Mid Calder Parish Church

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Mid Calder Parish Church

The Mid Calder Parish Church , also Kirk of Calder , Calder Kirk or Parish Church of St John , is a church building of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the Scottish village of Mid Calder in the council area West Lothian . In 1971 the late Gothic building was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. The church is still in use today as a parish church .

history

At the site of today's church building there were probably previous buildings since the middle of the 12th century. A church from 1150 belonging to the diocese of St Andrews was consecrated in 1241. The relief of a Celtic cross in the masonry of the sacristy of the current building may date from this period.

Around 1350, the Sandilands family , later Lords Torphichen , came into possession of the Calder lands. Their ancestral home, the Calder House , is not far from Mid Calder. Since 1526 Peter Sandilands held the office of clergyman of the local church. In 1541 he initiated the construction of today's church, drew up a complete sketch the following year and ensured further financing. By Sandiland's death in 1547, however, only the choir and bell tower at the west end were completed. The building was provided with a temporary entrance area and used from then on.

After the Calder Kirk proved too small for the growing community in the 19th century, construction continued and was finally completed in 1863. However, one deviated significantly from the original plans, which provided for a westward nave . Instead, a transversely oblong body in the style of a western building was created on the west side, but with a clear excess width. The Edinburgh architects Brown & Wardrop is responsible for the planning . The bell from 1663 was re-cast in 1876. In 1888 an organ was installed. The historic leaded glass windows were restored in 1995.

Various eminent figures have visited the Kirk of Calder over the centuries. These include the Scottish reformer John Knox , the missionary and Africa researcher David Livingstone , the composer Frédéric Chopin and the chemist James Young .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b c d Network presence of the parish
  3. ↑ a b Entry on Mid Calder Parish Church  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
  4. ^ Information from the Scotland's Churches Trust

Web links

Commons : Mid Calder Parish Church  - collection of pictures, videos, and audio files

Coordinates: 55 ° 53 '24.4 "  N , 3 ° 28' 57.2"  W.