Looking along the Royal Mile to Tron Kirk.
Furthermore the location was also significant. The North-West parish congregation had been displaced by St Giles’ changing status, and they required a new home. So the new church was built on the Edinburgh's gorgeous Royal Mile.
As the building went up in the 1630s and 1640s, the architectural taste was mixed, reflecting both the cultural tastes and the politics of that period. The side of the Kirk facing Hunter Square looks like a Dutch church or town hall of the same era. Other parts of the building look Palladian, with strong Gothic elements.
The church has been largely closed to the public since soon after WW2 and it was very fortunate to escape destruction. Plans to remove the church were regularly floated in order to improve traffic flow around the busy junction of the Bridges and the Royal Mile. Luckily for Tron Kirk, it became a key part of a large plan to restore the historic heart of the city. The goal was to bring unused heritage buildings back to life as cultural and arts venues.
A restoration programme commenced in 1974 and even then there was a surprise: work on the floor and foundations of the church uncovered the remnants of 16th century shops and dwellings on historic Marlin’s Close. Naturally the site soon became interesting to historians and archaeologists. The excavated remains of the medieval Marlin’s Close have now been glassed over, creating a unique and fascinating window into Edinburgh’s past.
The Kirk’s connections with Hogmanay were interesting. While the winter solstice was celebrated among the Norse in ancient times, the link to the Vikings’ celebration of Yule (then the Twelve Days of Christmas) might also have played a role. Perhaps these pagan winter festivities were not always popular with the stout Scottish clerics of the Protestant Reformation, but this changed. By the late C17th, various areas of Scotland were developing their own Hogmanay rituals including, or perhaps especially Edinburgh.
A restoration programme commenced in 1974 and even then there was a surprise: work on the floor and foundations of the church uncovered the remnants of 16th century shops and dwellings on historic Marlin’s Close. Naturally the site soon became interesting to historians and archaeologists. The excavated remains of the medieval Marlin’s Close have now been glassed over, creating a unique and fascinating window into Edinburgh’s past.
The Kirk’s connections with Hogmanay were interesting. While the winter solstice was celebrated among the Norse in ancient times, the link to the Vikings’ celebration of Yule (then the Twelve Days of Christmas) might also have played a role. Perhaps these pagan winter festivities were not always popular with the stout Scottish clerics of the Protestant Reformation, but this changed. By the late C17th, various areas of Scotland were developing their own Hogmanay rituals including, or perhaps especially Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Hogmanay, New Year's Eve
DanFlyingSolo
As a result, Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations these days are probably some of the best attended in the world. And in Dec 2012 the Tron Kirk was open, for three hectic days and nights, to people welcoming in the New Year. The title, A Festival of the Extraordinary: The Drambuie Surreal Sessions, might suggest that some alcohol was involved. However the goal was always to help secure the future of the Tron Kirk as a central arts and culture venue in Edinburgh.
Today Tron Kirk Market is run by the Scottish Design Exchange, the company who support local artists and designers. The market provides space for 21 local artists and designers, selling a range of handmade products eg pottery, jewellery, woodwork, original art and prints
The Conservation organisation, Edinburgh World Heritage, submitted the plans to the Edinburgh City Council to open a visitor centre in the church. Now approved, this visitor centre will explain the history of the capital's Old and New Towns from inside the 17th century site. Perfect.
Tron Kirk Market
The original stained glass windows are still protected.
The Conservation organisation, Edinburgh World Heritage, submitted the plans to the Edinburgh City Council to open a visitor centre in the church. Now approved, this visitor centre will explain the history of the capital's Old and New Towns from inside the 17th century site. Perfect.
When Charles I raised Edinburgh from a burgh to a city in 1638, he also raised St. Giles to Cathedral status as part of his program of Anglicising the Scottish Kirk. This displaced the Tron congregation and and a new church was ordered to be built for them. It took 10 years to build in total, by which time the Scots army had handed Charles over to the English parliament. It was ready to be dedicated in 1641 as “Christ’s Kirk at the Tron”, by which time the majority in Scotland was firmly Presbyterian. This would make the Tron the first purpose-built Presbyterian kirk in Scotland
ReplyDeleteThe Town Council of Edinburgh was obliged reluctantly to build and pay for the church by Charles I who threatened to withhold tax duties from the city if they didn’t comply. It was built by the King’s master mason. It is for this reason that over the door of the Tron is the crest of the City of Edinburgh (a 3-towered castle supported by a deer and a maiden) plus the engraving. “This building the citizens of Edinburgh to Christ and his Church, in the year 1641“
Threadinburgh
Deletethank you for that.
