick, the 9th Earl of Dunbar, was given the right to own this church. He decided to make it a "collegiate church." This meant it would have a special group of religious leaders. These leaders included a dean, an archdean, and eight "prebendaries." Each prebendary was responsible for a specific area, like Spott or Linton.
The Dunbar family was known for supporting religious places. Before this church, they had helped start a house for Trinity friars in 1218 and a monastery for Carmelite monks in 1263.
Changes in Ownership
Dunbar Collegiate Church continued to operate as planned until 1435. At that time, it became "forfeit to the crown," which means it was taken over by the king. For a while, the Duke of Albany controlled the church during the time of King James III of Scotland. Later, it went back to the Dunbar family. But in 1483, it became the king's property again. It stayed that way until 1560, when the Protestant Reformation happened.
After the Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a big change in how people practiced Christianity. Many old churches and monasteries were damaged or destroyed during this time. However, Dunbar Collegiate Church was lucky. It was saved from being destroyed.
The old church then became the main parish church again, but this time for the new Protestant faith. Over the years, the church building was repaired and updated many times. It had a mix of different old building styles. In 1779, most of the church was rebuilt. Then, between 1819 and 1821, a completely new church was constructed. It opened on April 20, 1821.
Inside the church, there is a beautiful monument. It honors George Hume, 1st Earl of Dunbar (1556-1611). He was a very important person who worked tirelessly for King James VI and I. He held important jobs like High Treasurer of Scotland and Chancellor of the Exchequer of England.
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Important People
Columba de Dunbar
Columba de Dunbar was an important religious leader. In 1412, he became the dean of Dunbar Collegiate Church. 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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