Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nancy Johnston

@jeelyeater1.bsky.social

1.3K followers 1.2K following 930 posts

Gallus granny interested in glass, graves and gardens. Perthshire. Once a History teacher. Ancient alumna of University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde (Jordanhill) and the OU. RAMC camp follower for 33 years. Photos all mine.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · Nov 18

Thanks to new followers and to those who’ve been following for a while. Gradually topping up my photos of carved gravestones, countryside etc - but not much #stainedglass this year, as few churches around here are open.

3 9 80

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

St Columba’s Church of Scotland @londonkirk.bsky.social · 11h

We’re celebrating Susan Pym — Elder, editor of our church magazine, and a steady heart at the centre of St Columba’s. Her care, creativity and quiet dedication enrich our church life in so many ways. Here’s to many more years of her inspiring work among us.

2 3

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 10h

For #AdoorableThursday, here's one of the wee Gothic porch doorways of Ardrishaig Parish Church in Argyll, our #ScottishChurchOfTheWeek, that flank either side of the kirk's landmark tower that helps guide boats safely into the calm harbour that leads into the Crinan Canal.

1 1 5

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 18h

Day 9 of #31DaysOfGraves - Hand

"Our persecutors fill'd with rage,
Their brutish fury to aswage,
Took heads & hands of martyrs off,
That they might be the people's scoff..."

Here's the somewhat gruesome Covenanters' grave in Cupar Kirkyard, showing a severed hand of David Hackston, buried beneath.

1 3 17

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

rozanderson.bsky.social @rozanderson.bsky.social · 19h

#31daysofgraves Day 9 hand. Dunblane Cathedral graveyard doesn't seem to have any carvings of hands, so I've opted for this epitaph instead. 'Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.'

Elizabeth Rose beloved wife of George McIntosh died 1909 76yrs. Large grey granite headstone

3 19

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

LizD @bibby4.bsky.social · 22h

#31DaysOfGraves Day 9 Hand: At Lempitlaw in the Scottish Borders a hand holds a set of scales presumably for the weighing of souls on the day of judgment.

2 6 34

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Friends of Warriston Cemetery @fowarristoncem.bsky.social · 22h

#31DaysofGraves: Day9: Hand. Clasped hands can symbolise unity or reconnection between two people after death. We don't have many types of these at Warriston, but this celtic knot work stone is a nice example. #Edinburgh #celticknot #Warriston #taphophile

2 8 42

Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 9: Hand. Tomb in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, with a hand holding the deid or skellet bell.

6 18

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 1d

Ardrishaig Parish Church, our #ScottishChurchOfTheWeek has, for #WindowsOnWednesday, stained glass by Phil Melville, memorialising the fishing heritage of the area. Unusually, it is lit from inside the bell tower and acts as a vision beacon welcoming any boats to the village’s safe harbour.

🧵1/2

1 2 21

Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves Day8: Glass. #StainedGlass. Window by John K Clark in the Trades’ Kirk, Dundee, showing The Howff.

4 22

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 1d

Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves - Glass

When visiting a graveyard, have you ever wondered what these flat marble plates, reminiscent of chopping boards, are?

They're the bases of Victorian/Edwardian "Immortelles" that once held fragile memorial ornaments under a glass dome. Not many now survive intact...

1 15 54

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Friends of Warriston Cemetery @fowarristoncem.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves day 8 - glass. Arguably the most famous tomb despite its current state, the "Red Lady" (officially the Robertson mortuary chapel) was erected in 1865 for Mary Ann Robertson (1826–1858). The original red glass roof allowed red coloured daylight to flicker on the stone figure inside.

2 9 36

Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 8 :Glass. A bottle left in a Fife churchyard.

6 1 22

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Lorraine Evans @thedeathhistorian.bsky.social · 2d

Day 7: Angels #31daysofgraves A variety of Scottish angels in all their glory.....

#death #symbolism #cemetery #graveyards #cemeteries #burialground #archaeology #deathhistory

1 4 41

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 2d

Day 7 of #31DaysOfGraves - Angel

Angels come in so many different shapes and sizes in Scottish graveyards, we've opted for this Victorian Gothic form, sitting in the shadow of Glasgow Cathedral, forever gently dropping stone flower petals onto the graves of the Smith family below...

7 26

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Friends of Warriston Cemetery @fowarristoncem.bsky.social · 2d

#31daysofgraves Day 7: Angel - our offering from Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh. #Angels #Edinburgh #Cemeteries #Taphophile

6 40

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

LizD @bibby4.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 7 Angel
A wee fat angel blowing his trumpet at Scone Old Graveyard, Scone, Perthshire

Curved pediment of a gravestone with a left facing carved image of a cherub like angel with wings behind him. He is holding a large horn to his lips which he is pointing downwards.

4 26

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

rozanderson.bsky.social @rozanderson.bsky.social · 2d

#31daysofgraves Day 7 angel. In this case a lost angel in Dunblane Cathedral graveyard, sadly no longer visible, but we do have an image of it from about 100yrs ago of how lovely it looked. Image from Dunblane Museum.

Image of the same headstone with visible symbols on including an angel.

1 4 22

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

EMoDiR @emodir.bsky.social · 3d

📢 CfP | "Church and Society" - Scottish Church History Society Autumn Conference
🌍 Edinburgh🗓️ 15 November 2025

⏰ DEADLINE : 13 October 2025
🔗https://royalhistsoc.org/calendar/church-and-society-scottish-church-history-society-autumn-conference-call-for-papers-conference/

#Earlymodern

3 2

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Research in Action on Church Heritage @churchheritage.bsky.social · 2d

Fieldwork at Old High Church, Inverness - one of Scotland's most historic urban churches and is deeply significant to both the local community and visitors #ReACH #churchheritage

1 3 10

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 3d

In July 2023, the congregation of Ardrishaig united into a single enlarged grouping known as the Parish of Dalriada Mid Argyll, that also includes Achahoish, Lochgilphead, Tayvallich and Kilmartin Churches.

Read more on the SCT website 👇

www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/dalri...

2/2

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 3d

A beautiful little Gothic, tower-fronted, church built in 1860, Ardrishaig is our #ScottishChurchOfTheWeek. It is located next to the Loch Gilp entrance to the Crinan Canal. The octagonal castellated stage of its tower and the sharp spire were added in 1868 and semi-octagonal transepts in 1904.

1/2

1 3 6

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 3d

Today is #worldarchitectureday. Scotland's ecclesiastical architecture continues to inspire and evolve over time.

Celebrate with us as an organisation whose aim is to sustain Scotland's rich heritage of places of worship.

Become a Friend of SCT👇

www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/become-a-fri...

1 3 2

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 3d

The Scotsman reporting today that Dr David Mitchell, director of cultural assets at Historic Environment Scotland, has restated his previous position that the managed decline or sub-letting of some of the state agency's 300 properties is inevitable.

Full story here👇
www.scotsman.com/heritage-and...

'Difficult and emotional' decisions start on future of 300 of Scotland's historic sites

There are tough talks ahead on the future of Scotland’s prized historic sites as climate change, costs and rising visitor numbers take their toll

www.scotsman.com

4 5

Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · 3d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 7 : Angels in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

1 9 58

Reposted by Nancy Johnston

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 3d

Day 6 of #31DaysOfGraves - Gender

In 1972, seven nuns were disinterred from their graves, with iron crosses on each one, in the grounds of their former convent and moved about a half a mile to the monk's graveyard at St Benedict's Abbey, where they were given a single solitary marker by the monks.

3 5 22