church architecture scotland church architecture scotland incorporates church building modern borders scotland earliest christian structures sixth century present day early christian churches evidence basic masonry built constructions west coast islands christianity spread local churches tended remain simpler english counterparts eighth century sophisticated block built buildings began constructed eleventh century larger ornate buildings twelfth century introduction new monastic orders led boom ecclesiastical building english continental forms thirteenth century elements style began appear scotland buildings rebuilt renaissance influences seen low massive style probably influenced contacts italy netherlands mid sixteenth century reformation church architecture scotland resulted rejection elaborate ornamentation existing churches new churches produced plain style plan emphasised pulpit preaching style adopted presbyterian wings scottish attempts introduce baroque elements church building restoration eighteenth century influence led churches employed classical elements rectangular plan continued early nineteenth century increasingly controversial began rejected version gothic revival flourished early twentieth century world wars form neo norm new churches second half twentieth century new churches highly influenced resulting rectangular irregularly shaped buildings built new materials later demolished level new building reduced 1970s functional new churches 1980s striking original designs middle ages early churches introduction christianity scotland ireland sixth century led construction churches originally wooden like excavated evidence survives era basic masonry built churches beginning west coast islands spreading south east early tended square ended walls similar irish period medieval parish church architecture scotland typically elaborate england churches remaining simple towers highlands simpler built rubble masonry indistinguishable outside houses farm buildings monasteries differed significantly continent isolated collection wooden surrounded wall chapel guest house buildings timber construction probably heather later rebuilt stone underground cells circular like ireland similar sites excavated eighth century sophisticated buildings emerged development early masonry produced block built stone buildings like eleventh century round tower square towers eleventh century masonry techniques advanced blocks rectangular resulting stable walls incorporate refined architectural detailing seen time increasing influence english continental european designs known style origins roman building techniques early churches byzantine_empire italy characterised massive reinforced walls round arches bear weight rounded barrel vault roofs introduction style scotland associated ecclesiastical reforms began reign bringing continental ideas church organisation country oldest church scotland probably small chapel built wife margaret edinburgh vaulted semi circular twelfth century number new parish churches built lords land small buildings connected cells diminishing size ending rounded best preserved chapel dates probably built church choir tall square tower survive detailing derives work church england carried yorkshire monastic establishment built style begun behest existing small chapel expanded square choir rounded years later replaced church nave survives pattern detailing piers modelled similarly cathedral begun employed worked durham shares similar pattern great round arches based thick cylindrical pillars arrival new monastic orders scotland twelfth century led boom ecclesiastical building english continental forms including complete buildings survive gothic style developed originating twelfth century france known gothic characterised pointed arches flying buttresses brought britain retained thick walls pierced arches slender pointed arches style characteristic early gothic britain seen abbey begun resembles religious foundations northern england style seen east end incorporated typical european gothic elaborate style known decorated gothic applying ornamentation pillars particularly curved motifs began adopted thirteenth century characteristic scottish church building fourteenth century built thirteenth century particularly nave east end highlands elaborate decoration style visible south aisle finest examples near monastery named burial heart alongside body wife period wars independence saw large number ecclesiastical buildings ruined including church building largely confined parish churches relatively secure areas like originally church dominican fifteenth century continental builders known working scotland french master mason employed building rebuilding considered fine examples gothic architecture compared reformation interiors churches elaborate highly decorated houses like ones surviving carvings depicting progression seven deadly sins created mid fifteenth century considered finest gothic style late medieval scottish churches contained elaborate burial monuments like douglas tombs town douglas renaissance impact renaissance ecclesiastical architecture seen adoption low massive church building round arches pillars contrast perpendicular gothic style particularly dominant england late medieval era adoption low massive style influenced close contacts rome netherlands conscious reaction english forms favour continental ones seen nave begun facade chapel collegiate churches established scotland late fifteenth early sixteenth centuries like edinburgh showed combination gothic renaissance styles early sixteenth century saw crown built churches royal connections imperial monarchy early modern era reformation reformation church architecture scotland rejected ornamentation places worship need elaborate buildings divided ritual widespread destruction medieval church ornaments decoration need adapt old buildings build new churches suitable reformed services particularly putting pulpit preaching centre worship earliest buildings simple style continued built seventeenth century examples include new buildings windows south wall north unique feature reformation materials churches rubble employed stone added wooden church edinburgh built rectangular layout largely gothic form sophisticated classical style variation rectangular church developed plan adapting existing churches allowed maximum number near pulpit seen continued seventeenth century seventeenth century greek cross plan churches cases arm cross closed aisle meaning effect churches larger churches edinburgh restoration later seventeenth century presbyterian wings church adopted sized plain form churches emerged reformation plan arms rectangular planned arrangement continued major feature centrally long axis end case churches result little baroque church building seen minor innovations indicate restoration era built sir duke championed bishops reign charles_ii gothic windows emphasised antiquity basic greek cross plan remained common framework new churches drive forms worship resulted linear patterns including rectangular plans pulpit end opposite entrance major exceptions standard pattern work jesuit youth included rebuilding undertaken outfitted elaborate style smith designed sir circular structure modelled designed latin cross form increasingly popular