In 1560 Scotland broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and
adopted Protestantism. The Reformation had a lasting impact on all
aspects of life in Scotland. The form and language of church
services were changed. The Bible and the new service books were in
English and Scots rather than Latin, and people were encouraged to
read them.
Reformation and Renaissance
One of the first things you will notice in this gallery is a
series of vividly painted wooden panels, the Dean panels. These are
a reminder that the Reformation was part of the new thinking that
produced the colour and vitality of the Renaissance.
Communion and the sermon
Key aspects of the new forms of worship were communion and the
centrality of the sermon. Now, the whole congregation shared in
taking the bread and wine of the communion service, and communion
cups and plates had to be large enough for general use. There are
many examples of the new communion silver which illustrate
this.
King and Covenant
The Reformation was only the beginning of a long troubled period
which saw fierce religious and political controversy. The second
part of this gallery, King and Covenant, looks at the civil and
religious wars of the Covenanters who resisted attempts to make the
Scottish church conform with the English.
Things to see
Here you'll find the National Covenant itself, written on vellum
and signed by members of the Scottish Privy Council in1638. This
historic document called all Scots to band together in opposition
to religious and political policies introduced by Charles II. It
was signed at Greyfriar's Kirk, which you can see from the windows
in the gallery. Look up to see original and replica Covenanters'
flags hanging above you.
One of the most fascinating objects in the King and Covenant
gallery is the mask and wig worn by Alexander Peden, a
covenanting minister from Ayrshire. Peden was an outlaw who
preached illegally against the changes imposed by Charles II. He
spent his life on the run, but died a free man.