Greyfriars Church outside view Edinburgh Scotland
Greyfriars Kirk has an important place in the history of the Scottish Covenanters. In 1638 the National Covenant was presented and signed in front of the pulpit. In 1679, some 1200 Covenanters were imprisoned in the Kirkyard pending trial. In the mid 19th century, the Rev Robert Lee, then minister of Old Greyfriars, led a movement to reform worship, introducing the first post-Reformation stained glass windows in a Presbyterian church in Scotland, and also one of the first organs. He received considerable criticism at the time, but most of his proposals were subsequently widely accepted in the Church of Scotland. For many years, Greyfriars Kirk was divided into two places of worship — Old Greyfriars and New Greyfriars. These two congregations united in 1929 and the historic church building was subsequently extensively restored. The interior dividing wall between the two former separate sanctuaries was removed as part of these renovations, completed in 1938. When they were completed the vault containing the family of Lauder of that Ilk found itself located in the kitchen rather than within part of the church proper. Given the depopulation of Edinburgh's Old Town in the early part of the 20th century, many neighbouring church buildings were closed and their congregations united with Greyfriars, including the New North Church and Lady Yester's Church. In 1979 the congregation united with the former Highland Tolbooth St John's Church (this building on the Royal Mile is now used as The Hub, the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival society). The graveyard surrounding the church, Greyfriars Kirkyard, is in the hands of a separate trust. Numerous well known people are buried in this graveyard including Lord Monboddo and his daughter Eliza. For many, the graveyard is associated with Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal dog who guarded his master's grave. The kirkyard is reputedly haunted by the restless spirit of the infamous "Bloody" George Mackenzie, which is sa
Size: 5315px × 3558px
Location: Edinburgh Scotalnd
Photo credit: © Jean-Christophe Godet / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: cemetery, church, covenant, covenanters, edinburgh, grefyfriars, greyfriars, history, kirk, presbyterian, scotland, scottish
