Brechin

Brechin

Brechin Cathedral
Brechin
Brechin shown within Angus
Population

7,199 [2] (2001 census)

est. 6,950[3] (2006)
Demonym Brechiner
OS grid reference NO600600
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BRECHIN
Postcode district DD9
Dialling code 01356
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Brechin (/ˈbriːxɪn/; Scottish Gaelic: Breichinn) is a town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese (which continues today as an episcopal seat of the Scottish Episcopal Church), but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era.[4][5] Nevertheless, the designation is often incorrectly used, with examples being the City of Brechin and District Community Council, City of Brechin and Area Partnership, City of Brechin Civic Trust and Brechin City Football Club.[6]

History

On the outskirts of Brechin, beside the A90 dual carriageway which bypassed it in 1976, is a small museum in the former town house, and an Award Winning Tourist attraction, the Caledonian Railway. Along with the cathedral and round tower, part of the chapel of Brechin's Maison Dieu or hospital survives from the Middle Ages (Historic Scotland). The Bank Street drill hall was completed in 1879.[7]

Religion

Brechin Cathedral

The town is well known for its cathedral, with eleventh century round tower (Historic Scotland), one of only two of these Irish-style monuments surviving in Scotland (the other is at Abernethy, Perthshire). The tower was originally free-standing, but is now incorporated in the framework of the cathedral.

The cathedral has been much altered, but still contains medieval work of the 13th and 14th centuries, notably a handsome western tower and processional door.

Scottish Episcopal Church

In 1695, following the Glorious Revolution, the town's Episcopalians were driven out of Brechin Cathedral which remained under the control of the Church of Scotland. A meeting house was set up in the High Street with a chapel being built in 1743. Following the Jacobite rising of 1745, the chapel's seats and books were destroyed by government forces and the chapel was taken over by a qualified congregation. A new Episcopalian Church, St Andrews Church was built in 1809 and consecrated in June 1811. This was replaced by a new building in 1888. St Andrews Church is part of the Diocese of Brechin and its archives are held by the University of Dundee.[8]

Governance

Brechin is represented within Angus Council by the Brechin & Edzell ward, from which three councillors are elected. The members elected from this ward are, as of 2012; Mairi Evans (Scottish National Party), Bob Myles (Independent) and Jim Houston (SNP).[9]

Education

Education in Brechin is managed by the Education Department of Angus Council. There is one secondary school in the area; Brechin High School and six feeder primary schools; Andover Primary school, Edzell Primary School, Lethnot Primary School, Maisondieu Primary School, Stracathro Primary School and Tarfside Primary School.[10]

Sport

Football

Brechin City Football Club plays Scottish League football and is currently placed in SPFL League 1. Its ground is called Glebe Park and is situated off Trinity Road. Glebe Park is the only senior football ground in Europe which has a hedge along one of its perimeters. Brechin is also home to the junior football club Brechin Victoria who play at Victoria Park.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "''Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba'' - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland". Gaelicplacenames.org. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
  2. ↑ "Comparative Population Profile: Brechin Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 29 April 2001. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  3. ↑ "Buplications and Date". General Register Office for Scotland. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Beckett, J V, City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002, Historical urban studies. Aldershot 2005
  5. ↑ "UK Cities". Department for Constitutional Affairs. 2002. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  6. ↑ City of Brechin & District Area Partnership. "Members". Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "Angus Classic Interiors, (former Drill Hall), 13 Bank Street, Brechin". British listed buildings. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "BrMS 16 Records of St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Brechin". Archive Services Online Catalogue. University of Dundee. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Election 2012 Results Ward 2 – Brechin & Edzell, archived from the original on 7 May 2012, retrieved 9 May 2012
  10. ↑ "Schools in Brechin". Retrieved 30 June 2008.
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