Alles über Edinburgh
Holy Trinity Church St Andrews
Holy Trinity Church
South St St Andrews
The Holy Trinity Church originally stood close
to St Andrews Cathedral built in 1144.
It has been in its present position in South Street since 1412.
Originally served by Roman Catholic priests
it changed with the Reformation in 1559
to Protestant and Episcopalian priests.
Since 1689 the ministers have been Presbyterian.
Original Remains of Church
The Tower and two interior arches
are the only original parts of the
church from 1412 that remain.
1907 the church was demolished
and rebuilt to the previous medieval church’s
footprint and rededicated
on St Andrews Day in 1909.
John Knox Porch
John Knox the founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland preached here in 1559.
A commemoration to him is in the form of the
John Knox Porch. The porch inscription reads:
‘In this town and church began God first calling to the dignity of the preacher’. Knox said farewell to
St Andrews on 17th August 1572,
three months before his death.
It was in this church, and not in the cathedral,
that he preached on 11th June 1559
on Jesus’ ejection of the buyers and sellers
from the temple and thus inaugurated
the Reformation acts
and proceedings in Scotland.
John Knox First Public Sermon
In 1547 Holy Trinity was the scene of the first public sermon of the famous reformer, John Knox.
He also preached in Holy Trinity in 1559,
instructing residents of St Andrews
to purge the city of "monuments of idolatry". Inspired by Knox's the local population rejected Catholicism, tore down statues and altars,
and sacked St Andrews Cathedral.
Holy Trinity Pulpit
The pulpit is made of marble, alabaster and onyx, and is carved with the initials of the Holy Trinity ministers who have been Church of Scotland moderators.
Erected in memory of Dr A K H Boyd, Minister of the First Charge from 1865 to 1899 and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1890.
Sharpe Aisle
There wonderful stain glass windows in the Sharp Aisle and a 1914-1918 War Memorial to the fallen in the First World War.
The eighteen stained glass windows of the high wall depict the badges of the twelve Scottish infantry regiments, the Royal Navy, the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers,
Royal Air Force and the
Royal Army Medical Corps.
The Sharp Aisle
Sharp Aisle, has the tomb and monument to Archbishop Sharp (1618-1697), who was murdered by Covenanters at Magus Muir, erected in 1681 by his son, Sir William Sharp of Scotscraig.
Holy Trinity Church
Stain Glass Windows
First World War Memorial to those who fell, also remembered in the eighteen stained glass windows of the Clerestory, which depict the badges of the twelve Scottish infantry regiments, the Royal Navy,
the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Air Force and
the Royal Army Medical Corps.
The Good Physician
Dated from 1890 is the only surviving window prior to the reconstruction of the church in 1909.
