The town of Douglas, in the parish of the same name, stands in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire, about 3½ miles south from Douglas Station, on the Lesmahagow branch of the Caledonian Railway. The town and castle are closely connected with the great Douglas family, several members of which are buried in the church, and have sumptuous monuments erected therein to their memory.
The church of Douglas existed in the twelfth century, but the present structure is of considerably later date. Douglas Church belonged to Kelso Abbey. In the end of the fourteenth century it was made a prebend of Glasgow Cathedral. The ancient church here, in 1307, played an important part in one of the bold feats of the Good Sir James Douglas in the time of Bruce. The English garrison of Douglas Castle, being assembled in the church, were attacked by Sir James, and were all killed.
The church, of which some fragments are still preserved, was doubtless destroyed during the troublous times of the War of Independence. The present structure, of which little but the choir remains, appears to have been built about the end of the fourteenth century. Its architecture is very simple, all the rybats and mullions having plain splays instead of mouldings.
The choir ([Fig. 914]) measures, internally, 40 feet in length by 17 feet 4 inches in width, and has no aisles. There has at one time been a nave, the large arch to which, though built up, is visible in the wall between the nave and choir.
The central part of the nave has entirely disappeared, and its space now forms part of the churchyard. There remains, however, what has apparently been the south aisle of the nave. It has been connected with the central aisle by two arches, the central pillar and west respond of which still survive, though built up with modern masonry. This aisle is about 38 feet in length by 20 feet in width over the walls. In the north-east angle of the aisle a square turret, about 10 feet over the walls, has been erected.
The choir contains a large three-light window in the east end ([Fig. 915]), having two mullions, which form three smaller pointed arches within the large arch-head. In the south side there are three similar windows, but smaller, the central one having the sill kept very high, and being thus of a stunted appearance.
Fig. 914.—St. Bridget’s or St. Bride’s Church. Plan.
The monument in the south side, which contains the effigies of James, seventh Earl of Douglas, and his wife, has required a break to be formed in the wall on the exterior, so as to allow breadth for the two figures under the canopy.