The stained glass windows are a distinctive feature of
The Old Parish Church.

Alexander Ballantine

The majority of the windows in the church are by Ballantine. Alexander Ballantine succeeded his father, James Ballantine on his death in 1877. James Ballantine had established his Stained Glass firm in 1837 at the age of 29. He was born in Edinburgh in 1808 and began his career, like many other stained-glass artists, by training as a house painter and decorator. It is not know where Ballantine acquired his knowledge of glass staining. Michael Donnelly in his book Scotland's Stained Glass suggests it is most likely that he spent some time in an English studio, perhaps at Newcastle, before establishing his own firm.

"Alexander’s, characteristic was his strong figure composition and his lighter colour schemes. This gave the firm a new lease of life with hundreds of technically competent if rather traditional windows to his credit." (Scotland's Stained Glass by Michael Donnelly, The Stationary Office, 1997. ISBN 0 11 495793 2 [p22]). He became a partner with Gardiner in the 1880’s, and the window in the north transept is part of their joint work. Alexander also lectured frequently on the subject of stained glass, a measure of the craft's growing respectability.

James Ballantine his son joined the family firm sometime between 1898 and 1904 and succeeded his father on his death in 1906. James modernised his pallet, but never quite escaped the pictorial style of his father. He was the first Scot to broadcast on the art of stain glass windows on radio in 1925. Most of Ballantine’s apprentices were encouraged to attend the Art College with a view to improve drawing skills.

It is Alexander Ballantine and his son James who were responsible for the majority of the windows installed at the 1905 restoration, and had a studio at 42, George Street, Edinburgh.

The total cost for all sixteen stained glass windows installed during the 1905 restoration was £743. As a contrast to this the 1994 replacement Porch Window cost just under £1000 and the New Vestry Window, about twice the size of the porch window installed in 1996 cost about £2000. Although records do not show the costs of each individual window installed in 1905 an estimated value can be calculated from the subscriptions of the benefactors and the percentacge of the total cost - I will tell you these estimated costs as we go round the windows.

This tour will take you round the windows starting at the main door in the porch heading anti-clockwise, through the tower to the Baptistery, South Nave, round the Chancel, Vestry, North Nave and Transept to the tower and finish with the fan light above the main door.

To start the tour click here or some browsers may allow you to click on individual window of interest.