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St Bride's Church, Douglas

 

Old St Bride's Church dates to the late 14C. The Chancel survives as a ruin from this period while the tower was built in 1618. The church houses the tombs of the Douglas family and was renovated in the 1880s on the orders of the Earl of Home. The clock is said to have been gifted by Mary, Queen of Scots.

Douglas’s fine old clock on the spire of the equally fine old St Bride’s Church, is possibly the oldest working clock in Scotland.

As far as it is known the workings are the original and having had a new wheel piece replaced in the last 100 years. The bell ropes are of course renewed when required.

After an inspection by two Ministry of Works officials some years ago, they commented how the pendulum was added after 1565 and that in their opinion the “roots” of the pendulum were probably connected to the clock.

The clock, famous for its good timekeeping through the centuries, chimed three minutes before the hour in accordance with the Douglas motto “Jamais Arriere” …never behind (although sadly it was not working when I visited!).

The church, which is in the care of Historic Scotland, has two vaults below the floor of the church, although only the upper layer is now accessible.

Douglases interred here include:

• William, 1st Marquis of Douglas, died 1660
• Margaret, Countess of Angus, died 1623, the Marquis's wife
• Mary, the Marquis's 2nd wife
• Margaret, d 1660, the Marquis's eldest daughter
• Anne, died 1664, the Marquis's eldest son
• William, Earl of Angus, died 1694, the Marquis's 2nd son
• Possibly also Captain John Ker - there is no inscription on this lead coffin.

Transferred from the new Parish Church of Douglas sometime after the renovations were carried out in 1880 were:

• Archibald, Duke of Douglas, died 1761
• Margaret Duchess of Douglas, died 1774
• Archibald, 1st Baron Douglas, died 1827
• Lady Lucy, died 1780, the Baron's 1st wife
• Lady Frances, died 1780, his 2nd wife
• Archibald, 2nd baron Douglas, died 1844
• Charles, 3rd Baron Douglas, died 1848
• James, 4th Baron Douglas, died 1857
• Williamina, died 1866, the 4th Baron's wife
• Sholto Douglas, died 1821, the 1st Baron's son, died 1838,
• George, died 1838, the 1st Baron's 5th son
• Cospatrick, 11th earl of Home, died 1881
• Lucy, countess of Hume, died 1877

   

  James, 2nd Marquis of Douglas and Archibald, Earl of Angus (d 1655) may also have been interred here

  Archibald, Duke of Douglas (d 1761) coffin lay in the cellars of Douglas Castle until the new Parish Church of Douglas was completed, to where it was transferred.

  Douglas ministers:

  Freskin of Douglas	1203-1222
  Archibald Douglas	1562-1570
  James Douglas	1638-1640
  Archibald Douglas	1663
  Alexander Douglas	1664-1678
  Alexander Douglas	1678-1681

   

