St Anne's, Dunbar
Scottish Episcopal and Methodist Church
History of St Anne's
St Anne's is a charge of the Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion.
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On 29 November 2015, the congregation united with the Dunbar Methodist Church to form one unified presence serving Dunbar and district.
We are part of the Forth Valley Methodist Circuit and regularly enjoy preachers from the circuit.
St Anne's Church
The present church, designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, was opened for worship on 21 May 1890, although an Episcopal community had been meeting in the Corn Exchange from 1874. It's a good example of the Victorian Neo-Gothic style, with some beautiful woodwork and stained glass. Unlike many Gothic buildings, it has a marvellous feeling of light, due mainly to its large, clear glass west window.
The design of the roof interior represents the hull of a boat to reflect Dunbar's fishing heritage. It was described by the late Eric Stevenson as the best timber roof in Scotland.
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St. Anne's includes a very fine organ built by Henry Willis (1812-1901). At the time of its installation, George Martin, the organist of St Paul’s Cathedral said, “a more perfect instrument of its size could not be built, both as regards to workmanship and quality of tone”.
Dunbar Methodist Church
Built in 1764, Dunbar is Scotland's oldest Methodist church and was a favourite of
John Wesley. Both John and his brother Charles were Trustees, and John preached at the Dunbar chapel on 21 occasions. In his diary entry on
17 May 1770 he wrote “In the evening I preached at the new house at Dunbar, the cheerfullest in all the Kingdom”.
The church features Victorian stained glass and an oak pulpit from St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. It's not clear how they ended up in Dunbar. One theory is that the glass was rejected by the cathedral because of a spelling error on one of the windows. See if you can spot it!
In 2019 the church building passed into private ownership after 250 years as a centre for worship.
Following is a more detailed account of the history of St Anne's, written quite some time ago.
The photos along side are in no particular order, but hopefully give something of a visual history.
The history of Episcopacy and the tradition of the name St Anne’s both go much further back in Dunbar than 1890.The idea of Episcopacy is of course rooted in the early history of the ChristianChurch. The medieval Church was Episcopal in its structure with Bishops and dioceses. While an Episcopal structure survived in Scotland there was a strong movement in favour of Presbyterianism.
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The Stuart Kings were more successful in their Episcopal policy than is commonly realised. KingJames VI achieved his aim of the restoration of Bishops in 1610. The success of this policy was due to the work of the Earl of Dunbar commemorated in the magnificent memorial in Dunbar Parish Church. The five articles of Perth achieved further important steps in 1618 including the restoration of the great Festivals.
King Charles I founded the diocese of Edinburgh in 1633 and introduced theScottish Prayer Book in 1637. It was not until 1690, and the settlement made by William III, that a Presbyterian system was firmly established. After that there were some Episcopalians in East Lothian ministered to, when possible, by a minister from Haddington.
Up to 1713 Mr. Dunbar, one of the two pre-1690 ministers remained Episcopalian and continued to worship in St Mary’s. After his death an Episcopal Chapel was established in the Poldrate. This was possible because of the toleration provision of 1695 which allowed Episcopalians to continue if they took an oath of loyalty.
In 1769 Holy Trinity Church was built on its present site. While “English”Congregations like this continued mainly in the South, most of the Jacobites who supported the House of Stuart, were “non-juring” and were prescribed after the “15” and “45” rebellions. Their priests could only minister to Congregations of at first eight and later four persons. These limitations were removed in 1792 and gradually the “qualified” or “English” Congregations joined the remnants of the non-juring Episcopal Church under Scottish Bishops.
The name St Ann is found in an old rhyme about Dunbar and Berwickshire:
St Abb’s upon the Nabs
St Helen’s on the Lee
St Ann’s upon Dunbar Sands
*Stands nearest to the sea.
*more usually St Bey, whose well is in the cliff opposite
Our Lady of the Wave’s church.
There was a tenement close to the Coastguard Station known as St Ann’s and it perished in a storm at the end of the 19th century. Tradition has it that there was a medieval Church near there of which all trace has gone. There was also a medieval Chapel in Haddington dedicated to St Anne and St Ann’s Place there is close to Holy Trinity.
