Replacement church

The photograph below, taken by Alison Archer of Meigle shows the legend over the main door of Meigle Church of Scotland,” says Donald Abbott of Invergowrie.

“The history of this is as follows: Meigle Church was accidentally burned to the ground on March 28 1869 and the Free Church of Scotland congregation made their church available to their sister Presbyterian congregation for services.

“However, a replacement church on the same site was built and opened on July 3 1870 and there were three preachers on the day of the reopening. For the main morning service, the Rev John Nicoll, the parish minister, chose a text from the 100th Psalm and that text is engraved above the door today by way of commemoration of that momentous day and event.

“Mr Nicoll was born in 1824 and was licensed by the Presbytery of Perth in 1848. He became assistant in the parish in 1850 and was ordained as minister of Meigle in 1853. He was twice married and had two sons and two daughters. Mr Nicoll died in 1897 and is buried in his kirkyard at Meigle.

“The engraving reads: ‘Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving, into His Courts with Praise’ and is a fine memory of an important happening for the residents of Meigle.

“I own a lovely Communion token for that kirk dated 1859. It is of white metal measuring31x24mmandisaproduction of Alexander Kirkwood & Son, Edinburgh, notable Communion token manufacturers of the era. The obverse reads ‘Meigle 1859’ and on the reverse ‘This Do in Remembrance of Me’.”