Saint Michael's Parish Church by danapommet
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Saint Michael's Parish Church is one of the largest burgh churches in the Church of Scotland. It is situated in the town of Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh. Saint Michael is the town's patron saint and the town's motto is "St Michael is kinde to strangers". King David I of Scotland granted a charter for the establishment of the church in 1138. The church was built on the site of an older church and was consecrated in 1242. Following a fire in 1424, most of the present building dates from the mid 15th century, with extensive restorations in the 19th century. The church was completed in 1540. Built only a few meters south of Linlithgow Palace, the church was much favored as a place of worship by Scottish Kings and Queens. Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in Linlithgow Palace on 8 December 1542 and was baptized in Saint Michael�s Church.
In 1559, at an early stage of the Scottish Reformation, the Protestant Lords of the Congregation destroyed the statues adorning the exterior and interior of the church as signs of "popishness", and defaced the statue of Saint Michael which formed part of the structure. Following the Reformation, the interior of the church was reordered. Some traces of pre-Reformation artifacts can still be detected. In 1646, Oliver Cromwell's troops stabled their horses within the nave. Following the departure of the troops considerable restoration was required. By the early 19th century the church was in a very poor physical condition. Although repairs were made, many of the historic features of the church were destroyed, the interior walls were whitewashed, a plaster ceiling replaced a fine 16th century one and in 1821 the stone Crown Tower (a crown steeple similar to that of Saint Giles' Cathedral) had to be dismantled. While other repairs were completed and the church was rededicated in 1896, the tower was too weakened for restoration of the original stone crown steeple. By the late 19th century tastes had changed radically, with the installation of the church's first post-Reformation stained glass windows. In 1964, in a then highly controversial move, an aluminum crown was installed (replacing the Crown Tower removed in 1821). The modern crown is evocative of Christ's crown of thorns; it is intended to emphasize the kingship of Christ over his church. The lightweight aluminum minimizes the load on the tower and reinterprets the crown steeple in a modern idiom. Info from Wikipedia. With failing light this is not the best of shots. Photo taken May 1995 and recently scanned. Zoom will give you a better view of the Crown Tower.
Thanks for stopping by my gallery, taking a look and for all your previous favs and comments. They are very much appreciated.
Dana

Comments (27)
wonderful picture! I love very much the light and colors!
Beautiful capture and info Dana.
really beautiful church and shot!
This is a super capture Dana and a great deal of fascinating reading.
great captured!! like this so much!!
Wow Dana, this a wonderful photo, full of great natural light, Awesome textures and nicely composed. Very well done My friend!!! Very nice narrative also.
WQhat a beautiful pic, Dana! That aluminium top is even better close up!
Excellent POV on this and a wonderful sky off this picture, superb capture! :)
Great capture and info , Dana.
Great shot and a very interesting story to go with it!!!!
I have been to this church its beautiful superb work and thanks for the info !!
love to see this place in person but I know I will not. So thought your eyes i see this lovely place and dream of what happen with in these walls
This is a very stunning photo Great bit of history of this church
Stellar POV, silhouetting and sky effects in this foto, followed by extensive historical information on its existence, Dana.
good postwork and writeup! thanks for sharing! :-)
Amazing place! Excellent work.
I noticeded the church in your last pic, I wondered if you had captured it, great info!!!
All i can say is wow i really love looking at these shots of a world beyond us now past.
Beautiful capture of this beautiful church !Wonderfuil POV and lighting !
A wonderful building!
wonderful series!!
Thanks Dana. I really enjoyed reading the history of this lovely place. Did you take a month tour of the UK at one time? You must have been bushed when you got home:)
Spectacular architecture Dana, amazing shot!
After reading the information, I would like to add this to my bucket list of places to go. Such a great capture, Dana!
Great shot, wonderful POV
Gorgeous POV on this shot Love it Dana
Great Capture.