KIRKSPIRE ARTICLE JULY 2007
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH EGMORE
THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY CHAIR
Murdoch MacKenzie
One of the brightest spots in the Kirk is the old Caledonian Society Chair. The Coat of Arms on the back of the Chair was re-gilded with gold leaf in 1976 and perhaps has been done again since then for all I know. We owe much to our Scottish predecessors, who built the Kirk and who have left us a rare heritage. Our cemetery is one of the best cared-for in the city thanks to the endowment given by the Caledonian Society. When the Caledonian Society was wound up in 1967 several of its possessions were handed over to the Kirk Session for safe-keeping. These included the Chair which stands beside the Eagle Lectern.
On the back of the Chair is the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland. In his book, “Looking at Heraldry” C.W. Scott Giles says: ‘ In England the Royal Crest continued to be the gold crowned lion statant gardant on the Royal Crown but in Scotland the Scottish Royal Crest was used – namely a red lion seated full-fronted on the Royal Crown with a similar crown on its head, holding in the right forepaw a sword in proper colours and in the left a gold sceptre. Above this crest was placed the motto IN DEFENS.
At James I’s accession in Scotland, the position of the supporters was changed so as to place the unicorn on the dexter side, and a crown was placed upon its head as well as the coronet round its neck. A crowned thistle was the badge for Scotland and sometimes the rose and thistle were shown joined under one crown.’
In my time at the Kirk the chair was used by people reading the lessons, by visiting preachers and by the Bishop when he came for Confirmation or on other occasions. If you look around the Kirk building you will find several other Coats of Arms and various other symbols. We will look at some of these next month.
Murdoch MacKenzie
One of the brightest spots in the Kirk is the old Caledonian Society Chair. The Coat of Arms on the back of the Chair was re-gilded with gold leaf in 1976 and perhaps has been done again since then for all I know. We owe much to our Scottish predecessors, who built the Kirk and who have left us a rare heritage. Our cemetery is one of the best cared-for in the city thanks to the endowment given by the Caledonian Society. When the Caledonian Society was wound up in 1967 several of its possessions were handed over to the Kirk Session for safe-keeping. These included the Chair which stands beside the Eagle Lectern.
On the back of the Chair is the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland. In his book, “Looking at Heraldry” C.W. Scott Giles says: ‘ In England the Royal Crest continued to be the gold crowned lion statant gardant on the Royal Crown but in Scotland the Scottish Royal Crest was used – namely a red lion seated full-fronted on the Royal Crown with a similar crown on its head, holding in the right forepaw a sword in proper colours and in the left a gold sceptre. Above this crest was placed the motto IN DEFENS.
At James I’s accession in Scotland, the position of the supporters was changed so as to place the unicorn on the dexter side, and a crown was placed upon its head as well as the coronet round its neck. A crowned thistle was the badge for Scotland and sometimes the rose and thistle were shown joined under one crown.’
In my time at the Kirk the chair was used by people reading the lessons, by visiting preachers and by the Bishop when he came for Confirmation or on other occasions. If you look around the Kirk building you will find several other Coats of Arms and various other symbols. We will look at some of these next month.
Murdoch MacKenzie
