Greyfriars Church, Aberdeen

{{Short description|Historic building in Aberdeen, Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Greyfriars (John Knox) Kirk, Broad Street, Aberdeen.jpg

Greyfriars Church is a Category A Listed building in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was designed by the architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and built in 1903. It is situated on Broad Street and forms the south-east corner of Marischal College, also designed by Mackenzie.{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/20081/aberdeen-broad-street-greyfriars-church|title=Aberdeen, Broad Street, Greyfriars Church {{!}} Canmore|website=canmore.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-05-29}}

History

A priory was built in the area in 1469. Around 1525 Bishop Dunbar started a new church.Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; vol. 5; by Hew Scott This was completed and occupied in 1532 in Pre-Reformation days by Franciscan monks. It was retained for Protestant worship after the Reformation, but the monastery element was demolished to create Marischal College (attaching the church) in 1593.{{cite web | url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/20081/aberdeen-broad-street-greyfriars-church | title=Aberdeen, Broad Street, Greyfriars Church | Canmore }}

In 1605, 1616 and 1640 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was held here (rather than its usual venue in Edinburgh).

In 1749 the church was redesignated as a chapel-of-ease to the Kirk of St Nicholas, a status which continued until 1828.

Notable ministers

Due to the physical connection between buildings, many ministers also served concurrently as Principal of Marischal College.

References