Lady Yester's Kirk

From Wikishire
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Lady Yester's Kirk

Midlothian

Location
Grid reference: NT26067344
Location: 55°56’55"N, 3°11’7"W
City: Edinburgh
History
Address: Infirmary Street
Built 1803 – 1805
By: William Sibbald
Jacobean
Information
Owned by: University of Edinburgh

Lady Yester's Kirk was a parish church of the Church of Scotland and one of the burgh churches of Edinburgh. The original, Jacobean church has long since gone, and the Regency church which superseded it has been secularised and serves as the office of the Estates Department of the University of Edinburgh.

Founded in 1647, Lady Yester's Kirk served the south-eastern part of Edinburgh's Old Town until its union with Greyfriars Kirk in 1938.

Margaret, Lady Yester gave a benefaction to establish the church in 1647; though a parish and minister were not allotted to the church until 1655. It was again without a regular congregation between 1662 and 1691. A secession from the congregation in 1764 led to the formation of Edinburgh's first Relief congregation. The church was notable for its close connection to the nearby University of Edinburgh and three of its ministers served as the university's Principal. Though the Disruption of 1843 little affected the church, improvement works and population movement in the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century depleted the congregation. In 1938, the congregation united with Greyfriars Kirk. The building was sold to the university, which continues to use it as the headquarters of its Estates Department.

The church building was completed in 1805 to a Jacobean design by William Sibbald. It incorporates and imitates some features of the original church, which stood slightly to the east. The first church included the burial aisle of Lady Yester. An elaborate Renaissance plaque which stood over her grave is now housed in Greyfriars Kirk.

History

Seventeenth century

The stone which once marked the location of Lady Yester's burial, now housed in Greyfriars Kirk

The church was named for Margaret, Lady Hay of Yester. Lady Hay was a daughter of Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian and the widow of James Hay, 7th Lord Hay of Yester. On her husband's death, she assumed the name Lady Yester: Master of Yester being a title held in courtesy by her eldest son.[1][2] In 1635, the town council moved to erect two new churches: the one that become the Tron Kirk and another at Castlehill. When funds proved insufficient for both, the Castlehill project was abandoned and funds and efforts redirected towards the completion of the Tron. Lady Yester funded the completion of the Tron and gave money for the church that would bear her name.[3] Her donation consisted of 10,000 merks for the church and a further 5,000 merks to maintain the minister.[4] When, in 1647, the town council informed Lady Yester that almost all of the 15,000 merks would be used to build the church, she left an annual maintenance of 1,000 merks for the minister.[5][6]

During Cromwell's occupation of Edinburgh, his troops used the church as barracks and ransacked it.[7][8] In 1655, part of the area of the Tron Kirk parish was detached to create a parish for Lady Yester's. This was bounded in the west by Peebles Wynd (now Blair Street) and College Wynd and to the east by the Cowgate Port. It encompassed all closes on the north side of the Cowgate that were not thoroughfares and stretched southwards from the Cowgate to the Flodden Wall.[9] A minister, John Stirling of the Tron, was appointed at the same time but, at the re-establishment of episcopacy following the Restoration, he was deprived of his position and the parish was annexed by the Tron. During this period, the church was not used for regular worship; though laureations (graduations) of the nearby town college were held here.[10]

From 1686, following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the church was also used by a French Protestant congregation. That year, the town council commissioned two Huguenot furniture makers, Paul Roumieu senior and Peter Pittit, to repair the church.[11] From 1687, the congregation of Holyrood Abbey occupied the church following their displacement from their place of worship by King James VII. With the completion of the Canongate Kirk, the Holyrood congregation moved out in 1691. That year, Lady Yester's parish was reinstated and Thomas Wilkie of the Tolbooth was appointed minister.[10][12] Lady Yester's continued to serve as the main church for the college. The Janitor, bearing the mace, would lead the professors in procession to worship.[13]

1700–1843

In December 1762, the death of John Hyndman left a vacancy in the church's ministry. To fill this, the town council used its right of patronage to appoint John Drysdale against the wishes of the General Sessions, which usually elected ministers to the burgh churches. The Court of Session and House of Lords both found Drysdale's presentation was valid and he was inducted to the charge on 24 August 1764. The controversy saw several members leave Lady Yester's and form Edinburgh's first Relief congregation, which eventually settled nearby at South College Street.[14] In the later 18th century, the church's beadle was Mungo Watson. Noted for his schemes to extract profits as beadle of Lady Yester's and as doorman to the General Assembly, he was caricatured by John Kay with the caption "Prayers at All Prices".[15]

