Old Parish Church Guide Book

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Church CentreBehind the church, the centre was opened in 1982. It contains two halls seating220 and 30 people respectively. There are also modern kitchen facilities andtoilets. It is not only a focus of congregational activity but is used increasingly bymany other groups within the community. This centre was officially named theMacFarlane Hall, after the Reverend David C. MacFarlane, minister of Peebles Oldfrom 1970 until his retirement in 1997.The MacFarlane Hall16
The Royal Burgh of PeeblesPeebles can lay claim to being one of the original Royal Burghs of Scotland, itsstatus established during the reign of David I in the 12th century, yet its originsgo back far earlier than that, to at least Roman times.The name “Peebles” derives from the Welsh word, “pebyll”. The people whooccupied Tweeddale at that time shared a common language known as Cumbricwith the inhabitants of much of the land south of the Scottish Lowlands and as farsouth as Wales. The word means a tent or tents. This is quite consistent with whatis known of the area at the time of the earliest Roman occupation, as the Romansusually established bases close to existing settlements.In later centuries, Peebles became a favourite stoppingplace of the Stewart kings, who frequently visited theRoyal Burgh to dispense justice and to hunt in the greatForest of Ettrick close to the town. The phrase “Peeblesto the play” has been attributed to James I, and appearsin his poem “Christis Kirk of the Greene”:“Wes nevir in Scotland hard or seenSic dancing nor derayNouthir at Falkland on the greneNor Pebillis at the play.”Following the Union of the Crowns and the departureof James VI & I to London, the town fell into gradualdecline until recovering during the industrial revolutionof the Victorian era, largely stimulated by the arrival ofthe railway. The textile industries which dominated thetown in the later 19th and for most of the 20th centuries, have gone, but these havebeen replaced by modern service industries and tourism is an important feature ofthe economy. It has also become a favourite base for commuters to Edinburgh andthe Eastern Borders.Today the Old Parish Church of Peebles still plays a prominent part in the civic lifeof the Royal Burgh. The annual ceremony of crowning the Beltane Queen takesplace on the steps and the Guildry Corporation of Peebles attends an annualservice in the church.17
Page 1: A GUIDE TOTHE OLD PARISHCHURCHOF PE
Page 4 and 5: The compilers of this guide owe a g
Page 6 and 7: The Former ChurchesThough the prese
Page 8 and 9: The Entrance ScreenThe entrance scr
Page 10 and 11: The PulpitThe pulpit was gifted to
Page 12 and 13: In 1937, the instrument was rebuilt
Page 14 and 15: The PaintingsThe paintings within t
Page 16 and 17: The Bellsfeature of Peebles, much c

Old Parish Church Guide Book

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?