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history |
The Parish Church of Haddington was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and in 1139 it was granted to the Priory of St Andrews. The church is thought to have been replaced by a new building at, either the end of the 14th century, or during the early 15th century, and this later church was styled the 'Lamp of Lothian' on account of the fact that it remained lit up at night and was visible at a significant distance. The church later suffered considerable damage in 1548 when the English, having garrisoned Haddington and used the tower of the church for defensive means, were besieged by the Scots and the French. As a consequence considerable restoration work took place in 1562. On the 23rd March 1540 the church was designated the Collegiate Church of Haddington and in 1633, upon the erection of the Bishopric of Edinburgh, Haddington became a prebend of St Giles. There were two charges belonging to Haddington Kirk Session, ministry of the First Charge is recorded from 1562 in the person of Patrick Cockburn and the Second Charge records ministry from 1636. In 1938 the two charges united together. The Kirk Session sat within the Presbytery of Haddington, later of Haddington and Dunbar and, following the restructuring of the presbyteries in 1976, it became part of the Presbytery of Lothian. |