This church stood in the hollow between the Old and New Towns of
Edinburgh, on the west side of Leith Wynd. It was founded by Mary of
Gueldres, Queen of James II., shortly after that king’s death in 1460,
the charter of erection being dated 1462. The edifice was dedicated to
the “honour and praise of the Holy Trinity, to the ever blessed and
glorious Virgin Mary, to Saint Ninian the Confessor, and to all the
saints and elect people of God.”[49]
The foundation was established for a provost, eight prebendaries, and
two clerks, and in 1502 there were added a dean and sub-dean. Lands and
benefices sufficient were bestowed on the establishment for its
maintenance.
Connected with the college was “Trinity Hospital,” also founded by Queen
Mary of Gueldres. After the Reformation the endowments passed into the
hands of the Town Council, who maintained the Hospital as a city charity
for decayed burgesses and their families.
The church became the place of worship of a new parochial division
called “Trinity College Parish,” and so continued till 1848, when it was
removed to make way for the station of the North British Railway
Company.
Trinity College Church was a very fine specimen of the Scottish Gothic
architecture of the fifteenth century. It showed (as has been pointed
out in the Introduction) that much of the middle pointed or decorated
style continued to be used in this country long after it had been given
up in England. This view is supported by Richman, who says of this
church: “The interior is a very beautiful decorated composition, with
the capitals of the piers enriched with foliage, not exceeded in design
or execution in any English cathedral”; and he also adds, “This building
is all of good decorated character, and deserving of minute examination
and study.” During the erection of the church “the master of works” was
John Halkerston, who, in recent books, is frequently referred to as the
architect; but, as has been pointed out elsewhere,[50] he seems to have
acted as paymaster, not as designer.
The church (Fig. 1016)[51] consisted of a choir, with north and south
aisles, and a five-sided eastern apse, north and south transepts, with
the commencement of a tower over the crossing, and a north sacristy.
The nave was never erected, the arch leading to the west from the
transept being built up, and having a circular window inserted therein.
It is supposed that the progress of the structure was arrested by the
death of the foundress, which occurred in 1463. The choir, including the
apse, was 69 feet in length by 25 feet in width internally. The north
and south aisles extended along the three bays of the choir, the north
aisle
[Illustration: FIG. 1016.--Trinity College Church. Plan.]
being 13 feet wide and the south aisle 9 feet wide. The apse was the
full width and height of the central choir, and had a lofty window in
each of its three central divisions. The transepts had small
projections; the whole internal length of the transept, including the
crossing, being 74 feet and the width 24 feet.
The choir and aisles were roofed with fine groined vaulting. That of the
side aisles was simple, but the vault of the choir was ornamented with
ridge ribs and several intermediate ribs, or tiercerons, springing from
vaulting shafts, supported on corbels and provided with carved caps, and
all the vaults were studded with carved bosses. The effect of the
vaulting of the apse was specially beautiful. Each bay of the choir had
clustered piers (Fig. 1017), with finely carved capitals. Above these
was a string course, then a piece of plain wall in the space usually
occupied by the triforium, and the whole was crowned with the traceried
clerestory
[Illustration: FIG. 1017.--Trinity College Church.