Memorial No. 303
Surname(s)GILLESPIE
Memorial Type (1)5 Wall plaque in SE Porch
Number Commemorated 1
MaterialStone, Limestone
Stonemason 
Number of Components 1
Condition of Monument (3)1 Sound, in situ
Condition of Inscription (4)1 Mint
Dimensions in mmH 1160 x W 950 x D 0
Orientation (2)6
Faces Inscribed (2)6
Technique of InscriptionIncised, Black lettering
Inscription 1
GEORGIUS GILLESPIE
b. JAN 21 1613 - KIRKCALDY
d. DEC 17 1648 - KIRKCALDY
MODERATOR OF THE ASSEMBLY IN EDINBURGH 1648.
MASTER GEORGE GILLESPIE, PASTOR OF EDINBURGH; IN HIS YOUTH HE DESTROYED THE CROWD OF PRIESTS OF THE ANGLICAN PERSUASION; AS HE GREW
Inscription 2
IN YEARS, HE WAS CHOSEN AMONG THE DELEGATES AT THE ANGLICAN SYNOD AND MADE SURE THAT THE PRELATE FROM ENGLAND WAS REMOVED AND THAT THE ONE TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD WAS ENCOURAGED. HE PUNISHED ERASTUS WITH THE SPROUTING ROD OF AARON. RETURNING TO HIS COUNTRY, HE DEFEATED THE TREATY BREAKERS WHO WERE PROVOKING ENGLAND IN WAR. AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1648 HE WAS ELECTED MODERATOR AND PERFORMED WITH DISTINCTION HIS FINAL WORK FOR HIS COUNTRY. AND WHEN HE HAD SEEN AS AN EYE WITNESS THE RUIN OF THE EVIL ONES WHICH HE HAD PREDICTED, ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE SOLEMN TREATY OF THE THREE NATIONS WAS RENEWED, HE DIED IN PEACE AT THE AGE OF 36. HE ENTERED THE JOY OF THE LORD: A MAN OF PROFOUND INTELLECT, GENTLE DISPOSITION, SHARPNESS IN DEBATE, ELOQUENCE IN SPEECH AND INVINCIBILITY IN MIND. HE TURNED THE GOOD TO LOVE HIM, THE BAD TO ENVY HIM, EVERYONE TO ADMIRE HIM. HE WAS A CREDIT TO HIS NATIVE LAND, A WORTHY OFFSPRING OF A GREAT FATHER.
Notes

(1) : 1 Flat, 2 Head, 3 Tomb, 4 Foot, 5. Other
(2) : 1 North, 2 North East, 3 East, 4 South East, 5 South, 6 South West, 7 West, 8 North West
(3) : 1 Sound in situ, 2 Sound displaced, 3 Leaning or falling apart, 4 collapsed, 5 Overgrown
(4) : 1 Mint, 2 Clear but worn, 3 Mainly decipherable, 4 Traces, 5 Illegible or destroyed

Information recorded 20/09/1991 by R SHARP