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"Works of Mercy"

North wall of North Transept

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The next window at the end of the north Trancept is the oldest Stained Glassed window in the church.

This shows how it was carefully protected during the 1905 restoration. It was made and installed by Alexander Ballantine & Gardiner in 1898. The cost of this window is not known.

The North trancept during the 1905 restoration.

This is the only window that diffuses a dim religious light usually associated with an ancient cathedral. It shows the, "Works of Mercy." In the tracery above this window are the words of St.Matthew (Chapter 5 v7) "Blessed are the merciful." On the bottom central panel is the inscription, "In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." This window depicts the story of St.Matthew Chapter 25.

"For when I was hungry, you gave me food."
"When thirsty you gave me drink."
"When I was a stranger you took me into your home."
"When naked you clothed me."
"When I was ill you came to my help." And
"When in Prison you visited me."

The inscription along the bottom reads, "Dedicated by James Dunsmure Johnston MD, JP to the memory of his relatives interred in Corstorphine Churchyard between 1707 and 1898." There are some of the Dunsmure Johnston gravestones in the churchyard, most of these are in the first line of stones opposite the main church door and the Glebe.

James Dunsmuir's
Grave Stone

Dunsmuir House c.1895.

Margaret Cleland whose father owned land at the west of the village married the Edinburgh merchant John Dunsmure in 1753. Their son married Jane Johnston. In time their land became known as Dunsmuir. Although the exact link between the Dunsmure and Johnston families has not been made yet, it is highly probable that the Jane Johnston who was born in 1764, and married James Dunsmuir in 1792, is David Johnston’s daughter born on the 17^th August 1764 and baptised Jean.

James Dunsmure Johnston who dedicated this window was Jean’s nephew. The Johnston’s were brewers and had land east of Kirk Loan and south of St.John’s Road. The Johnston Family built Corstorphine House in 1832. They had a thriving brewery business in the 18^th century. It run from buildings on the north of this ground, land now occupied by Boots the Chemist, St.John’s Road. Around the time they built Corstorphine House the Johnston men turned to other occupations. These families were "Old Corstorphine Families," the Old Parochial Records show ancestors from the 1670’s. (St.Matthew Chapter 25 vv35-40) ("Blessed are the merciful." - St.Matthew Chapter 5 v7)

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