Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dundee Parish Church |
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| The Parish Church of Saint Mary | |
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Eaglais Naoimh Moire
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Dundee Parish Church, St Mary's
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| 56°27′35″N 2°58′19″W / 56.459716°N 2.971969°W | |
| Location | Dundee |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Presbyterian |
| Website | Church Website |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1190 |
| Founder(s) | David, Earl of Huntingdon |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | 1844 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 48.8 m (160 ft 1 in) |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dundee |
| Presbytery | Dundee |
| Synod | Perth and Angus |
Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s) is an important church located in Dundee, Scotland. It is one of the "City Churches" in Dundee, sharing a building with the Steeple Church. Both churches are part of the Church of Scotland.
This church played a big role in the Scottish Reformation, a time when the church in Scotland changed a lot. In 1556, it was one of the first churches to become "Reformed," according to John Knox, a famous Scottish reformer.
The church was first built in 1190 by David, Earl of Huntingdon, who was the brother of King William the Lion. The original buildings are no longer standing because the church was burned down twice by invading English armies, once in 1303 and again in 1547. In the Middle Ages, Dundee's church was the largest parish church in Scotland. Its tower, called the Old Steeple, was built in the 1470s and was the tallest in the city.
In 1841, a big fire destroyed three of the City Churches. Two of them, St Paul's and St Mary's, were rebuilt. St Mary's, now known as Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's), was finished in 1844. The Old Steeple, which is very old, dates back to the 1480s. For many years, several different church groups met under one roof in the City Churches, but in separate areas. Today, there are two main groups: Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s) and the Steeple Church.
Some past ministers of this church have even served as the leader of the entire Church of Scotland. One of the most recent was Dr William B. R. Macmillan in 1991.
Church Leaders Through History
For a long time, St Mary's was the only parish church in Dundee, until 1834. Different church groups met inside St Mary's, each with its own minister. From 1609 to 1690, there were three ministers at the same time, each leading their own group within the church building.
Ministers from 1690 to Today
After 1690, the Church of Scotland changed to a Presbyterian style of leadership. Since then, many people have served as the minister of Dundee Parish Church. The current minister is Keith F. Hall, who started in 1994.
Here are some of the ministers who have served since 1690:
- Samuel Johnstone (1699–1731)
- Robert Small (1761–1808)
- Archibald McLachlan (1808–1848)
- Archibald Watson (1862–1881)
- Colin Campbell (1882–1905)
- William L. Wilson (1905–1911)
- Adam W. Fergusson (1911–1933)
- Alfred Ernest Warr (1933–1936)
- John Henry Duncan (1937–1951)
- Hugh O. Douglas (1951–1977)
- William B. R. MacMillan (1978–1993)
- Keith F. Hall (1994–present)
Special Memorials
Dundee Parish Church has important memorials inside. One memorial remembers the soldiers from the 4th (City of Dundee) Battalion and 4/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion of the Black Watch who died during the First World War.
In 2017, a new memorial was placed in the church. It honors over 600 local sailors and women who died during the First World War. Anne, Princess Royal, a member of the Royal Family, unveiled this memorial during a special service on July 10, 2017.
See also
