IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Kirkgate, PERTH, PH1 5UA

The choir dates from the 15th century, the tower was built in 1511. The most famous event here was John Knox preaching in 1559, important in the Reformation in Scotland. After the Reformation the Kirk was divided into three. The divisions remained until after the 1st world war, when they were removed in making the Kirk a war memorial for Perth and Perthshire. The church is now in a pedestrianised area. For more information see church website http://www.st-johns-kirk.co.uk/ .

I don't know why they changed the name of the pub from sixpence to tanner. I do know that a tanner is a sixpence.

St John's Kirk is the church that gives the street its name. My dad lived here when he was young.

In May 1559, John Knox delivered a fiery sermon here which, later in the day, precipitated the first disturbance that set the Scottish Reformation in motion. "In the meantime the town of Perth, called St. Johnston, embraced the truth, and this did provoke her to a new fury... The preachers had declared before, how odious was idolatry in God's presence; what commandment he had given for the destruction of the monuments thereof; what idolatry and what abomination was in the mass. It chanced, that the next day, which was the 11th of May [1559], after that the preachers were exiled, that after the sermon, which was vehement against idolatry, that a priest in contempt would go to the mass; and to declare his malapert presumption, he would open up a glorious tabernacle, which stood upon the high altar. There stood beside certain godly men, and amongst others a young boy, who cried with a loud voice, "This is intolerable, that when God by his Word hath plainly damned idolatry, we shall stand and see it used in despite". The priest hereat offended, gave the child a great blow; who in anger took up a stone, and casting at the priest, did hit the tabernacle, and brake down an image; and immediately the whole multitude cast stones, and put hands to the said tabernacle and to all other monuments of idolatry which they despatched, before the tenth part of the townspeople were made aware, for most part were gone to dinner. These deeds noised abroad, the whole multitude came together, not of the gentlemen, neither of them that were earnest professors, but of the rascal multitude, who finding nothing to do in that church, did run without deliberation to the grey and black friars; and notwithstanding that they had within them very stark [strong] guards kept for their defence, yet were their gates forthwith burst open. Idolatry was the occasion of the first outburst, but thereafter the common people began to seek some spoil. In very deed the Greyfriars was a place [so] well provided, that unless honest men had seen the same, we would have feared to report what provision they had; their sheets, blankets, beds, and coverlets were such that no earl in Scotland had the better; their napery was fine; they were but eight persons in convent, and yet had eight puncheons of salt beef—consider the time of the year, the 11th day of May*—wine, beer, and ale, besides store of victuals of the same sort. The like abundance was not in the blackfriars; and yet there was more than became men professing poverty. The spoil was permitted to the poor; for so had the preachers before threatened all men, that for covetousness' none should put their hand to such a reformation, that no honest man was enriched thereby the value of a groat. The conscience of the spoilers so moved them, that they suffered those hypocrites to take away what they could. The prior of Charterhouse was permitted to take with him even so much gold and silver as he was well able to carry. So had men's consciences before been beaten with the Word that they had no respect to their own particular profit, but only to abolish idolatry, the places and monuments thereof; in which they were so busy and so laborious that within two days these three great places, monuments of idolatry, to wit, the black and grey friars, and that of the Charterhouse monks, a building of a wondrous cost and greatness, were so destroyed, that the walls only did remain of these great edifications." -- John Knox, History of the Reformation * a time of year when most people would have long since used up their stores of winter meat See also Image

Detail of a stained glass window in St John's Kirk, Perth, taken on Easter Sunday. The Kirk has been closed for modernisation and repair for some months, and has reopened in time for the Easter service in April 2011.

Detail view of a stained glass window in St John's Kirk, Perth.

Pedestrianised street in the centre of Perth.

Pedestrianised area in front of Image], between South Street and High Street.

A large city-centre church viewed rather unfortunately from the shady side. See Image for the view from the south side.