Dunbar Collegiate Church is renowned as having been the first collegiate church, in 1342, to have been established in the Lothians. The church was situated on the same site as the present day parish church, on Queen's Road just south of Dunbar

Dunbar

Dunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....

 town centre.

History

The first mention of a church at Dunbar came in 1176 in the Taxatio of Lothian

Lothian

Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....

 when the church was described as Eclessia de Dunbar. This church, dedicated to St. Bega, served the parish as a whole until 1342 and its foundation as a collegiate church. On the 21st. April, 1342, Patrick, 9th. Earl of Dunbar was granted. by charter, his right to the proprietorship of the church. The church would have a dean, archdean and eight prebendaries with responsibility to Dunbar being Spott, Belton, Pinkerton, Linton, Chirnside, Dunse, Stenton and Pitcox. The Dunbars were no strangers to the patronage of religious establishments with the foundation of a house of Trinity friars in 1218 then a monastery

Monastery

Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...

 of Carmelite monks in 1263 by the 6th. and 7th. earls respectively. Dunbar Collegiate continued as decreed until it became forfeit to the crown in 1435. For a while the church was 'enjoyed' by the Duke of Albany

Duke of Albany

Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on the younger sons in the Scottish, and later the British, royal family, particularly in the Houses of Stuart and Hanover....

 during the reign of King James III of Scotland

James III of Scotland

James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...

 before returning to the Dunbars. In 1483, it, once again, reverted to the crown and stayed that way until the Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...

 in 1560.

Post Reformation

Dunbar Collegiate Church, unlike many other chapels, churches and monasteries in the area, was spared from the over zealous exploits of the people as they rejoiced in the popular fury, laying waste and burning anything asscociated with old faith. The old church became, once again, the parish church, this time of the reformed faith. Much repair and renewal work had been carried out over the years the building looked like a hybrid of Saxon, Gothic and Norman architecture. in 1779 the church was almost totally re-built. Then in 1819–1821, a new church was built and opened on the 20th. April 1821 with the Reverend John Jaffray the first minister at the new building. There is a magnificent monument in the church to a tireless servant of James VI and I, George Hume (1556–1611) Earl of Dunbar, High Treasurer of Scotland

Treasurer of Scotland

The Treasurer was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland, the Privy Council of Scotland.The full title of the post was Lord High Treasurer, Comptroller, Collector-General and Treasurer of the New Augmentation, formed as it was from the amalgamation of four earlier offices...

 and Chancellor of the Exchequer

Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...

 of England.

Noted Cleric

Columba de Dunbar

Columba de Dunbar

Columba de Dunbar was Bishop of Moray from 1422 until his death at Spynie Palace near Elgin sometime before 7 November 1435.Columba was "of Royal race", the youngest "lawful son of George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March" and his spouse Christian née Seton.His father, who supported the so-called...

 became dean of the Collegiate Church in 1412 before taking up at the post of Bishop of Moray

Bishop of Moray

The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...

 at Elgin Cathedral

Elgin Cathedral

Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...

where he died in 1435. He is buried in the Dunbar Aisle at the great cathedral.