It was probably these factors that led to the dedication being used in Dunbar. In 1855 the Revd T Wannop became Incumbent at Haddington. He accepted the challenge of the far-flung area in which he was expected to minister and almost at once started services in the Burgh School room in North Berwick. By 1862 St Baldred’s Church had been built, though not in its present form. After five years it had an Incumbent of it own.
Canon Wannop then turned his attention to Dunbar and, in 1874, started evening services in the Corn Exchange. It was intended to hold them monthly, but they were so successful with eighty attending, that it was decided to hold them weekly. In 1876 an Iron Church was built at a cost of £500 on Baker’s Croft adjacent to the present Church. It was supplied by Francis Morton and Company of Liverpool and was described the Courier of 14th July 1876 as the most neat and complete thing of its kind.
It was a small Gothic edifice with buttresses, porch and belfry. It was lined with grained timber. It had a fine range of windows including an east window to be filled with stained glass. It had central heating and fine vestry. An oak communion table was presented by the Countess of Haddington. In short it had every appointment necessary to ensure the comfort of the Congregation and the effective performance of his duties by the Incumbent.
The Iron Church was dismantled in May 1891 and removed by truck to Edinburgh where it became the hall of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Having established the Congregation, Canon Wannop resigned from the mission in 1878 though he continued at Holy Trinity until 1906, and the Revd C P Incledon became the Priest-in-Charge.
In 1885 the decision was madeto build the present Church but the Rector, J A Broad, resigned and it was not until after the appointment of the Revd D MacColl that work was begun. The site was secured, the architect H M Wardrop put ideas forward, funds were raised, and the Earl of Haddington laid the foundation stone on 5th November 1888.
H M Wardrop did not live to complete the building but Sir R Rowand Anderson, the leading architect of the day, continued the work.The resulting Church is a fine example of 19th century Gothic revival architecture, described by the late Eric Stevenson as the best Gothic interior in the Diocese and the best timber roof in Scotland.
The interior has, unlike many Gothic buildings, a marvelous feeling of light. This is achieved largely by the large clear west window and despite the fact that Rowand Anderson did not have a great east window and intended to have a high reredos. He believed that east windows dazzled the Congregations, whereas in the middle ages it seemed natural to want a lot of light at the altar from the morning sun.
Although the church was not complete, and was in fact never completed, it was opened for worship on 21st May 1890. The service was in three parts, dedication, communion and confirmation, and lasted three hours. Bishop Dowden of Edinburgh officiated. The Church had seating for 250 at that point and they were all taken.
Further attempts were made to raise money but the work was not fully completed. The tower remains truncated, some of the stone work is uncarved and the niche for the statue of St Anne stands unhappily empty. The Church was formally consecrated on 15th October 1892.
In its early days the Church had a severe aspect but it was improved both by the installation of the Screen originally intended by H M Wardrop in memory of Mr and Mrs J W A Anderson by his children.
The organ was built by Henry Willis (1812-1901) , the most famous member of this family which built many of the finest organs in Britain. At the timeof its installation, George Martin, the organist of St Paul’s Cathedral said, “a more perfect instrument of its size could not be built, both as regards to workmanship and quality of tone”.
A fine stained glass window was installed at once in the east wall by Mrs Anderson of Ashfield in memory of her husband, and a number of others were given in subsequent years. In July 1992 Clayton and Bell of London installed the other windows on the east wall. One represents the Resurrection and was commissioned by Colonel Anderson of Bowerhouse in memory of his sister and another representing the Ascension was commissioned by St Anne’s Work Party.
The Church is noted for it woodwork, especially the High Altar with the carving of the Lamb of God. The Sanctuary Altar was given to
St Anne’s by Dunbar Parish Church and was the Communion Table of the former Abbey Church. After the Great War a memorial was erected and then the decision was taken to build a small memorial chapel to
St Andrew. This chapel was further embellished in memory of the Revd R J Bruce, Rector from 1905-37. During his tenure funds were raised and a Rectory designed by Walker Todd was built.
