Bobby's Blog

The sign “Refreshment Rooms” above the door of Traill’s Temperance Coffee House in Greyfriars Place may have meant that the two flats directly above the shop were part of the restaurant.

The illustration shows the west side of St Giles to the right of the Tolbooth. The present entrance was added when the building was refurbished.

The Tolbooth Jail stood on the west side of St Giles on the north side of Parliamentary Square

The weekly Sunday morning service has resumed at Greyfriars Kirk. The historic church which is 400 hundred years old this Christmas is open to visitors this Thursday from 11.oo am till 3.00 pm. To receive a weekly newsletter contact: minister@greyfriarskirk.com

An escort consisting of Major Hilton and Lt Fraser accompanied by two colour sergeants carried the old colours of the 78th Highlanders to St Giles.

A guard of honour accompanied the old colours of the Scottish regiments from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles on November 15th 1883. A detachment from the Scots Greys and the regimental band and pipers of the Gordon Highlanders also took part in the procession. The route from the fortress to St Giles was lined with hundreds of men, women and children who had turned out to see the colours being laid up.

Ballantine & Allan also installed the stained glass windows in St John’s Episcopal Church at the city’s west end.

Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard: first meeting of the volunteer group

A new friends group for Greyfriars Kirkyard

Public Meeting to gather supporters for a new ‘Friends of’ group for Greyfriars Kirkyard

We want to hear your visionfor the future of Greyfriars Kirkyard.

We are looking for enthusiastic people to join us in setting up a new ‘friends of’ group, created for Greyfriars Kirkyard, to coordinate local community interest and support for this iconic site. 

This free event, facilitated by Edinburgh World Heritage and led by Charlotte Golledge (volunteer and Greyfriars Kirkyard enthusiast), is part of the Making Lasting Impressions: Greyfriars Kirkyard community project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund, which aims to involve a wider range of people with this beloved heritage site.

At this event you will hear from Dr Jeff Sanders, Vice President of the Friends of Warriston Cemetery, who will share the experiences of Edinburgh’s first graveyard friends group, and Dr Susan Buckham (Edinburgh World Heritage’s Graveyards Project Manager) who will describe the work of graveyard ‘friends of’ groups across the UK. 

Please join us at this public meeting to lend it your support and find out how you can get involved. 

All are welcome.

How to take part

1. Book your free ticket and we’ll send you the joining info
2. Download Zoom – it’s free (for mobile: android or Apple, and for desktop)
3. Join us at 6pm on Thursday 12th November 2020 via the link in your confirmation email

Details

• Date: Thursday 12 November 2020
• Start time: 6pm
• Venue: Zoom online (you’ll receive joining info in your confirmation email)

 Possibly founded in the 12th century and dedicated to St Giles, the present building was erected in the 14th and continued to be extended until the early 16th century. The church was given collegiate status by Pope Paul II. Major alterations were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the addition of the Thistle Chapel. St Giles is closely associated with many important figures and events in Scottish history, including John Knox who served as the church’s minister following the Scottish Reformation which changed the course of the country’s history.

By the late 19th century, the church authorities no longer objected to stained glass windows being installed. William Chambers commissioned James Ballantine to produce nine new windows for the chancel in St Giles, illustrating the life of Christ. The well-known artist Robert Herdman advised on the design, and the windows were paid for by a series of donors whose names are recorded on them. The Great East Window was donated by Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir James Falshaw.