Tranent Parish Church facts for kids
Tranent Parish Church is a special church that belongs to the Church of Scotland. You can find it in the town of Tranent in East Lothian, about 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Edinburgh. The church is located on the north side of town, in a small lane at the bottom of Church Street.
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History of Tranent Church
The church building you see today in Tranent was finished in 1800. It's believed to be at least the third church to stand in this spot!
Early Beginnings
Local stories say there was a small chapel here as far back as the 700s. It was dedicated to St. Martin of Tours and connected to Lindisfarne, an important religious place. The town's old name, Travernant, means "settlement on the ridge overlooking a ravine." This suggests people lived here a very long time ago.
The first official mention of a church in Tranent was in 1145. It was set up by a church leader named Thor. Later, the church became part of Holyrood Abbey, a famous abbey in Edinburgh. People said the church building was much nicer than other country churches at the time.
Times of Trouble and Change
The church was badly damaged twice, in 1544 and 1547. This happened during a time of conflict called the Rough Wooing, when English forces attacked parts of Scotland.
After these attacks, Tranent Parish Church joined the Scottish Reformation. This was a big change when many churches in Scotland became Protestant instead of Roman Catholic. Even after this, the church stayed in a damaged state for a while.
It was fixed up and made bigger over time. Then, in 1799, people decided to build a brand new church. This new church opened in 1800, and it's the one that still stands today!
In 1954, the church had a major update and was refurnished. It cost a lot of money, over £10,000! While the work was happening, the church members met in the town hall. When they returned, the church looked much like it does now. Today, the church is recognized as a special historic building.
Worship at Tranent Church
Tranent Parish Church holds a service every Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. The only exception is on Remembrance Sunday, when the service starts at 11:30 AM after a public event at the war memorial.
Activities for Young People
Children usually stay in the main church for the first part of the Sunday service. Then, they are invited to go upstairs for 'J Club'. This club offers fun activities that are just right for their age, and they are linked to the Bible story of the day.
If younger children find it hard to sit still, they can go to a special gathering area. Adults with them can still see and hear the service from there, and the children have activities to keep them busy. There's also a creche available for very young children.
After every Sunday service, everyone is invited to stay for tea, coffee, and biscuits. It's a great chance to chat and get to know other people from the church.
Special Services
On the second Sunday of each month, there is a special service for all ages in the church.
Communion services, which are important services for Christians, are held at 11:00 AM on:
- The first Sunday in March
- The first Sunday in June
- The first Sunday in September
- The first Sunday in Advent (the time leading up to Christmas)
Tranent Kirkyard
The kirkyard is the churchyard or graveyard around the church. It has many interesting old gravestones.
One famous person buried here is Colonel James Gardiner. He died during the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745. This battle happened very close to Tranent Parish Church, and you could even see his home from there!
The kirkyard also has one of the oldest "doocots" in Scotland. A doocot is a special building where pigeons or doves were kept. This one dates all the way back to 1587!
Images for kids
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This old doocot (dovecote) in the kirkyard dates back to 1587.