  St Bride's Church	Historic Scotland notice at entrance to St Bride's Church
  Historic Scotland notice at entrance to St Bride's Church	Historic Scotland notice at entrance to St Bride's Church
  Historic Scotland notice at entrance to St Bride's Church	St Bride's Church Information sheet
  St Bride's Church information sheet	St Bride's Church - details of those burried in the crypt
  St Bride's Church - details of those burried in the crypt	St Bride's Church - details of those burried in the crypt
  St Bride's Church - details of those burried in the crypt	Sign above tomb of Marjory, wife of Hugh Douglas
  Tomb of Marjory Abernethy, wife of Hugh Douglas Hugh and his brother fought at the Battle of Largs.	Tomb of Marjory Abernethy, wife of Hugh Douglas Hugh fought at the Battle of Largs. Other than that, little is known of him.
  	Coat of arms of Lucy Elizabeth Douglas of Douglas, Countess of Home Wife of 12th Earl of Home Detail from the window in the south wall
  Coat of arms of Lucy Elizabeth Douglas of Douglas, Countess of Home Detail from the window in the south wall	Window in the south wall The inscription reads: In memory of Lucy Douglas Douglas of Douglas, Countess of Home, born 1805 dies 15th May 1877 placed by her son Charles 12th earl of Home.
  Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix Below the tomb are stone carving representing their 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters: William, James, Archibald, Hugh, John, Henry, Margaret, Beatrix, Janet and Elizabeth.	Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix Beatix Sinclair was daughter of Henry, Earl of Orkney
  Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix	Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix
  Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix Beatrix is depicted on the left. The earl is depicted on the right.	Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix The tomb is double width to accommodate both effigies. As a result, there is a protrusion on the outside wall.
  James and Beatrix information poster	Tomb of James, The gross, 7th Earl of Douglas, and his wife Beatrix An ornate stone arch is formed over the effigies, and above it is this shield carved with the Douglas coat of arms showing 3 mullets and heart of Douglas, 3 mullets in triangular form for Bothwell, the upright lion for Galloway and the criss-cross for Annandale. Surmounting this is a helmet with a peacock. To the left of the shield is a panel depicting a warroir savage and on the right side is a blank which might originally have been another warrior or perhaps a deer.
  Twin widows in the south wall The inscription reads: In memory of Lady Jane Douglas Stuart died 1753 and her son Archibald, 1st Baron Douglas of Douglas died 1827 placed by their descendant Charles 12th Earl of Home 1901. Lady Jane was the subject of the much debated 'Douglas cause'.	Originally in Canterbury Cathedral these 13th century windows were placed here in 1901. They had been in Douglas Castle Chapel since 1891. The inscription reads: In memory of Jane Margaret Douglas of Douglas, Lady Montagu 1859 placed by her grandson Charles 12th Earl of Home, second baron Douglas of Douglas, 1801
  The east wall window - St Bride is depicted in the centre window The inscription reads: Charles XII Earl of Home in memory of his grandfather Cospatrick XI earl 1881	The east wall window
  The east wall window	5th Earl information panel
  Tomb of Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas He was also 2nd Duke of Touraine, Earl of Wigton and Longueville, Lord of Galloway.	Tomb of Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas The figures below the tomb are thought to be religious people rather than his family. The missing space may have been a coat of arms. On buttresses are pedastals for 6 small statues, though 3 of them are missing. The 3 that are present represent religious figures.
  Tomb of Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas	Tomb of Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas This is a robed figure, kneeling in prayer. Above the figure is a scroll, no longer legible, and a shield which may once have depicted the arms of Touraine, Douglas, Galloway and Annandale.
  The tomb of The Good Sir James It was Sir James Douglas who carried the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land, but died along the way at Teba, in Spain. This tomb was built between 1389 and 1395.	The tomb of The Good Sir James When the tomb was opened in about 1880, no bones were found. It is thought that they may have been laid beneath the alter. A coat of arms can be seen above the tomb. It is thought that the damage may have ben caused by Cromwell's troops during the seige of Douglas Castle.
  The tomb of The Good Sir James His feet rest on a lion.	Crest above the tomb of the Good Sir James
  Tomb of Lucy Elizabeth Montagu Douglas of Douglas, Countess of Home Born 1805, died 1877, this wondeful piece of craftsmanship shows a striking likeness of the Countess.	Tomb of Lucy Elizabeth Montagu Douglas of Douglas, Countess of Home Seen here, with the tomb of the Good Sir James behind. The countess was wife to Cospatrick, 11th Earl of Home, and mother to Charles, 12th earl.
  The Douglas Hearts On the left is said to be the heart of the Good Sir James, though it seems unlikely as only his bones reportedly were brought back from Spain. On the right is the heart of Archibald, Bell the Cat, Douglas, 5th earl of Angus.	The Douglas Hearts Archibald died in Whithorn and was buried there in 1513. the casket is lead, and said to be lined in silver. It is possible that the other heart is actually that of Archibald, 8th earl of Angus, who died in 1588.
  Inscription above the door	Entrance to the vault The vault is on 2 layers, the lowest level being inaccessible. the upper layer was last opened in 2003.
  Inside the vault	A hatchment located inside the vault It shows the impaled arms of James Douglas, 4th and last Lord Douglas of Douglas castle. He died in 1857.
  St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire	St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire
  St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire The east wall	St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire The oldest clock tower in Scotland, dating from the 16th century
  St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire The clock strikes 3 minutes ahead of time because a douglas is 'Jamias Arriere'!	St Bride's Church, Douglas, Lanarkshire Although the clock shows 12 midday, it was in fact 12:30! However, the clock had struck correctly at 3 minutes to midday. The caretaker was a trifle embarrassed.
  A tombstone in the churchyard	A tombstone in the churchyard
  A tombstone in the churchyard	A tombstone in the churchyard This was the only Douglas memorial in the chuchyard that I was able to locate.
  	Armorial shield Heart and stars - in the church

   

  
  
  
  

  
  

   

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