Duddingston Kirk, Old Church Lane, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH15 3PX 0131 661 4240 email: jamesapjack@aol.com
Setting the scene
Duddingston Kirk lies on the south-east slopes of Arthur's Seat, a long extinct volcano near the centre of Edinburgh - Scotland's capital city. It is the parish church, within the Church of Scotland - the national church in Scotland. Duddingston Kirk is one of the oldest churches still in use in Scotland.
Where did it all start?
Duddingston loch is known to have had a lake village during the bronze age. From the yard you can still see signs of prehistoric cultivation terraces on the slopes of Arthur's Seat. The church was founded in the 12th century by a Norman Knight called Dodin on land given to him by King David I of Scotland.
The Exterior
The original building, on an east-west axis, consists of chancel, nave and the square tower.
In 1631 the Prestonfield Aisle, consisting of Gallery, downstairs area and burial vaults were added on the north side.
The 12th century door on the south wall is a good example of a Norman rounded doorway with its typical chevron markings. The crucifix figurine represents Christ, draped to the feet, on the cross; and the other figures, that of St Peter with raised sword and St Mary at the foot of the cross.
The blocked up Laird's entrance can also be seen on the north side of the wall.
By the churchyard gates, there is the Gatehouse. Built with windows on each wall, it was formerly used to watch for "body-snatchers" (criminals in the early 19th century who stole corpses to sell for medical research.)
Also outside are the heavy lockfast burial tombs used to deter body-snatching. Also there are the 'Jougs', once used as punishment (like handcuffs, but to fit round the neck!) and the 'Loupin on stane' from the age of horse transport.
The Interior
The Kirk's interior was largely reordered in 1968.
The chancel and Norman arch show the masons mark on the red Craigmillar quarry sandstone. Traces can be seen of the holes for the beams of the former Laird's loft as well as the blocked up doorway leading from the outside stairway.
The tomb and shield on the north wall of the chancel commemorate the burial of Alexander Thomson and his wife Margaret Preston of Craigmillar. The latin inscription translates "3-12-1603 The day of death is to the believer the birthday of eternal life".
The window in the east wall of the chancel, with the theme of the Ascension, commemorates Bailie and Mrs Hay. To the left of the pulpit the window has Jesus the Good Shepherd and is in memory of Dr McAdam, a former elder.
To the right of the pulpit is a window depicting St Luke, the patron saint of artists and commemorates the early 19th century Minister, the Rev John Thomson. A friend of the painters Turner and Raeburn, and the novelist Sir Walter Scott, Thomson was also a noted landscape painter. John Thomson was greatly liked by local people, who gave rise to the saying - "we're all Jock Tamson's bairns".
Sir Walter Scott was ordained an elder at Duddingston in 1805 and is supposed to have sketched out his novel "Heart of Midlothian" in the manse garden.
The "burning bush" symbol of the Church of Scotland (from the Old Testament Book of Exodus) is above the pulpit.
Upstairs, at the rear of the Prestonfield Gallery, is a set of three lovely stained glass windows with the following inscription : "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Joan Carfrae Pinkerton, born in this Parish 1 December 1822 and died in Chicago U.S.A. 22 January 1887, these three windows erected by her daughter Joan Pinkerton Chalmers who also wishes to commemorate in this memorial the kind sympathy shown to her mother by Frances Ingram Spence, second wife of the Revd. John Thomson who died in 1845."
The Pinkerton Window is in memory of Alan Pinkerton's wife who was born at Duddingston. Alan Pinkerton (1819-1884), was born in Glasgow and in America in 1852, founded the Pinkerton Detective Agency now called Pinkerton Securities.
Duddingston Kirk lies on the south-
Where did it all start?
Duddingston loch is known to have had a lake village during the bronze age. From the yard you can still see signs of prehistoric cultivation terraces on the slopes of Arthur's Seat. The church was founded in the 12th century by a Norman Knight called Dodin on land given to him by King David I of Scotland.
The Exterior
The original building, on an east-
In 1631 the Prestonfield Aisle, consisting of Gallery, downstairs area and burial vaults were added on the north side.
The 12th century door on the south wall is a good example of a Norman rounded doorway with its typical chevron markings. The crucifix figurine represents Christ, draped to the feet, on the cross; and the other figures, that of St Peter with raised sword and St Mary at the foot of the cross.
The blocked up Laird's entrance can also be seen on the north side of the wall.
By the churchyard gates, there is the Gatehouse. Built with windows on each wall, it was formerly used to watch for "body-
Also outside are the heavy lockfast burial tombs used to deter body-
The Interior
The Kirk's interior was largely reordered in 1968.
The chancel and Norman arch show the masons mark on the red Craigmillar quarry sandstone. Traces can be seen of the holes for the beams of the former Laird's loft as well as the blocked up doorway leading from the outside stairway.
The tomb and shield on the north wall of the chancel commemorate the burial of Alexander Thomson and his wife Margaret Preston of Craigmillar. The latin inscription translates "3-
The window in the east wall of the chancel, with the theme of the Ascension, commemorates Bailie and Mrs Hay. To the left of the pulpit the window has Jesus the Good Shepherd and is in memory of Dr McAdam, a former elder.
To the right of the pulpit is a window depicting St Luke, the patron saint of artists and commemorates the early 19th century Minister, the Rev John Thomson. A friend of the painters Turner and Raeburn, and the novelist Sir Walter Scott, Thomson was also a noted landscape painter. John Thomson was greatly liked by local people, who gave rise to the saying -
Sir Walter Scott was ordained an elder at Duddingston in 1805 and is supposed to have sketched out his novel "Heart of Midlothian" in the manse garden.
The "burning bush" symbol of the Church of Scotland (from the Old Testament Book of Exodus) is above the pulpit.
Upstairs, at the rear of the Prestonfield Gallery, is a set of three lovely stained glass windows with the following inscription : "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Joan Carfrae Pinkerton, born in this Parish 1 December 1822 and died in Chicago U.S.A. 22 January 1887, these three windows erected by her daughter Joan Pinkerton Chalmers who also wishes to commemorate in this memorial the kind sympathy shown to her mother by Frances Ingram Spence, second wife of the Revd. John Thomson who died in 1845."
The Pinkerton Window is in memory of Alan Pinkerton's wife who was born at Duddingston. Alan Pinkerton (1819-
