The Old Church
The former nave of the abbey church, erected by David I over the original church founded by his mother, Queen Margaret. The Old Church is the only significant remain of the 1147 abbey, and is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture, with huge, rounded pillars, two carved with striking zigzag patterns.
Carnegie Historical Window in Dunfermline Abbey. Left to right: William Wallace, Malcolm III, Queen Margaret and Robert the Bruce.
In 1881, when Andrew Carnegie returned to Dunfermline with his mother Margaret to lay the foundation stone of the world’s first purpose-built Carnegie library, a thought came to mind to offer to the Abbey a commemorative stained glass window of his own design.
Reverend Doctor Peter Chalmers, 1790-1870
by Dr. Jean Barclay
Peter Chalmers, minister of the Church of Scotland and local historian, was born in Glasgow on September 19th 1790 the only son of Alexander Chalmers, cloth merchant, and his wife Marion Bald. At the age of sixteen, having done well at school, he went to the University of Glasgow, gaining an MA (or AM) in 1808 and decided to enter the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Glasgow in September 1814 and became assistant to the well-known evangelist Rev. Thomas Chalmers (no relation) at St. George`s (Tron) Church. In July 1817 Peter Chalmers was ordained to the Second Charge (or ministry) at Dunfermline Abbey. He arrived just before the removal of the ruins of the old monastic church and the erection of the New Abbey Church on its site in 1818-21 and gave the last sermon in the Auld Kirk in the nave and the first in the New Church. In 1836, on the death of the Rev. Allan MacLean, Chalmers was promoted to the First Charge of the Abbey.
It was not easy to research the stained glass windows in the Abbey and newer section of the church.
Armorial window
of
Annabella Drummond Queen of Robert III of Scotland .
The McLaren Window – Dunfermline Abbey, featuring scenes from the Last Supper and the Resurrection. This stained glass window was erected in 1904 to honour two local brothers William and John McLaren, who stipulated that their own faces should be reproduced among the disciples. Below the Last Supper Window a quote states, ‘This cup is the New Testament in my Blood.’
In the Resurrection Window, Mary Magdalene can be seen kneeling alongside the two Mary’s above a quote that states: ‘He is not here, for he is risen.’ To the right of Mary Magdalene are weapons and armour belonging to a Roman Soldier, including what appears to be the ‘Holy Lance’ otherwise known as the ‘Spear of Destiny…’
The chancel is such a contrast to the empty, echoing nave; the grave of Robert the Bruce is striking, but it is rather oddly tucked under the pulpit, surrounded by Victorian woodwork, so it isn’t the easiest thing to see closely.
Robert the Bruce was buried, in 1329, in the choir, now the site of the present parish church. Bruce’s heart rests in Melrose, but his bones lie in Dunfermline Abbey, where (after the discovery of the skeleton in 1818) they were reinterred with fitting pomp below the pulpit of the New church. In 1891, the pulpit was moved back and a monumental brass inserted in the floor to indicate the royal vault.
When and if I find more information about some of the windows we photographed I’ll add the information to this post.
On this Saturday the 21st of September we also toured the remains of the castle which will be another post.
It’s always after the fact that I learn so much more about the places we visited. One of the things I didn’t know about Dunfermline is that Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline and the Andrew Carnegie Galleries and Library are in the town.
Back to the present: We are moving into the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with many folks getting Monday as a holiday in the USA to honor the memory of him. Hope you all have a good weekend.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Hello,
The stained glass windows and church are beautiful.
Take care, Happy Friday! Wishing you a great weekend.
…such beautiful wiindows!
Beautiful windows! When I read the part about Carnegie, it reminded me that the library in our town is a Carnegie Library! I’m so glad he gave the money to Lebanon to have a library. That library has given me many wonderful hours of enjoyment!.
So many beautiful museums and libraries have been built by the rich. I appreciate and am glad for that, too. Have a beautiful day, Cathy.
Those windows are amazing ! And the architecture is beautiful! Have a wonderful weekend!
Wow beautiful stained glass windows.
Always amazes me how old those buildings are!!
Your photos certainly show how exquisite this abbey is. A fascinating history as is often the case with these places. The stain glass windows are breathtaking. Thank you for sharing, I am thoroughly enjoying all your travels. Happy weekend to you Ellen.
Such magnificent architecture! Do we build anything like this now?
Architecture at its finest! 💖
The architecture is mind-boggling! Such grand, and yet intricate, designs!
What an atmospheric church. Love the pillars, windows and wonderful ceiling art. Stunning. B x