St John's Kirk is a church in the Scottish city of
Perth
Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
,
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. It is bordered by Highland (council area), Highland and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus, Scotland, Angus, Dundee, and F ...
. Of
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...
denomination, it is located in
St John's Place, just southeast of the city centre. It stands on the former site of a church dating to 1126. Today's structure, built around 1448, is a
Category A listed
Category, plural categories, may refer to:
General uses
*Classification, the general act of allocating things to classes/categories Philosophy
* Category of being
* ''Categories'' (Aristotle)
* Category (Kant)
* Categories (Peirce)
* Category ( ...
building.
[ST JOHN'S KIRK, KIRKSIDE, ST JOHN'S PLACE, ST JOHN STREET]
– Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) () is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Sc ...
The church is most noted for being the site of
John Knox
John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland.
Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...
's 1559 sermon against
idolatry
Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic ...
, which began the
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was the process whereby Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church, and established the Protestant Church of Scotland. It forms part of the wider European 16th-century Protestant Reformation.
Fr ...
.
Perth was originally called ''St Johns Toun'' (or ''Saint Johnstoun''), after
John the Baptist
John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...
, to whom the church is dedicated.
The church is bounded by St John's Place to the north (fed by Kirkgate) and south (as South St John's Place, fed by St Ann's Lane),
St John Street to the east and Flesher's Vennel to the west.
Earlier structure
There has been a church on the site since 1126, when King
David I withdrew funds to support
Dunfermline Abbey. It was likely not completed until 1242, however, which is when it was dedicated by
David de Bernham, the bishop of St Andrews.
[''Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland'']
Francis Hindes Groome (1901)
The heart of King
Alexander III was buried at the location in 1286.
[
King ]Edward I
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 125 ...
heard mass
Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...
at the church during his 1296 invasion of Scotland, the First War of Scottish Independence.[ Kings Charles I, Charles II and Prince Charles Edward Stuart are all known to have worshipped there.][
]
Today's church
The present church, cruciform
A cruciform is a physical manifestation resembling a common cross or Christian cross. These include architectural shapes, biology, art, and design.
Cruciform architectural plan
Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform ...
in shape, is a result of a 15th-century rebuild. The choir is now the oldest part of the building, dating to 1448.[
The central tower is understood to have been the model for the two towers of St Machar's Cathedral in ]Aberdeen
Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
. The upper room of the tower was once used as a prison for prostitutes
Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-p ...
, but it was removed in 1823.[ The north porch is known as Halkerston's Tower, likely after architect John Halkerston, who worked at the church in the 1460s.][
Before the ]Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was the process whereby Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church, and established the Protestant Church of Scotland. It forms part of the wider European 16th-century Protestant Reformation.
Fr ...
, the incorporations of crafts in Perth had altars in the church. The wrights (carpenters) and barbers maintained an altar dedicated to "Our Lady of Pity". A craftsman who broke the rules would pay a fine in wax for the altar lights.
On 11 May 1559, minister and founder of the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...
John Knox
John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland.
Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...
preached against idolatry
Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic ...
in the kirk, which marked the beginning of the Reformation in Scotland.[ After the sermon, the congregation stoned the priest, removed ornamentation from the church, and then went to nearby Greyfriars, Blackfriars and Charterhouse monasteries, "stripping them back to their bare walls".][ St John's Kirk was subsequently divided into three separate churches — East, Middle and West — each with its own minister.][
Until 1580, the surrounds of the church was the principal cemetery of Perth. While there are several burials still in the vicinity, prominent citizens were buried within the church.][
]
James Gillespie Graham reduced the north transept
A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...
in 1825 in order to improve traffic flow. He also carried out repairs on the building.[ Another restoration was done by Sir ]Robert Lorimer
Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer, Order of the British Empire, KBE (4 November 1864 – 13 September 1929) was a prolific Scotland, Scottish architect and furniture designer noted for his sensitive restorations of historic houses and castles, f ...
as a memorial to the men of Perthshire
Perthshire (Scottish English, locally: ; ), officially the County of Perth, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross, Strathmore ...
who lost their lives in World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Knox Chapel was dedicated to those who later fell in World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It was at the time of Graham's work that the church's interior partitions were removed, uniting the congregation once more. Lorimer also reinstated the upper floor of Halkerston's Tower.[
]
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
visited in 1955 and 1977. She dedicated the Black Watch window on her first visit.[
Pre-Reformation features of the church include ]holy water
Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from ...
stoups, piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, or else in the vestry or sacristy, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Lutherans and Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a pisci ...
, a stone niche and mason's marks. There is also a medieval collection box and a modern tapestry
Tapestry is a form of Textile arts, textile art which was traditionally Weaving, woven by hand on a loom. Normally it is used to create images rather than patterns. Tapestry is relatively fragile, and difficult to make, so most historical piece ...
