Page:The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland ( Volume 3).djvu/109

 *siderable tokens of his great bounty." The monument was erected in 1685, the year of his death.

TRINITY COLLEGE CHURCH,.

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, 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."

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, he seems to have acted as paymaster, not as designer.

The church (Fig. 1016) consisted of a choir, with north and south aisles, and a five-sided eastern apse, north and south transepts, with the