SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE. 47

V.

SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE.

BY GEORGE HAY, A.R.I.B.A., F.S.A.ScoT.

GrENEBAL. e ratheTh r meagre remain f Scotland'o s s pre-Reformation church furnitur e fairlar e y well e knownsamth t e bu canno, e sai b f ttha do f o t e Reformeth d period Scottiss A . h churche t enjo no e protectio o th yd s n of Ancient Monuments legislation or of effective ecclesiastical measures, a considerable destructio f post-Reformatioo n n fitting furniturd an s s eha taken place, and what survives bids fair to become as scanty as the work of the preceding period. The present situation would appear to call for somethin nature th n gsystematif i e o c stud protectivd yan e attention. This paper, which make pretenco sn finalito et r exhaustivenessyo presentes i , d abriesa f introductio subjecte th coverd o nt an , perioe sth d betweee nth Reformation of 1560 and the Disruption of 1843. Though it is not our purpose to ponder the many diverse elements which contribute religioue th o dt s revolutio 1560f n o usefus i t , i recalo t l l some facts of the situation. With the adoption of the Reformed theology, ecclesiastical system and mode of worship, many items of church furnishing characteristic of medieval Christendom cease relevante b o dt . Again, leaving aside eth changed though not altogether new attitude to religious art, it has to be remembered tha Reformee th t d Kirk inherited neithe economie th r c power noadministrative th r e organisation whic enabled hha s predecessoit d o t r becom echiea embellisfo t patroarte d th s an f no s principah it l buildings with sumptuous fittings and decoration. In short, post-Reformation church furniture has to be studied against the gieatly altered circumstances of the religious, economi sociad can l background.

COMMUNION TABLES. The liturgical altar of the Roman mass gave way to the long communion tableReformee th f so d rite flanke benchey db s upon whic communicante hth s sat. At first, such tables were temporary structures, consisting of boards and trestles which were erected for the administration of the Sacrament and were thereafter dismantled stils i s l a ,norma l practic Netherlandse th n ei . Frequently the tables -were enclosed by a temporary rail or fence, and in 48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1954-56.

addition to the main table (or tables) there was often a small "head table," t whica h ministe d assistantan r s communicated. Later s fixea , d seating became more general, long table pews were devised, so constructed that, movablf o e us e haffitth y b s fitting between fillets, they coul convertee db d into a series of short box pews at times other than communion services. The Statistical Accounts and other records note that such table pews were ofte poorne th give f .o e nThoug rent-freus e lesw th shr no obviou efo s than hitherto t wili ,apparen e b l t thae dispositioth t lone th g f no communio n tables and their pews was a prime factor in church planning and, save for brief interruptions, this was true under both episcopalian and presbyterian establishment. s 2) (PI , X . Good examples of long communion tables exist at Ceres, Durisdeer, Lochbroom, Newburn (PI. X, 1) and North Bute. Others, some of which have been considerably altered, survive at. Ardchattan, Bracadale, Cars- phairn, Kilmodan, Newland parliamentare th n Reayd i sd an an , y kirkf so Plockto Quarffd nan . An early 19th century expedient sometimes adopted for the administra- Lord'e tioth f no s Suppehavo t s ebloca rwa seatinf ko g with hinged backs movabld an e benche eacn si h alternate row designeo s , d tha adjustiny b t g boltw fe a snumbe a f lono r g table d flankinan s g benche s quicklwa s y achieved. Example thif so s arrangement still exis t Dunfermlina t e North Kirk, TingwaU d Torphichenan . untid di ld recentl an ,e 184th 4n yi Fre e Kirk of Livingston.

