CHURCHES OF THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES.
The ecclesiastical architecture of the mediæval period terminated at
the introduction of the Reformation in 1560, but during the latter half of
the sixteenth and the greater part of the seventeenth century a number of
churches were erected which show some attempt to maintain or revive
the style of earlier times. This tendency was doubtless encouraged by
the strenuous effort which was made, under James I. and Charles I. and II.,
to establish the Episcopal forms of Church government and service in
Scotland. These forms being contrary to the desire of the Presbyterians,
who comprised the great body of the people, gave rise to two opposing
parties. The party favourable to the Episcopal form of religion supported
the erection of churches and the maintenance of the worship as
nearly as possible after the old model, while the Presbyterians and
Puritans discouraged everything which savoured of the ancient faith,
whether in buildings or services. The result was that during the century
which followed the Reformation there were two styles of ecclesiastical
structures erected in the country, one style showing some reverence for
the house of God in its form and decoration, and in the appropriateness
of the divine service; while the other seemed to be designed, both in its
buildings and forms of worship, to be as far removed as possible from any
outward or visible sign of inward sweetness or grace.
It is proposed to conclude this work with some examples of the different styles of churches erected during the above period.
A number of specimens have already been given in a former work.[1]
These churches were introduced into a work on the domestic architecture of the country, in order to illustrate the influence of the domestic style on the ecclesiastical architecture of this period. Many of these edifices were, therefore, only partially illustrated, and it has been thought desirable to treat some of them more fully in this book, so as to complete the illustration and description of their architecture.
The examples which are now given will amply illustrate the remaining specimens which still survive of this somewhat heterogeneous epoch.
Most of the churches of the seventeenth century are either very poor imitations of Gothic work or tasteless examples of plain walls, while a few contain the germs of what might have been wrought into a picturesque style, founded on the domestic architecture of the period. Such, for example, are the churches of Stirling (west end), Anstruther Easter, and Pittenweem.
Several of the monuments of the period are also given.
The following examples are arranged in alphabetical order.
- ↑ The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Vol. V. p. 130.
