Features of the Dirleton Kirk building
Note that there is a more detailed description of each window on a small wall plaque beside every one. AS YOU ENTERThe Archerfield Aisle (or Dirleton Aisle) is reputedly built over the grave of the first Earl of Dirleton, James Maxwell, who was created Earl in 1646 for his services to the King. This side aisle may have been for the benefit of the nobility during worship (notice the memorial to the Earl of Breadalbane & Holland), or even for visiting royalty (see the plaque to the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII). To your left, on the south side of the aisle, is a window of ‘St Francis and the Animals’ by Margaret Chilton. It was gifted in 1935 by Mr. Jackson Russell of Archerfield, in memory of his wife who had drowned in North Berwick harbour.
THE CHANCEL AREAMove to the centre of the church, and turn to your right, facing the chancel window. There are two lecterns just in front of you. The larger one is the reading lecturn, in memory of ‘CL and CRL’ in 1890. The smaller one is a reading desk gifted by James Harrold in memory of his wife Marjorie, inscribed ‘MJH 1921-2002’.
The large 3-part window at the east end, above the communion table, depicts ‘I am the Vine’, and remembers Betty Henderson Reid in 1930. The wooden cross was a gift from former Kirk elders Stanley and Averil Scott when they moved away in 2004.
THE MAIN NAVETurn to face west (with your back to the pulpit and table), and look up the aisle. All the pews now face east towards you, but try to imagine the old layout, with the pulpit just beyond the door on the north wall (to the right), and the pews facing it inwards from both directions. This is how the church would have looked for the first 300 years of its history. For the sacrament of communion, the table would have been set along the centre of the pews, like a long bench.
OUTSIDEIn the early 1800s, thanks to Mary Hamilton Nisbet (Lady Elgin), the tower above the west end of the church was built, and a side vestry added for the Minister. A new manse was also built, facing east along the village green (it is now a private house). Stand outside the Kirk door, and look up the path. To the right at the top of the path is the old Session House building, where the Kirk elders used to meet. The low adjoining building was the mortuary, very convenient for the graveyard (but thankfully it is no longer used for this purpose!). To the left, on the other side of the gate, is the church hall. This was the original village school until the ‘new’ one was built in 1912 (the old school bell is still visible on the roof). The private house adjoining the hall was for the schoolmaster. The kirkyard has a fascinating history, and there is a guide booklet available, thanks to the local History Society. But take care – old gravestones can be unsteady. After more than 400 years of worship and witness, today we are in good heart and eager to carry on the Lord's work. With Christ central to all our activities, we continue God’s work in the same spirit as those who have done so in previous centuries. FURTHER READINGThere is more information about the graves in the kirkyard in this document (courtesy of Gullane and Dirleton History Society). There is more information about the Dirleton war memorial in this document (courtesy of Derek Carter) |