History
Built in 1546, Biggar Kirk is the oldest place of worship in the village of Biggar. Receiving its present name in 1977 due to the union of Gillespie Moat Park Church and St. Mary's Church, the building has stood in the centre of the village as beacon of Christian witness for over 500 years.
The story of the foundation of the existing church is embedded in a tale of murder! In 1524, John Lord Fleming with his son Malcolm and friends were hunting on their own lands of Kilbucho. John Tweedie of nearby Drumelzier accosted the hunting party and after some argument Lord Fleming was slain and his son Malcolm taken prisoner back to Drumelzier Tower. The Law was set in motion and by all accounts Tweedie got off light for the murder. He agreed to pay the sum of £10 Scots, to be paid annually for a chaplain to pray for the soul of his victim in Biggar church, the chaplainry was set up for the recital of prayers and masses for the soul of John Fleming.
In 1547 Lord Malcolm Fleming died leaving provision in his will for the completion of his new church. Malcolm’s son James was left to finalise the work, but he became preoccupied with his services to the Queen (Mary) and as late as 1558 when he died in France his will stated that his brother John should finalise the work including the building of their father’s tomb. So even at this late period the church was not completed at least as far as internal arrangements were concerned. However, a provost, eight prebenderies, four singing boys and six bedesmen were appointed to serve in the new church of St Mary's in Biggar. In 1560, the Reformation was established, and Catholic doctrine and mass were made illegal by Act of Parliament.
In 1592 the Church in Scotland became Presbyterian. Then, in 1612, Bishops were re-introduced and in 1637 Charles I tried to enforce Archbishop Laud's Liturgy on the church in Scotland. In 1638 the National Covenant was signed in Edinburgh and, in Biggar Kirk 200 parishioners signed the Covenant and Lord Fleming took a troop of able men to join the Covenanting Army against the King.
In the 18th Century internal strife within the Church of Scotland, on subjects such as patronage, led to factions breaking away. In Biggar, those who had seceed from the Church, formed separate congregations and in time built their own places of worship, Gillespie Kirk (on the High Street) and Moat Park (across the road from St Mary's, now private residences). The congregation at Moat Park later united with Biggar Gillespie Church in 1946 as Biggar Gillespie Moat Park. Then in 1977, were united with the congregation of St. Mary's to become Biggar Kirk.
The Cache
To obtain the coordinates for this cache (a small magnetic container), a jigsaw must be completed, only 99 pieces this one. The hint will also be revealed upon completion. Please exercise stealth when searching for the cache and replace as found.
Solve the jigsaw here
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