The Church of the Holy Rude

This past weekend we traveled to Stirling, Scotland to attend a Harp concert at the Church of the Holy Rude. The harpist played in the style of a minstrel and shared music from the earliest times of the church. The music and beauty of the building helped me to imagine the historical moments that took place on these very grounds.

The roof of the Church of the Holy Rude is the original oak beamed structure which makes it over five hundred years old. It is the oldest surviving example of this type of roof in Scotland. As was the way in those times, it was hand carved, and the ceiling does not contain a single screw, bolt, or nail, instead it has oak pegs holding the whole thing together.

The stained glass windows in the Church of the Holy Rude not only share the stories of Jesus, but tell the stories of people in Stirling, Scotland. The ones that have up now are from the mid 19th century. One stained glass window that stood out to me is of an Angel, it is a reminder for us to find the best in everyone and every thing.

Church of the Holy Rude is the place that King James VI had his coronation. He was only 9 months old when he was crowned King of Scotland. The crown had to be held above him because it was too big for his little head. Once the parts of the ceremony where he was needed were over, he was rushed back to the safety of the castle. After the king had left the ceremony, there was a three hour sermon given by John Knox.

If you are ever in Stirling, Scotland then make sure to check out Church of the Holy Rude and its interesting history.~ Sophie L. Purnell