In late 1803, the congregation expressed concerns about the stability of the students' gallery. The building was inspected and immediately condemned. Thomas Bonnar both purchased the old church and constructed the new one.[16] The new church, constructed to the west of its predecessor, opened on 8 December 1805.[17] Rumours circulated that the old church's condemnation was a means for Bonnar to make a profit by building the new church on the cheap, reusing many of its predecessor's materials. The accusations appeared to be founded when, as early as 1825, the church required a new roof. During the period of closure to replace the roof, the congregation met at Hope Park Chapel.[16][18] A group of Anti-Burghers opposed to the creation of the United Secession Church built a chapel on the site of the old church.[19][20]

The church in the 1820s

During the incumbency of Thomas Fleming from 1806 to 1824, the church was one of the best attended in the city.[21] In Hunter's time, the church established its first, albeit short-lived, Sabbath school. The school was established in response to an appeal by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, issued after a riot on New Year's Day 1812, during which a murder was committed and three boys were executed.[22]

Following Fleming's death, the town council imposed John Lee as minister against the wishes of the congregation, who had requested the services of Robert Gordon. This caused the departure of a large portion of the congregation and a decline in attendance.[23] Attendance recovered significantly during the ministry of Lee's successor Archibald Bennie.[24] In 1837, the church was allocated a new parish, bounded by the Cowgate in the north, West College Street and College Wynd in the west, and the city wall in the south and east.[25] During the early 19th century, noted physician John Abercrombie worshipped at the church, as did the bookseller David Laing.[26]

Last years

Bennie and almost all his congregation remained in the national church at the Disruption of 1843.[19] Bennie introduced private tuition for children, which was formalised as a Congregational School shortly after his death in 1846. In 1848, a Parochial School was also established.[27] Bennie also founded a Female Society. A Missionary Association followed, as did a Sabbath Morning Fellowship Association in 1859 and a Penny Savings Bank in 1862.[28] Bennie was succeeded by John Caird, who later served as Principal of the University of Glasgow. Caird attracted a large number of students to the congregation.[29] He was so popular as a preacher that, during his ministry, admission to the church was by ticket only.[30]

In 1859, the addition to the parish of a portion of St Leonard's between St Leonard's Lane and Brown Street was proposed but never advanced; the following year, management of Edinburgh's burgh churches, including Lady Yester's, passed from the city council to the city's Ecclesiastical Commissioners.[31] By this time, city improvements were massively altering the southern part of the Old Town and Chambers Street was cut through Lady Yester's parish, depleting the area's population and the church's congregation.[32]

First World War memorial

Changes in the city continued throughout the early 20th century. Following the union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland in 1929, there were more churches than required in the Old Town and Southside.[30] In this context, the congregation united with Greyfriars Kirk on 3 July 1938. The church and hall were sold to the city council who, in turn, gave them to the University of Edinburgh's for the use of the Works Department.[33] The building is now the headquarters of the university's Estates Department.[34]

Buildings

First building and churchyard

Lady Yester's Kirk, Edinburgh, on James Gordon of Rothiemay's 1647 map

Little detail survives as to the appearance of the first church. James Gordon of Rothiemay's 1647 plan of Edinburgh shows Lady Yester's as a large, cruciform building; as does William Edgar's Edinburgh map of 1742.[35] The church's facade included a large, round-headed traceried window.[36] The design of this window was replicated in the new church.[37]

Before her death, Lady Yester ordered the addition of an aisle to the church, which would go on to serve as the place of her burial. It is not recorded that Lady Yester's remains were removed when the old church was demolished.[38] The church's ceiling was wooden and one of the old building's last surviving worshippers recalled that it was painted with a depiction of the Last Judgement. It was originally without galleries; though these were added, including one for use by the students of the university.[36] The church could accommodated 817 sittings.[39]

Edgar's map of 1742 shows the church as being surrounded by a large churchyard.[40][41] This was surrounded by boundary walls and only accessible via a gate at High School Wynd (now Infirmary Street).[39] From 1749, part of the churchyard was used for the burial of the dead of the neighbouring Royal Infirmary.[42]

Second building

The second church was constructed between 1803 and 1805 to a design of William Sibbald. The church's form is similar to the Canongate Kirk and its detail imitates the post-Gothic style of the 1640s. The façade, in ashlar, consists of a Dutch gable facade of three bays with short pinnacles on the corners. The middle bay is slightly advanced. The ground floor of each bay includes a round-headed door under a hoodmould. Above these are round-headed windows in simple surrounds. The tracery of the central window imitates that of the original church.[43][44]

Sibbald's plan also included detached pavilions on either side of the church, facing onto Infirmary Street. These originally served as shops.[45] With the replacement of the roof in 1825, the church's walls were raised by 8 ft (2.4 m).[10] A monumental plaque featuring a putto's head has been retained in the east wall.[46] A hall was later constructed next to the church. A two-manual Wadsworth organ was installed in 1888 and rebuilt by Ingram & Co. in 1924.[10][47]

