St Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow
The St Michael 's Church is a Presbyterian church building in the Scottish town of Linlithgow in West Lothian unitary authority. In 1971 the building was added to the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A monument. The church is still in use as such.
History
The church is located at the site of an earlier building dating from 1242. This burned down in 1424, so you probably began in the following year with the building of the present St Michael 's Church. Although the church has previously used, the completion of construction was delayed until 1532. So the later Mary Queen of Scots was baptized in 1452 there. New Galleries for the nobility and upper-class people were added in 1559.
Oliver Cromwell took in 1646 the church as a stable. During the 18th century, the substance of the building began to deteriorate, which is why restoration work in 1812 and 1894-1896 were necessary. The latter work was carried out by the architectural firm of Honeyman and Keppie. The crown with which graduated the bell tower was removed in 1822. A new modern crown in 1964 installed. A new stained glass window of Crear McCartney was inaugurated for the 750th anniversary celebration in 1992. A new organ was installed in 2001.
Description
The late Gothic St Michael 's Church is located in a prominent position next to Linlithgow Palace in the north of Linlithgow. The masonry of the three-aisled church consists of roughly freestone blocks from the cream-colored sandstone. The five-story bell tower with the West exposed entrance rises on the west side. A Trumeaupfeiler supports decorated tympanum. In a tracery of three lancet windows is installed. In the third floor there is a short in the fourth, on bells height, then a large pointed arch windows. In rose windows on all sides installed. On the squat tower sits on a modern aluminum design that is meant to symbolize the crown tip and at the same time.
On the east side of the bell tower connects to the four axes wide nave. On the north side of the transept is designed with a round stair tower with a conical roof. Also located on this side of the sacristy. To the east the building connected with a polygonal apse. All roofs are covered with gray slate.