.[
Repair and restorations occurred in the 1980s and in the early 21st century. The ]chandelier
A chandelier () is an ornamental lighting device, typically with spreading branched supports for multiple lights, designed to be hung from the ceiling. Chandeliers are often ornate, and they were originally designed to hold candles, but now inca ...
of the Virgin Mary
Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
, which is believed to have hung in the church in the 15th century, was restored to the building. It had been sold to Perth Museum and Art Gallery in the 19th century.[
The spire's weathercock was removed and restored in 2020.
Perth's first dedicated ]war memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue, or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or (predominating in modern times) to commemorate those who died or were injured in a war.
Symbolism
Historical usage
It has ...
was unveiled in St John Street, at the rear of the church, in 2021. Prior remembrance services were carried out at the Perth mercat cross, between Perth City Hall and St John's Shopping Centre, which was perceived to be "an insult" to veterans.
Stained glass
The church's early stained glass
Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
is the work of Ballantine and Allan, Stephen Adam and Douglas Strachan.[
The stained-glass Blue Window in the northwest corner of the church is the work of American glazier Harvey Salvin, whilst the Black Watch Window and St Christopher window were created by William Wilson.
]
Bells
Contained within the church building are 63 bells, a greater number than any other church in the British Isles. Of these, 35 form the active carillon
A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a musical keyboard, keyboard and consists of at least 23 bells. The bells are Bellfounding, cast in Bell metal, bronze, hung in fixed suspension, and Musical tuning, tu ...
installed in 1935, which is housed in the main tower belfry; the remainder are disused (13 hang in the side belfry on the north side of the spire which are visible from the outside, and the remaining 15 hang in a metal frame at floor level within the church building).
The Ave Maria bell, which hangs in the side belfry dates from about 1340. The disused "Agnus Dei" bell which is one of the 15 bells at floor level probably dates from the early 16th century. The bourdon or largest bell of the carillon, weighing 1429 kg, is an extremely fine casting by Peter Waghevens of Mechlin (Malines) and is dated 1506. This is one of the finest pre-reformation bells in existence. There are five Flemish chime bells (at floor level), dated 1526, which bear no maker's name but may be the work of Willem van den Ghein of Mechlin. In all there are eight bells at St John's which date from before the Reformation.
The modern carillon consists of the bourdon bell by Peter Waghevens (1506), and 34 bells cast by Gillett & Johnston
Gillett & Johnston was a clockmaker and bell foundry based in Croydon, England from 1844 until 1957. Between 1844 and 1950, over 14,000 tower clocks were made at the works. The company's most successful and prominent period of activity as a be ...
(1934). The whole carillon was set up for playing in the Croydon bell foundry in January 1935, and was inspected by the Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald (; 12 October 18669 November 1937) was a British statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The first two of his governments belonged to the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, where he led ...
. The bourdon hands in a lowside cast-iron frame for full circle ringing, the other 34 bells are hung dead in a metal framework to one side of the bourdon over five levels. These 35 bells are not visible from street level. The manual transmission of the carillon was replaced; the bell frame cleaned down and repainted by John Taylor & Co
John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Limited, trading as John Taylor & Co and commonly known as Taylor's Bell Foundry, Taylor's of Loughborough, or simply Taylor's, is the world's largest working bell (instrument), bell foundry. It is locat ...
in 2022.
Gallery
File:Perth view - geograph.org.uk - 2611209.jpg, The church's tower above the rooftops, looking west from Bridgend
File:Perth St John's Kirk Figure above the north portal.jpg, Figure of an angel above the north portal
File:Head (left), South Door, St. John’s Kirk, Perth. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg, Head (left), South Door
File:Head (right), South Door, St. John’s Kirk, Perth. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg, Head (right), South Door
File:Head (left), North Door, St. John’s Kirk, Perth. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg, Head (left), North Door
File:Head (right), North Door, St. John’s Kirk, Perth. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg, Head (right), North Door
See also
* List of carillons of the British Isles
* List of Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross
* List of listed buildings in Perth, Scotland
References
Bibliography
*Forthergill, Rhoda, Rita Hartley and Sue Hendry (2010), ''Walks Around Historic Perth''. Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Perth
*Gifford, John (2007), ''The Buildings of Scotland: Perth and Kinross''. Yale University Press
Yale University Press is the university press of Yale University. It was founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day and Clarence Day, grandsons of Benjamin Day, and became a department of Yale University in 1961, but it remains financially and ope ...
, New Haven and London
*Haynes, Nick (2000), ''Perth & Kinross: An Illustrated Architectural Guide''. The Rutland Press, Edinburgh
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint John's Kirk
Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross
Listed churches in Scotland
John's, Saint Kirk
1448 establishments in Scotland
Listed buildings in Perth, Scotland
Church of Scotland churches in Scotland
16th-century Church of Scotland church buildings