smith saw episcopal service presbyterian revolution occurred completed chancel blocked making effect plan eighteenth century neo eighteenth century established patterns continued shaped churches long greek cross plan inscribed circle octagonal scots born architect highly influential british ecclesiastical architecture introduced consciously antique style rebuilding london massive rectangular plan similar patterns scotland seen andrew square designed built master mason smaller chapel completed designed design rectangular plan nave barrel vaulted layout superimposed act began building limited number new including chapel meeting house designed edinburgh chapel opened glasgow adopted simpler version rectangular plan second half eighteenth century scotland rapidly expanding economy population resulted laying numerous new towns settlements resulting need new churches support local residents included george street new town edinburgh designed followed tradition oval plan tall builder probably designed redesigned village grid plan central square focused following tradition nineteenth century neo decline early nineteenth century influenced tradition continued seen form developed edinburgh controversy style led greek temple motifs pagan relatively greek churches built capital exception church temple common edinburgh churches combined classical elements features like charlotte square executed baroque glasgow tradition existing meeting houses continued graham criticised fronted classical designs established church included redevelopment gothic revival western_europe nineteenth century return medieval styles grouped gothic revival early examples included adams george edinburgh included octagonal arches examples included chapel like early nineteenth century examples influenced included built octagonal reconstruction perth examples explicitly perpendicular form seen graham old urban populations grew major neo gothic churches built accommodate passing catholic relief act designed roman catholic chapel glasgow growth benefited mainly anglican english workers edinburgh modelled english perpendicular chapel glasgow plan symmetrical tall tower began concern providing churches new towns relatively supplied highlands establishing church extension committee led early 1840s added churches largely public subscription occurred roughly ministers congregations left established church buildings form skills helped build new places worship established church took time recover embarked rival programme church building increasing number parishes intense competition different denominations led creation grand churches tall ultimately resulted churches financial burden future generations intense competition congregations led changes worship attractive reflected architecture european protestant churches engage innovation reflected seating arrangements abandoning box open benches middle nineteenth century churches like edinburgh began installing organs stained glass windows reflecting attempt return forms worship largely excluded late seventeenth century church rebuilt opened plan middle ages separate chancel communion table far end pulpit chancel arch influence movement seen churches built opened chancel raised level nave stone pulpit brass edinburgh rebuilt marble communion table chancel decorated marble mosaic sub set medieval revival neo churches called norman time built style incorporated byzantine features low massive framework utilised major denominations examples include buildings chapel edinburgh later nineteenth century examples included church glasgow designed gothic style developed fully later nineteenth century important figures included adapted gothic style needs edinburgh trained office leading gothic architect london returning edinburgh worked small churches including christ edinburgh supervised renovation alexander greek working mainly glasgow began gothic style soon turned ancient greeks inspiration seen temple columns scotland influential architect late nineteenth century early twentieth century designed number churches queen glasgow built avoided characteristic glasgow churches favour wide tower simple elegant rectangular structure single aisle twentieth century half twentieth century continued isolated examples gothic church building including edinburgh glasgow common forms period plain massive buildings protestant examples included roman catholic examples included completed removed need new presbyterian church building replaced tendency nineteenth century churches replacing dark white neutral colour schemes main tendency church design 1930s isolated large classical protestant commissions edinburgh major buildings form catholic_church movement centred plans movement reached peak 1960s leading figure pursuing style jack deaths partners sole heir glasgow based practice later 1920s pursued brick style catholic architecture pioneered edinburgh combined classical tendencies church utilised engineering techniques architecture resulting broad space narrow arcades monumental facade red brick linear plan subsequent designs including early christian byzantine character striking enhanced carvings use selective details probably later decade took partnership kennedy temporary open catholic chapel empire exhibition fronted like grid peter walls towers showed influence abstract compositions contemporary swedish architecture pointed future influence second world war period rapid church building creation new towns council house estates necessitated rapid supply new churches shortage materials need rapid building discouraged development innovative design accompanied rejection architects traditional forms favour international characterised simple outlines internal spaces absence colour flat roofs catholic_church traditional membership affected changes housing react situation creating new parishes west country baptist churches followed close particularly new towns congregation clergy expressed domestic 1950s duel use hall churches completed steel framed building clad timber brick flat roof buildings erected basic pattern influence radical seen buildings edinburgh series irregular smooth faced influenced architecture pioneering contribution seating congregation sides central platform choir elders fourth pulpit roman_catholic_church important steps design taken began new town wedge shaped construction white painted common brick focused dramatic metal cross sculptor churches designed late modernist style rectangular plan mid-1960s adopted non rectangular plan seating ranged round altar reflecting change rectangular load bearing brick dramatically lit dark coloured windows lady good counsel plan ceiling like roof curved innovative designs inspired experiment including lady south designs proved radical later demolished catholic_church citing structural maintenance problems end phase church building production new housing subsided 1970s saw return church design reflected loss confidence churches rapidly declined identified post style emerging period limited building replacing existing churches tended building companies timber beams exposed roofs produce aesthetically constructions late 1980s original designs including catholic church replacement church french design nearby parish church converted farmhouse
Church architecture in Scotland