A sleepy congregation

Category

Library Item

Item no

13453

Title

A sleepy congregation

Description

A large congregation listens to a sermon delivered from underneath the canopy of a pulpit.

Artist / maker

Kay, John

Date

1785

Size

14.5 x 12.5 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows:
"The wit of this print consists in representing a set of citizens, well known as little addicted to church-going, listening to a discourse from the most evangelical clergyman in the city, in a place of worship whose ordinary congregation was noted above all others for their ultra-Presbyterianism. The clergyman is the celebrated Dr Webster, the precentor John Campbell, the place of worship the Tolbooth Church, being that in which Dr Webster was the stated clergyman. The church was the south-west portion of St Giles's, and was so designated from its having been used in the reign of James VI as a town-house, the supreme civil court being usually, and the Parliament occasionally, held in it."

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Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious articles > Pulpits

Religion > Religious facilities > Protestant churches

(55°56′56″N, 3°11′40″W)

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