Kirks stood during upheavals

Today’s main picture is a view of Dundee city centre in a major state of flux six decades ago.

The image from September 1961 has been provided by Kenneth Baxter from the Dundee University archive services team, who writes: “The photograph offers a rather unusual view of the Auld Steeple and the City Churches, having been taken

when the area around them was being cleared. This was being done as part of the redevelopment which saw the construction of the original Overgate Centre and the Angus Hotel. This included the removal of South Lindsay Street – known in earlier days as School Wynd – which ran from Overgate to Nethergate, going past the steeple.

“City Churches has a long history, with it being the site of a place of worship since at least the medieval period. The complex is currently home to two churches, but at one time housed five charges in four churches.

“The buildings on the site have suffered over the centuries from the effects of war and fire. The Auld Steeple, one of Dundee’s best-known landmarks, is the oldest surviving part of the complex and dates from the late 15th Century.

“For a long period it stood isolated from the rest of the building as the nave of the medieval church is supposed to have been destroyed by English forces in 1548 and was not rebuilt. The steeple was only reunited with the rest of the building in 1787 when works started on what is now the Steeple Church to a design by the burgh architect Samuel Bell.

“This was completed and opened in 1789 but it might have had a short career, for in the early hours of Sunday January 3 1841 a devastating fire swept through the City Churches. The blaze was believed to have broken out in what was known as the Cross

(or North) Kirk the South and East Kirks. The Auld Steeple and the Steeple Church were saved thanks to the efforts of firemen who worked hard to prevent the flames from spreading to them. Sadly, however, the other three churches in the building were severely damaged. The Session House, which contained the burgh library, was also destroyed in the inferno.”

Dr Baxter adds: “While restoring the three ruined churches was considered, it was ultimately decided to start afresh. Priority was given to rebuilding East Church, also known as St Mary’s, Dundee’s parish church.

“The foundation stone of the new building was laid in May 1842 and it was completed and opened in 1844. Work on the adjoining St Paul’s (South) Church began in 1845 and it was completed and opened in 1847.

“Later known as Old St Paul’s, it united with St David’s as Old St Paul’s and St David’s in 1847. This congregation united with the Steeple Church in 1978 and its former building in the centre of the City Churches became the Mary Slessor Centre.”

The historian concludes: “It was decided not to rebuild the old Cross Kirk on the same site after the fire and instead its congregation moved to what had been the Gaelic Chapel in South Tay Street and became known as St John’s (Cross).

“In 1914 they moved to a new building on Blackness Avenue and in 1982 united with Logie to form Logie and St John’s Cross.”

Dundee’s City Churches and Tower of St Mary’s, better known as the Old Steeple, during demolition work in the old Overgate in 1961.