Did King Charles I really have to threaten Edinburgh's Town Council who reluctantly built and paid for the church because Charles would have withheld tax duties from the city if they disobeyed him?
Perhaps the citizens, the majority being Protestants, weren't sure exactly where Charles stood on religion.
Excavated remains glassed over? Fabulous idea and I would love to see that one day and the Tron Kirk Market too.
ReplyDeleteRiver
DeleteNod. I have read all about locating the remnants of C16th shops and dwellings on historic Marlin’s Close. The excavated remains of Marlin’s Close have now been glassed over, creating a special window into Edinburgh’s past. The only problem is that wherever I have looked for a photo to add to the blog, the reflections in the glass blur the image. I hope you do see the city centre soon.
Does Tron Kirk have guided tours throughout the old church? There have been a number of major changes to Tron Kirk, so we will need some guidance .
ReplyDeleteDeb
Deletethere are plenty of daily tours of Central Edinburgh and most start when you all meet at Tron Kirk, probably the most important tourist site in the city.
But I cannot find regular tours of the church interior since all the rebuilding has been taking place. The church building is currently operating as an indoor artisan and artists' market run by the Scottish Design Exchange which you may enjoy very much.
Sounds like a good place to visit along the Royal Mile, Hels.
ReplyDeleteoh Margaret.
DeleteThe Royal Mile in Edinburgh connects two royal landmarks. It begins at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at the western end and ends at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the eastern end. St Giles Cathedral is impressive, as is the Scotch Whiskey Experience, the Writers' Museum, John Knox House and fabulous shops and restaurants. I want to go back!!!
Oh dear. Demolish a historic church to improve traffic flow.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that Scots have respect for their heritage.
Andrew
Deleteit is difficult to believe that the Streets and Buildings Committee at Edinburgh Town Council considered widening of the roadway at cnr of High Street and South Bridge in the 1930s and on. The only good thing that WW2 achieved was convincing citizens that the heritage of their beautiful city had to be saved at any cost.
Tron Kirk seems to embody the city itself, where centuries of religion, politics, fire, archaeology and creative renewal are layered together in one remarkable place.
ReplyDeleteroentare,
Deleteit was a truly place of unity, renewal and heritage. The only thing I was still not sure of the changing and blending of disparate architectural styles: Palladian, Classical, Gothic and Dutch elements.
Boa noite minha querida amiga Helen. O Parque Estadual dos Três Picos é maravilhoso. O estado do Rio de Janeiro, possui algumas Igrejas com estilo gótico. Tanto na cidade do Rio de Janeiro e na cidade de Petrópolis. Obrigado pela aula de história e explicações interessantes. Uma excelente noite de sábado, bom final de semana, para você e todos os seus familiares na Austrália e um grande abraço do seu amigo carioca.
ReplyDeleteLuiz
DeleteEach architectural style built for churches often differed depending on the century in which each church was built. Gothic architecture was most widely used for churches from the late C12th on and replaced by Renaissance in C15th and C16th, starting in Italy and later across Europe.
Your Gothic churches in Rio might have copied the C12th Gothic style later on in order to appear spectacular.. and deeply Catholic..
It's interesting that the church is closed to the public. I find that kind of confusing. If it was a public visiting center, maybe it would stand a long term chance of not being torn down.
ReplyDeleteErika
DeleteTron Kirk in Edinburgh is not closed to the public, but it is being repaired, revived and changed shape. The exterior is undergoing structural stonework and leadwork conservation. In the meantime it operates as an indoor arts and crafts market, and is appealing to many customers.
I cannot imagine Tron Kirk ever being destroyed.
I haven't heard of Tron Kirk before. It looks to be a very interesting building so I hope it is there for a very long time to come.
ReplyDeletekylie
Deletedespite the many changes in architecture and in purpose, Tron Kirk will be there forever, as far as I can tell (although perhaps with different roles). It is a historic 17th-century former principal parish church in High Street on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
Commissioned by King Charles I in the C17th, it was a central and very important landmark and gathering place in Edinburgh for centuries. Even now the Grade A-listed building remains an important cultural and architectural landmark, and can never be destroyed.
i didn't know about the fire in Edinburgh.
ReplyDeletepeppylady
Deleteread the reference underlined in the blog post itself - the fire was an absolute tragedy for the families, homes, shops and public buildings in the city. Only 13 bodies were found :(
But that reminds me of us not knowing about historically tragic events :( I know about the countries my spouse and I came from, the countries I have lived in and those I visited often. But I would not remember even major events in other countries.