PULPITS. With communion tables, baptismal basi belld nan pulpia , deemes wa t d by the first Book of Discipline (1560) to be indispensable to every parish kirk. Apart from developments in architectural style, early post-Reforma- tion pulpits followed the general form of those of the preceding period and, like them, they were invariably provided wit hpanellea d backboara d dan sounding boar canopyr do onle yTh .survivin g example 16tf so h century date appea thosChapee e b th Partof f o eo o t r l d Royalnan , Stirling formee th , r of which is preserved in the National Museum and the latter in Stirling Castle. Both are of oak. The Parton pulpit, dated 1598, is fairly complete, illustrated an s that tardy transition from Gothi Renaissanco ct e forms which was characteristic of north-west Europe. The Stirling pulpit is of the same general form without carved muc w enrichmentsno h s i dilapidate t i t bu , d and lack soundins sit g board t formeI . doriginae parth f o t l plenishingf so 159e th 4 Chapel Royal. An almost invariable adjunc Scottise th o t t h pulpit dowt leasa e o nt th middle of the 19th century was the reader's "lattron" or desk. Situated in e pulpifronth f o tt properreadersy la wero e , th wh s useethi, y wa sb d SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE. 49

prominent during early Reformed times whe e numbeth n f ordaineo r d ministers was limited, and by the precentors who led the singing. These offices were usually, thoug t invariablyhno persone , helon y db , normalle yth parish schoolmaster. The characteristic feature of many late 16th and early 17th century pulpits was a panelled enclosure with the reader's desk in the centre flanke eldersy db ' seats. Pulpit thif so s typ stile ear l commoe th n i Netherlands, wher enclosure eth know s edoophek,i e th s na t beini place gth e of baptis Scotlandn i t alss i baptismae ms owa a Th . l basi n hels a n dwa i iron brackee pulpith n to t onl e sideTh y . surviving Scottish examplf eo such a pulpit is that at Ayr (PI. XI, 1), which has been restored after being dismantled and partially destroyed in 1887. It was built in 1655 by John Hunter, who was paid 600 pounds Scots, and who probably built a very similar specimen formerly extant at Fenwick and recorded in a drawing by Messrs Macgibbo Ross.d nan 1 The Ayr pulpit with its straight sides, bowed front and low relief enrich- ment typicas si greate e th f lo r17te parth hf o tcentur y work, thougw fe ha examples like that at Pencaitland were of polygonal plan. The rather fragmentary Bo'ness s panepulpiit s l ha tenrichment inlayn si f variouso s woods. Other 17th century pulpits, mos whicf o t h have suffered modifica- tion, exis (daten t CuLrosa t Du , d 4) 1615) s, AbbeXI , L Falklany(P d Palace (from the former parish kirk), Glasgow Cathedral, Lyne (c. 1645), Newbattle, Stirling (Holy Rude), St Andrews (St Salvator's) and Tester. In addition, ther detachee ear d fragment t Abercorsa n (1637), Abbotsfor Kirkwald an d l

Cathedral, the last of which is unlike the others 2 , being of pine and bearing e painteth d dat et Mary' S 1689 t A s. Gaelic Kirk, Inverness, thera s ei curiou t mucbu s h altered pulpit, dated 166d enriche8an d with profuse carved detail of Flemish type, and in Elgin there is a fine example, dated 1684 and of more advanced Renaissance design than any of those above mentioned. This Renaissance character is most marked in 18th century pulpits, which are usually of polygonal plan—most commonly hexagonal—with backboards flanke pilastery db r columnso soundind san g boards either flat on top r ogivao , l wit hcarvea d dove finiaturnea r o l d "three e urnTh . - decker" pulpit, so characteristic a feature of England, was less common in Scotland, but interesting examples survive at Dyke (1781), Fort George Garrison Chape 184e th l 8(1767),n i Fre d ean Kir Ardgaf ko Ross-shiren yi .

