Parish Church (St Marys)
This is a medieval church of uncertain age but dating from at least the 12th century. The east aisle is dated 1683. West of the south aisle (1830) half of an ornmate 12thc doorway is still visible. Generally the church has never been grand, but it bears the hallmarks of centuries of evolutionary change, and is the more interesting for that. The interior was generally denuded in 1932 including loss of the 18th century gallery. A 13th century memorial lies in the south porch. One curious feature is the bell, which was rung by an external chain, the groove from which has carved itself into the stonework below the bell.
The churchyard is of equal antiquity and interest. Its greatest oddity is a hollowed out panelled "coffin stone" which bears witness to its occupant, William Mitchell (d.1809) having been killed "by the stroke of a threshing machine". Richard Lauder, the last Lauder laird of Haltoun, was interred in the graveyard on November 29, 1675. Other graves of note are Thomas Wilkie (d.1679) and William Anderson (d.1756).
A new cemetery of far less character now lies on the NE outskirts of the village, slightly out of sight from the churchyard.
Read more about this topic: Ratho
Famous quotes containing the words parish and/or church:
“There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by the people of any parish in America.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“Do you see this egg? With this you can topple every theological theory, every church or temple in the world.”
—Denis Diderot (1713–1784)