After the death of Mrs Constance Nisbet Hamilton Ogilvy services were discontinued at St Margaret’s Chapel at Biel and some of the fittings came to St Anne’s. When the Chapel was demolished the
Revd E M Ivens established the St Margaret’s Chapel at the west end of the Church. This arrangement was modified during the incumbency of the Revd D Rimmer and further modified for the centenary to provide a versatile floor area. Chairs were donated by members and other well wishers. Kneelers were embroidered by the ladies of the congregation in 1990 and they are now positioned at the Communion Rail.
THE CONGREGATION
During the 19th century the Scottish gentry as landowners were required to maintain the Parish Churches, manses and ministers’ stipends, but more and more of them had been educated in England and wanted Episcopalian worship with which they were familiar. Consequently in Dunbar as in other rural areas they were willing to support the idea of building Episcopalian Churches.
Individuals of this group were to the fore in Dunbar, e.g. the Earl of Haddington, Mr & Mrs Nisbet Hamilton Ogilvy of Biel, while local ladies both of gentry and middle class families in the town donated items required for the Church. Soon after this Dunbar developed a holiday season and from the start the Church provided for enlarged summer Congregations.
In 1890 there was a very small military presence in Dunbar but the barracks was built in 1913 and an important connection was established between the Church and the military. This was no doubt fostered by the key role played for many years in the Congregation by General Sir F R Wingate, Bart of Port Sudan and Dunbar, former
Sirdar of Egypt and Governor of the Sudan for many years.
When the Revd E M Ivens retired on 15th August 1979, almost exactly a hundred years after the appointment of the Revd C P Incledon, the Congregation of St Anne’s became a linked Charge with Holy Trinity, Haddington and the Revd David Rimmer became joint Rector. This seemed for various reasons a necessary and logical step but it meant that there was no longer a resident Clergy presence.
On 1st May 1995 the Revd P L Allen was appointed Deacon with Charge and then Priest with charge on 30th November 1998. The Congregation is at present ministered to by The Revd P Allen assisted by members of the Congregation. We are happy to say that the Congregation faces the future with confidence. St. Anne’s, like other Episcopal Churches in southern Scotland, has been known as the English Kirk. While it certainly is in full communion with the Church of England and has welcomed many English members over the years, it is firmly rooted in Scottish tradition and during recent years has played a significant role in the development of ecumenical attitudes and in the ‘Dunbar Churches Together’ initiative.
COMMUNION PLATE
St Anne’s has some fine silver, some of which has been in the Church since its beginning in 1876 such as the Communion Chalice, Paten and matching Ewer. The second Chalice is an 18th century highly ornate silver gilt one. It was designed for the Catholic Mass where the laity did not receive wine and is not particularly convenient for our Communion or Eucharist.
The Stevenson Chalice and Paten was presented in memory of Eric Stevenson, Priest and Architect 1914-1993. The Ivens Flagon is a Victorian Silver Flagon presented by the Revd E Mivens on the occasion of the centenary in 1990.The ornate Silver Cross with a jewel-encrusted aureola was made for Biel Chapel and contains semi-precious stones from the Firth of Forth area. It is decorated with enamelled panels depicting Christian symbolism. The very plain Cross, originally in the War Memorial Chapel, was made out of cartridge cases from the Great War.
The organ was made by Henry Willis (1821-1901) and was installed in1896. It was presented by Mrs. Ramsay of Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
VESTMENTS
Up to 1950 most Anglican priests wore a coloured stole for Communion over cassock and surplice, and a preaching scarf and academic hood as appropriate to their degree for Matins and Evensong. Since the 19th century some Churches often in the cities wore vestments like those of the Church of Rome: stole, maniple and chasuble and a cope for processions. Such Churches often used incense and bells.
Since the middle of the last century sung services using vestments, but without the maniple or incense and bells, have become more usual. Copes and chasubles were often of rich brocades like the red and gold one shown. It is worn at Christmas and Easter and Ascension. Recently newer designs and simpler materials have become more usual. Margrete Stevenson has made many vestments for use both at Nunraw and Episcopal Churches. She made a red and purple set for
St Anne’s.