Others formerly existed3 at Fintray, Inverkeithny, Sanquhar and Yarrow. As previously, oak was often employed, and was used in such examples as the pulpits of Spott, Golspie (1738), Aberdeen (St Nicholas West, 1755) , Kilman3) , (PLXI y (1786), Mochrum , For(1795)2) t, t QuivoS ,XI L x(P 1 Cast. Arch., V, 161. 2 This example, built in 1634 for Dunfermline Abbey, was presented by the heritors to Sir Walter Scot 1822n ti , afte completioe th r nee th w f nAbbeo y Kirk. This pulpit has been moved from its original central site and its domical canopy detached. 3 VOL. LXXXVIII. 4 50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1954-56.

George, Hamilton (1732) Dumfried ,an t Michael's(S s 1745). c , lasoe o f th , ttw which are reconstructions incorporating only the original backboards and sounding boards. On the other hand pine was the timber most commonly used, intended for painting or graining, but at St Andrew's, Glasgow (1756), e prosperouth s "tobacco lords" imported fine Spanish mahogane th r yfo pulpit, which has carved details of rococo type and touches of gold leaf. The pulpit t Kilmanya s , Fifed Kildonanan , , Sutherland (both 1786), have sounding boards with Roman Doric entablatures, while thos t Reayea (1739) and Farr (1774) distinctly resemble one another. Other good examples exis t a Spynit e (1735), Glenbuchat, Cromarty Gaelic Chapel, (1783), Lochgoilhead (from Kiltearn, 1791), Strathmiglo (1787 Monimaid )an l (1796); the last has refined details but now lacks its sounding board. Most early 19th century pulpits were designe e simplth n di e classical tradition, though an increasing number -were given double stairs, apparently in the interests of symmetry. Typical examples exist at Torphichen (c. 1805), Bourtie (1806), Newburn (1815), Fogo (1817), Lauder (1820), Ettrick (1824), Kirkden (1825), Newlands (1838), and the parliamentary kirks of Strathy and lona, the last of which is now banished to a museum.

Other examples include Towie (1803), Auchendoir (1811), Maryton (c. 1815)1 , Channelkirk (1817), Tarve . 1825)(c s , Bracadale (1831), Portmoak (1832), New Cumnock (1833), Ardchattan (1836), Kingoldrum (1840 d Logian ) e Pert (1840). Thos f Rosskeeo e n (1832 d Eddertoan ) n (1842 e verar ) y similar, with delicate details of Adam type, and there are good Greek Revival pulpit Edinburgn si t Newingtoha n t Mary'S (1823 d an s) (1824). e GothiTh c Reviva s representei l e pulpitth y f Rosemarkib do s e (1822), Duirinish (1832), Kilmarnock (St Marnock's, 1836), Livingston (1837) and t MartinS s (1843)morn i d e an ,restraine d for mt Stevenstoa n (1832), Collessie (1839), Carrington (c. 1840) and Dalkeith West (1840).

LOFTS AND GALLERIES. Though not unknown previously, lofts and galleries became quite a feature in post-Reformation times. They were installed in existing medieval buildings, often with a charming disregard for symmetry, and became an integral part of the design of new churches. An interesting water-colour drawing in Elgin Museum, depicting the interior of the medieval parish kirk of that town about 1770, gives a good impression of the normal arrangement. Many lofts were erected by "wealthy families or corporate bodies like town councils and merchant or trade guilds for their own use and were usually "decored" with appropriate arm emblemsd san . In some cases lofts were of quite elementary construction, as in the smaller parish kirks like Kilmany, where simple beams comfortably span 1 The Highland folk museum Am Fasgadh at Kingussie. SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE1 5 .

