Day 5: 15 August 2019 Exploring Aberdeen

Robert Burns Statue

This bronze by Henry Bain Smith (1857-1893) was cast in July 1892 and unveiled two months later.

The daisy held by the national bard recalls his popular poem “To a Mountain Daisy”, written at the plough in April 1786. Burns personally identified with the daisy’s fate and despairingly reflected on his own circumstances at the time.

“Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) (also known as Robbie Burns, Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s favorite son, the Ploughman Poet) He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a light Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.

George, Duke of Gordon Statue

Located in the center of Golden Square in Aberdeen, the B-listed statue of George Gordon, 5th and last Duke of Gordon (1770 – 1836) is notable in several respects. Originally erected on Castlegate in 1844, it was the first large public statue in Aberdeen, but also said to be the first granite statue in Britain. It was later set in Golden Square in 1952.

Designed by Thomas Campbell (1790-1858) of Edinburgh, this work was the first large public statue in Aberdeen and the first statue in Britain to be carved in granite. Monumental sculptors Macdonald and Leslie used their specialised tools and expertise to copy Campbell’s model and skilfully make the statue from one block. 

George was born in Edinburgh on 2 February 1770. He was educated at Eton. He became a professional soldier and rose to the rank of general. As Marquess of Huntly, he served with the guards in Flanders from 1793 to 1794. He commanded the 92nd Highlanders, which was originally raised by his father the Alexander Gordon as the 100 Regiment of Foot 1794 and renumbered in 1798.

He was a freemason and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1792 to 1794. He was Member of Parliament for Eye from 1806 to 1807. On 11 April 1807, at the age of 37, he was summoned to the House of Lords in one of the minor peerages of his father (Baron Gordon of Huntley, co. Gloucester). He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1830, was Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1828 to 1830 (a post that his father had held until 1827), and from 1827 to 1836 was Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

In 2011 Trinity Church broke away from the Church of Scotland to join the International Presbyterian Church. But in the process it lost its meeting place of High Church Hilton, which is owned by its former denomination. It has been holding gatherings in hotel ballrooms, community centers and members’ front rooms ever since.

The congregation has been handed the keys to Queen Street Church, Aberdeen.

“We are a church family made up of people from different parts of the city and from all over the world. We are part of the International Presbyterian Church, which means we are led by elders and we work closely with other gospel-centred congregations. Folks in our fellowship come from a variety of church backgrounds, or none, and we do our best to welcome newcomers of all ages and stages of life.”

Trinity Church Aberdeen

For more information on the Trinity Church please visit their Website.

Thank you very much for taking the time to join me on my travels through Scotland. I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did.

Till next time, safe travels and keep dreaming.

Have a fabulous day.

Coreen