The decorative large rose window in the west elevation was installed during construction of the church in 1864-65. When the organ was installed, the longest pipes were placed on either side of the window with the shorter pipes in between so as not to obscure its viewing.
The stained-glass at the organ alcove was by G.F. Campbell.
The window of St. John to the left was gifted to St. Aidan’s by John Watson Wemyss, M.D. and Mary his wife ‘in grateful remembrance of many mercies’. The lower section shows the figures of John and Peter healing the cripple man at the Beautiful Gate.
The window of St. Peter to the right, ‘to the Glory of God and in memory of James Soote of Reres House, also of his two sons Alfred and Edwin and his daughter Emma’ was erected by his widow and family. The lower section shows the Calling of Andrew and Peter.
The windows, installed in 1893, were designed by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, ARA (1833 – 1898) the English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and one of the ablest stained-glass artists of the period. They were made by the firm of William Morris. It was common practice to use designs from stock patterns and the same windows can be seen in many different churches including St. Stephen’s and West Church in Broughty Ferry.
The Henry window was donated in May 1890 by Dr. Anderson of Forteviot in memory of his relatives Mrs. Isabella Brown Anderson-Henry and Mrs Janet Brown Anderson Henry, both of Woodend, Madderty. The window was designed by Mr. Henry Holiday and made by James Powell & Sones, London. It shows Jesus carrying his cross out of Jerusalem to Golgotha with two angels helping to lift the weight with the inscription, ‘Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows’.
1n 1917 the Watson window was gifted and dedicated in memory of Broughty businessman Mr. John J. Watson. Mr. Watson was member of St. Stephen’s church in Broughty Ferry and had been a generous benefactor of stained glass in that church. The window was also made by Powell of London and shows the incident in the Resurrection from the Gospel of St. John, chapter 20, particularly verse 17, ‘Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father’. The figures are of the risen Christ and Mary, with the angel and tomb in the background. Both windows are situated in the north wall of the church.
Mr Clement T. Godfrey was a jute and linen merchant, magistrate, choir member, founding member and elder at St Margaret’s. Mr Godfrey died in 1925 and this memorial was erected in 1933.
The stained-glass window is divided into nine panels. Five of these are in the shape of a cross and depict scenes from the life of St Margaret: her landing in Scotland, her marriage to King Malcolm, her charity, her piety, and her death.
At the base, Noah’s Ark reminds us of God’s Old Covenant and the chalice and paten remind us of Communion, and God’s New Covenant with all people. In the centre linking the two is the cross and the crown of victory. Above the panels showing St Margaret’s charity and piety are a pelican feeding its young (representing sacrifice) and a mountain top (representing aspiration).
The inscription reads ‘To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Clement Tom Godfrey, a member of this Church from its beginning. Erected by members of the family’. It was unveiled on 23 July 1933, the same day as the War Memorial. It was made by J.T. & C.E. Stewart of Glasgow and may have been designed by Mr Godfrey’s sister.
The window in the west wall is based on the Collegiate Church at Seton, Longniddry. The glass was replaced by the present stained-glass window and was dedicated on 18th May 1917 by Rev. Professor James Cooper. The congregation subscribed to the window as a memorial to the 11 men of the parish who had already died in the First World War. Subsequently a plaque was added with the names of all 17 men who died during or shortly after the War. The window was designed by Professor Robert Anning Bell and was executed by the Stephen Adam Studio of Glasgow. Anning Bell was one of a talented group of free-lance designers employed by the studio who kept it going during a difficult period in its history. Barnhill St Margaret’s window is thought to be one of his finest designs. It is a good example from the Stephen Adam Studio with high quality glass used throughout. The two panels on the left show ‘The Way of the Cross’, whereas the two panels on the right illustrate ‘The Garden of the Resurrection’. The two texts are words of Jesus, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’, and ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whosoever believeth in Me shall never die’. As well as commemorating the supreme sacrifice made by individuals in war, these texts also remind us of the great truths of the Christian faith – that God has a very great love for us, and that there is a resurrection life that we can share in.
The central figure is St Andrew as a fisherman with his net. Scottish thistles adorn either side and above is a cross decorated with jewels and flowers, and held by two angels. Below is a scene from the call of Andrew to be a follower of Jesus. On the left is St Columba bearing a staff and a Book of the Gospels. Columba was one of the founders of our faith in Scotland, and the scene below shows his voyage to Iona. On the right is St Kentigern (Mungo) bearing a bishop’s crosier and a fish. The small scene shows one of the stories associated with him, recovering a ring from the mouth of a salmon.
The top of the window shows angels with instruments of praise to God. The inscription reads ‘To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Norman Pattulo who died at sea, 23 February 1937’.
The window was given by Mr Patullo’s widow, and is the work of Herbert Hendrie. He was one of the foremost designers of the first half of the twentieth century, and his jewel-like designs feature in a number of Churches including the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, and Kippen Church.
Mr Adamson installed 8 stained glass windows in the Tin Kirk and 7 of these were transferred to the new Church. From east to west on the south wall of the nave are four windows, and on the north wall of the nave there are three windows.
The most westerly window on the south is of the Blessed Virgin, the mother of Jesus. Pictures of Mary are uncommon in Reformed Churches and the connection is probably an old chapel to St Mary on an island in the Tay, now a sandbank called Lady Bank. The next window shows Margaret’s youngest son, St David with his falcon. David became King David I and founded a number of monasteries.
The third window on the south represents St Margaret bearing her cross. Margaret was born in Hungary but was a
princess of the Wessex royal family. She married Malcolm III, king of Scotland in 1070. Margaret reformed the Celtic
Church by introducing Roman forms of worship. The most easterly window on the south side represents St Ninian,
our earliest missionary, carrying his Church at Whithorn in his left hand. A copy of this window is reported to be in
St Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch.
The most easterly window on the north represents St Kentigern or St Mungo with his symbol of a fish. The second window on the north side is St Andrew with his cross. Andrew was one of Jesus’ first followers and is, of course, our national patron saint. The third window at the west end of the Church shows St Bride, who has local connections with Abernethy, and gives her name to Panbride.