the modest width of the building. More often, however, additional support was provide meany db f timbeso r posts, which were chamfered, fluter do turned t Ayra s a ,, Burntislan Pencaitlandd an d . Lik e Burntislanth e d examples, such posts often stoo moulden do d stone plinth werd san e usually provided with bracket caps a soun, d structural device. Durin e 18tgth h and early 19th centuries a continuous loft of rectangular or semi-octagonal plan usually encircled the end walls and one long side of the kirk, supported on sturdy timber columns of classical design and later by cast-iron ones. somn I e cases, lik t Cuthbert'eS s (Edinburgh,), Inveres Montrosed kan , there were double galleries of this type, and of this arrangement Montrose is now e solth e surviving example e hall-churcheth n I .e 19t th hf o scentur ya horseshoe galler walnormald s yen lwa roune columne th on ,sidee d th san s and breasts being of either classical or Gothic design. Durin e 17tgth h century, loft fronts were treatee vernaculath n di r classical manne perioe th enriched f o rdan d with vigorously carved details as well as painted armorial bearings, craft emblems and appropriate texts. Typical examples survive at Ayr, Burntisland (PL XII, 1), Pencaitland (PI. XII, 3) and at Inverkeilor, where the Northesk loft displays in inlays of various wood arme sth tha f so t noble family. Other example thif so s period formerly at Whitekirk and Fenwick were lost by fire, but at Dunfermline

there is preserved partx of the magistrates' loft front, dated 1610 and bearing

theroyal arms encircle Thistle.collae e th th f y ro db Another magistrates' 2

loft- , of quite imposing design, spans the east end of James Gibbs' kirk of t NicholaS s Wes t Aberdeea t n (1755). Ove e provost'th r a s s ha sea t i t baldachino born fouy eb r Corinthian columns wit burge hth h arms displayed 011 a pediment (PL XIV, 1). Of the great wealth of 17th and 18th century work formerly extant, wha survives ha t combinee dth d onslaugh f vandalo t "restorersd san s "i now examplerepresentew fe e th s y abovdb e mentioned detachey b d an , d pieces of panelling and carving mainly in the possession of museums and collectors. In Aberdeenshire alone John Logan was able in the early 19th centur recoro yt dgreaa t dea thif lo s charming vernacular work. Moreover, contrary to erroneous notions all too commonly held, Logan's drawings indicat largw eho epara t colour decoration playe sucn di h work t onlno ,y reale inth heraldif mo c tincture t generaalsa s sbu oa l treatment. Among surviving fragments from lofts the following may be mentioned as typical. e Nationath n I l Museucarveo tw e dm ar cartouche f 18to s h century date displaying respectively the emblems of the Incorporated Trades of Dalkeith and of South Leith. The former has a fretted background of scrolled leaf- work, while the latter is of rich Baroque character competently carved. At

1 Br James S. Richardson's drawing of this is illustrated in B.C.A.M. Inventory (East Lothian) (1924). 2 This example, given in B.C.A.M. Inventory (Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan) as a magistrates' loft havI , e sinc eroyae parfoune th b f lo t o lofdt t erecte nave th 1610n ei n d i . 52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1954-56.

Tain is the panelled breast of a former trades loft. It is of pine coloured green painted an , d variouupoe ar t ni s craft emblem texte th :d san KING/OEARTH/SINS E I D TH L GO FAL R PRAISESE FO GY / WITH/UNDERSTANDING/PSALM XLVI : VER. 7 and the legend GOD SAV KINE CRAFD ETH GAN T AMEN 1776. None of the royal lofts which once adorned such buildings as St Michael's, Linlithgow Hige th r ho , Kir Edinburgf ko exists,w t therhno bu stils ei a l

numbe laird'e th f o rs lofts which wer r lonefo ga characteristi1 d oftecan n highly decorative feature of the Scots parish kirk. They should not, of course e regardeb , n exclusivela s da y Scottish eccentricity r thee fo , yar paralleled by similar structures elsewhere, notably in Germany, while a particularly good Norwegian exampl royae th Frelserr s ei l Vo lof n i t s Kirke, Oslo, reconstructed during the renovation of 1948-50. Some laird's lofts were little more than elevated pews-like those at Cullen and Tongue, the former bearing on the carved panels of its pillars the date 1608, and the latter having four Corinthianesque columns supporting a