Lady Yester's is a Category B listed building.[43]

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Lady Yester's Kirk)

References

  1. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 12-13.
  2. ↑ Gray 1940, p. 57.
  3. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 16-17.
  4. ↑ Arnot 1779, p. 275.
  5. ↑ Gray 1940, pp. 57-58.
  6. ↑ Cowan 1912, p. 75.
  7. ↑ Scott 1915, p. 80.
  8. ↑ Anderson 1931, p. 496.
  9. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 9-10.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Dunlop 1988, p. 88.
  11. ↑ Bamford 1966, p. 41
  12. ↑ Maitland 1753, p. 181.
  13. ↑ Gray 1940, p. 60.
  14. ↑ MacKelvie 1873, pp. 192-193.
  15. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 26-28.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Hunter 1864, p. 22.
  17. ↑ Scott 1915, p. 81.
  18. ↑ Cowan 1912, pp. 85-86.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Dunlop 1988, p. 89.
  20. ↑ Anderson 1931, p. 498.
  21. ↑ Hunter 1864, p. 42.
  22. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 69-70.
  23. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 42-44.
  24. ↑ Hunter 1864, p. 52.
  25. ↑ Hunter 1864, p. 23.
  26. ↑ Gray 1940, pp. 64.
  27. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 67-69.
  28. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 70-73.
  29. ↑ Gray 1940, pp. 63-64.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Pinkerton 2020, p. 17.
  31. ↑ Hunter 1864, pp. 24, 25.
  32. ↑ Gray 1940, p. 59.
  33. ↑ Dunlop 1988, p. 91.
  34. ↑ Pinkerton 2012, p. 168.
  35. ↑ Cowan 1912, pp. 75-79.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Hunter 1864, p. 21.
  37. ↑ RCAHMS record of Edinburgh, 9 Infirmary Street, University of Edinburgh Department of Works
  38. ↑ Anderson 1931, pp. 497-498.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Anderson 1931, p. 495.
  40. ↑ Cowan 1912, p. 79.
  41. ↑ Gray 1940, pp. 58-59.
  42. ↑ Cowan 1912, p. 89.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 RCAHMS record of University of Edinburgh, 9 and 11 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh
  44. ↑ Gifford, McWilliam, Walker 1984, p. 163.
  45. ↑ Gifford, McWilliam, Walker 1984, p. 229.
  46. ↑ RCAMS 1951, p. 124.
  47. ↑ Lady Yester's Parish Church, Infirmary Street: National Pipe Organ Register
  • Anderson, William Pitcairn (1931). Silences that Speak: Records of Edinburgh's Ancient Churches and Burial Grounds, with Biographical Sketches of Notables who Rest there. Alexander Brunton. 
  • Arnot, Hugo (1779). The History of Edinburgh. William Creech. 
  • Bamford, Francis (1966). "Some Edinburgh Furniture-Makers". Book of the Old Edinburgh Club ΧΧΧII: 32–53. 
  • Cowan, William (1912). "The Site of the Blackfriars Monastery from the Reformation to the Present Day". Book of the Old Edinburgh Club V: 67–94. 
  • Dunlop, A. Ian (1988). The Kirks of Edinburgh: 1560–1984. Scottish Record Society. ISBN 0902054104. 
  • Gifford, John; McWilliam, Colin; Walker, David (1984). Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh. Penguin. ISBN 0300096720. 
  • Gray, William Forbes (1940). Historic Churches of Edinburgh. Moray Press. 
  • Hunter, James J. (1864). Historical Notices of Lady Yester's Church and Parish, Edinburgh. Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.. 
  • Lamb, John Alexander (1961). Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation: Volume IX: Ministers of the Church from the Union of the Churches, 2 October 1929, to 31 December 1954. Oliver and Boyd. 
  • MacKelvie, William (1873). Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church. Oliphant and Company. 
  • Maitland, William date=1753. History of Edinburgh from its Foundation to the Present Time. Hamilton, Balfour and Neill. 
  • Pinkerton, Roy M. (2020). Threads in a Tapestry: The Greyfriars Congregations. ClaroPrint. 
  • Royal Commission on the Ancient Monuments of Scotland (1951). The City of Edinburgh. His Majesty's Stationery Office. 
  • Scott, Hew
    • Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation (New Edition): Volume I: Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. Oliver and Boyd. 1915. 
    • Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation: Volume VIII: Ministers of the Church from the Date of Publication of Volumes I-VII, 1914-1928, to the Union of the Churches, 2 October 1929, and Addenda and Corrigenda 1960-1949. Oliver and Boyd. 1950. 
Retrieved from "https://wikishire.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Lady_Yester%27s_Kirk&oldid=93270"