St. John's Kirk
These notes are based on lectures given by Rhoda Fothergill - they were made by a local resident of Perth - Alan Darling - and have been passed to this website.
1126 - King David I gifted the church to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey.
1189/99 - A Charter of William the Lion. By this charter Henry Bald (goldsmith) receives a portion of land on front of the street that leads from the Church of St. John the Baptist to the Castle of Perth.
1242 - The church is consecrated by Bishop de Bernham.
1286 - Heart of Alexander III is buried in St. John’s Kirk.
1296 - Edward I of England celebrates the feast of St. John in the church.
1328 - Robert the Bruce orders repairs to the church and the bridge at Perth.
1335 - It is said that Edward III of England slew his brother John of Eltham in St. John’s Kirk. (Fordun in Scotichronicon)
c.1448 - new choir was built and stands today.
1511 - The central tower and steeple built.
In the early 16th Century there were about 37-40 altars in St. John’s.
11th May 1559 - John Knox preached in St. John’s Kirk.
1582 - The Wrights' Incorporation was granted permission to have seats in the church.
1596 - Seats were installed for the boys of the Grammar School.
1598 - St. John’s was partitioned and the nave became the West Church in 1618.
1604 - Queen Anne (wife of James VI and I) granted her rights to the church to the Provost and Magistrates of Perth.
1618 - The Five Articles of Perth were sanctioned by the general Assembly of the Church which met in St. John’s Kirk.
1635 - Charles I attended service in St. John’s.
1644 - 800 Covenanting prisoners were held in the church.
1650 - Charles II attended service in St. John’s Kirk.
1745 - Bonnie Prince of Charlie attended service in St. John’s Kirk.
1771/3 - A partition was built between the choir and the transepts to form the East and the Middle Church.
1823 - The north transept was shortened. Halkerston’s Tower was removed.
1874 - A pipe organ was installed in the East Church.
1889 - Andrew Heiton, city architect, put forward plans for the restoration of the church.
1925 - Ownership of the Church was vested in the Trustees of the Church of Scotland.
1926 - Sir Robert Lorimer’s restoration of the church was completed. St. John’s was again just one church. Included in the restoration was the 1914-18 War Memorial.
1936 - A new carillon of 35 bells was installed.
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