squar2 e tester wit hcarvea d entablatur datind e 3an g frof o md abouen e th t 17te th h century more Th e .usua l arrangemen havo t lofe s eth t twa backe d by one or more retiring rooms and approached by an independent entrance d forestairan e familth , y burial vaul te ground-levebeinth n go l below. This comple sometimes xwa kirke th sf , o situatewes e d ease th en r tth t o t da but most frequently it formed the north aisle of a T-plan building—a classic form of Scottish post-Reformation kirk. Taken from the abandoned kirk of Pitsligo, the front of the 1634 Forbes loft is preserved in the present late 19th century building. Its profuse details of Netherlands type are characteristic of the period. Somewhat simple e 166th 1s i r Cavers lof t Bowdena t longeo n t I r . front s aisleit s , whic housew h no organ sa singersd nan ' t KilbirniloftA . encountee ew a r tour de force in laird's lofts. It was erected about 1705 by the 1st Viscount Garnock in front of the 1642 family aisle. In an elaborate setting of Renaissance details the arms and genealogy of the family are depicted by a wealth of armorial devices. Sh'ghtly earlier but more advanced in character is the Hopetoun loft at Abercorn, which with the adjoining retiring rooms finely panelled in Memel pine was designed by Sir William Brace about 1700 (PL XIII, 1). Unfortunately, this example is in a greatly neglected condition. At Golspie, a kirk unusually complete in its essential fittings, the Suther- land loffina f 173 o s te 9ha enriche d entablature, Corinthian columnd san oak panelling (PI. XIII, 2); but at Careston, a carved entablature and twisted Baroque columns of early 18th century type are the sole mementoes of 1 See footnote 2 on p. 51. These panel saie sar havo d t e come fro pewd beemd ol san n Seaflele fixeth o dt d lof 1842n i t . 2 This canopcolumnss it d yan , sai havo dt e been dangerous, were taken down in 195 t havt 1bu eno 3 yet been repaired. SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE. 53

another loft. At the east end of Cromarty Kirk is the Cromartie House loft, whic f 18to hs hi century date, wit hpanellea d breast ove Romaa r n Doric entablature and timber posts, and above, a segmental ceiling, freestanding columns and panelled side walls. The west loft of the kirk is a simplified edition of the east one, while the north or "poor's loft" is more rudimentary. Other 18th century lofts occur at Kirkoswald (1777), Kirkmichael (1787) and Kilwinning (1775), all in Ayrshire; at the Lanarkshire kirks of Car- michael (1750), Carstairs (1794) and Carluke (1799); at Eckford (1724) in Roxburghshire and at Reay (1739) in Caithness, and Newbattle (1727), Midlothian e charminth t A . g kir f Alnessko , abandone r somdfo e reason during the Second World War, the Novar loft in the north aisle has Adam, type detai f greao l t delicac whitn yi e against background an dd tintre f so blue. In the same county, the Munro of Fowlis loft at Kiltearn (1791) has simpla e panelled breast continuous with adjoininthose th f eo g easwesd tan t lofts, and behind it two retiring rooms; the whole is approached by a double forestair and an elegant doorway with lugged architraves and a fanlight. The Gothic Revival is represented by the Stirling of Keir loft at Lecropt (1826) vera , y fin latese e th perio havf o t to e edburiaa on piec d l ean vaul t below it, but at Craig (1799), near Montrose, a considerable decline in lairdly exclusivenes s manifestedi s e eastmosTh . te sid bayth ef o sgallerie e ar s enclosed as spacious box pews, each with an aumbry and fireplace in the east wall, the flues terminating in an unobtrusive chimney head on the gable.

PEWS AND SEATING. In early Reformed times the floors of Scottish parish kirks remained as devoid of seating as they had been earlier. Up to at least the middle of the 17th century, such pews and desks as did appear were set up by private individual corporatr so e bodie theiuser n sfo .row Late t becamri legae eth l obligatio heritorf no towd san n council provido st e seatin two-thirdr gfo f so e "examinablth e persons e parish—th f "o i.e. thos twelvf eo e e yearag f so over—ad an usuase welth s la l communion tables, pulpi reader'd an t s desk, mansd eldersan w e pew pe 'additio n I . n there were sometime baptismasa l pew and a marriage pew, and nearly always, unpleasantly elevated, a "cutty stool r placo " f publieo c repentance. Durin e latgth e 18th centurye th , choir movement which spread fro north-ease mth t mean e provisioth t f no seatinsingere th r "bandr gfo so thes "a y were then known. Thisites swa d lofta n i . r o w pe x eithebo a n ri As with the items already considered, early pews are now meagrely represente examplew fragmenty fe b a d y dsb an s long dissociated from their original setting. At Midcalder there is a pine pew-back dated 1595 having reeded panels, the arms of Sandilands of Torphichen and the legend THE 54 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1954-56. SHEPHERY LORM S DI DI SHAL WANTT LNO . PSAL XXIII. I . ILEV CHRISEN I XIIL T. Par (P pew-bac ,a 2) f to k fro formee mth r kirf ko Dipple is preserved at Speymouth. Its panels are effectively carved, and display among other things the arms of Hay and Innes and a text.1 At Crail a considerable numbe f fragmento r s exist, somincorporatew eno waln di l linings. Bearing various dates between 1594 and 1605, they have panels of foliaceous and strapwork designs, reedings and armorial bearings. One of the finest, dated 1595, is a rendering of the arms of James Lumsden of Airdrie (d. 1598) (PL XIV, 3). Many pieces of woodwork of similar date lie detached and apparently uncatalogued and uncared for at Kirkwall Cathedral. They displa arme yth locaf so pew-baco l familiestw f o d k an ,fragments e on , s panelha f vigorouslo s y carved geometrical e designsotheth d r wellan , - disposed foliaceous work reminiscent of, though cruder than, that of the later medieval period. norte th hn I aisl t Pencaitlanea d ther s somi e e seatin f earlgo y 17th centur Ease th y t a dateKirt Nicholas S d f ko ,an , Aberdeen, ther mane ear y pieces of the same period. They incorporate designs of foliage and strap- work distinctive of the north-east, representations of virtues such as Fortitude and Prudence, and a wealth of heraldry and trade devices some of which bear traces of colour decoration (PL XIV, 4). They are detached from their original places t som tastefullbu e , ear t int modere yse o th n furnishings of the church. Aberdeen and the surrounding area were once considerably riche sucn ri h work than now herd an e; agai ngreaa t wealt informatiof ho n has been preserved in the meticulous coloured drawings of John Logan. An interesting featur thesf eo e valuable recorddetaile th e canopief so ar d pews formerly extan t Udnya t , Newhill Kintored san . Reminiscen grane th f do t patrician e Netherlandspewth f so , such canopied seats were once common in Scottish kirks but are now represented by only four examples—those at Burntisland, Scone, Lyn Kilbirnied ean firste Th , . dated 160 erected 6an d by Sir Robert Melville whose arms it bears, is now used by the magistrates, likd ean many Dutch example against se s sidei o XIV piea t s L i tf tw s. o r(P ,2) It has turned columns and balusters and inlays of exotic woods in the panels. 161e Th 6 Stormon t Scona profuss w eha pe t e carved detail Netherlandf so s type but has been much restored, and the Lyne example dated 1644 is a quite modest structure with turned column flaa td canopysan Ladye Th .- t Kilbirnia land w spe rathes ei hybria r d piece pard ,an t par k pine—oa t a synthesis of late 17th and early 18th century fragments An unusual piece of furniture is the 1627 canopied seat and desk of Bishop Forbes, which was erected with other furniture in King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, when it was used as a synod house. The panels have characteristic strapwork designscanope th d ycovea an , d soffit surmounted by carved cresting and finials. complete Se e descriptio Johy nb n Geddie, P.S.A.S., LXVIH (1933-4), 367-371. 1 SCOTTISH POST-REFORMATION CHURCH FURNITURE5 5 . During the 18th century it became usual to have the seating of a church based upo nmora lesr eo s uniform design throughout. This normally com- prise e remainde d th a numbepewx d bo an s f f straigho ro r t benchese th , whole being provided with doors—a feature still norma Scandinavin li a and, lessea o t r extent Netherlandse th n ,i addition I .gaie appearanceth n i o nt , e doorth s wer a esoun d expedient when heatin f churchego s eitheswa r totally lacking or rudimentary at best. Because of the niggardliness of heritors such seating was often straitened in spacing, and much of it has since been replace mory db e commodious benches. Where original seating survives appearancs it , oftes eha n been marre removae th doorse y th d b f o l. Good examples of box pews capped by light balustrades exist at Aberdeen in St Nicholas West, and at Burntisland, Echt and Maryculter, and other kirks having original seating fitted with doors, all of 19th century date, include Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Newburn, Grail, Spott, Ettrick and North Bute.

MISCELLANEOUS. To conclude this brief sketch, mention should probabl made yb somf eo e lesser items in church furnishing. It was customary to record on painted boards mortifications made for pious and charitable purposes. It is a pity tha destructioe th t sucf no h board deprives sha d many kirk mucf so h local histor pleasand yan t decoration. Examples survive, however t Brechia , n Cathedral, Canongate, Culross Abbey, St Nicholas in Aberdeen, Ayr and Elgin. Painted scripture texts on rather similar boards were also a feature of the post-Reformation kirk interior, but it is doubtful whether any existing specimens belong to the period under consideration. The "cutty stool," or place of public repentance, has already been mentioned, but this has passed with the discipline which demanded it and few examples appear to have survived. In the National Museum there is stooa l from Greyfriars, Edinburgh foot-resa s turneha d t I an t . d legsd an , is probably of 18th century date. At the Town Kirk of St Andrews is another in the form of a rather rudimentary bench. Both doubtless stood on elevated platforms originally. Until comparatively recent customars timeswa t i , mosn yi t parisheo st collec peopl e kire kirkyare alme th th th kth f t t t so edooa a r do r "yett," and the alms basins, often of fine Nuremburg -ware, were generally set on stool f pleasano s t design. Thes usualld eha y stretcher turned san d legs. Example e preservear s a numbe n di f parisheso r , including Anstruther Wester t AndrewsS , , Culross, Liff, Livingston, Pencaitland t Dalmenya d ,an , where there are three known to have been made in 1709 (PI. X, 3 and 4). As communion tende infrequentle b o dt y celebrate becamd dan e rather a momentous occasion attended by large numbers, the preaching often took 56 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1954-56. place in the kirkyard. Preachers used a temporary pulpit rather like an elevated sentry box, know"tent,e th s n a whic n "i h they could have some measur f protectioo e n froe weathermth e "tent Th a featur . s i " n i e Alexander Carse's well-known picture "Holy Fair, t apparentl"bu y onle yon examplunusualln extanta w s i no t I s ei . y elegan 18th-centurf o e on t y date, of pine painted- white and having an enriched door with an opening like a window in it. It belongs to the Ayrshire parish of Kirkmichael.1 Though much of our post-Reformation church furniture has been lost continued an destroyede b o st above th , e notes will serv indicato t e t ea least how much we still have worthy of preservation and study, and perhaps even of emulation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The thanwriteo t followins e kth ha r kindlr gfo y allowin mako t m eghi usf theio e r photographs . L e A .Rev th Drummond.: , B.D., Ph.D.r fo , lar nM G; L3 Lindsay, PIXI . , O.B.E., A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., F.S.A.Scot., for Pis. XII, 2 and XIII, 2; and the Rev. Archibald Mackenzie, B.D., F.S.A.Scot., for PL XI, 1.

Since writing the above, another example from the parish of Carnock, Fife, has been acquired by th1 e National Museum.