Rubislaw Church, Aberdeen

Rubislaw Church

Rubislaw Church, located in Aberdeen, Scotland, is facing closure as part of a larger decision made by the Church of Scotland to shut down several churches across the country. As a lifelong member of Rubislaw Church, I have come to appreciate the beauty of this place, which was constructed using Canadian Pine by skilled craftsmen. The church has served as a symbol of faith for the Scottish people since the time of St Columba.

The Painting

In order to preserve the beauty of Rubislaw Church, I decided to create a watercolour painting depicting a particular part of the interior. I focused on the Pulpit and Screen, which are made of a rich golden-colored light brown wood, accentuated by sharp shadow tones and complemented by an opulent blue curtain.

To capture the grandeur and spaciousness of the structure within the nave, I used a fisheye camera lens for my initial sketch. Then, I added fine details with pen and ink to ensure accuracy and applied washes in gold, rich ochre, sienna, sepia, umber, and cobalt blue to complete the painting. The end result is a pleasing representation of the existing beauty of Rubislaw Church.

Some History

 Rubislaw Church was conceived around 1872 as an extension for religious purposes. It was constructed in two phases, with the church itself partially built using granite from local quarries and the front and east elevations made of Elgin sandstone in the gothic architectural style. In 1877, it was raised to the status of a full parish church, and by 1880, additional structures such as a square tower with a spire, a hall, and internal balconies were added. The church also features a bell from England and a clock on each of the tower’s four faces. In 1906, a Father Willis organ was installed, and the church has undergone multiple expansions since then. Today, it is considered one of the finest organs in the North East of Scotland. The entire construction of Rubislaw Church was completed for a sum of under £12,000, which would amount to over £3,000,000 in present-day costs.

During its peak, Rubislaw Church had a congregation of approximately 1,600 people. The seating capacity of the church was over 500, necessitating three separate sittings during communion services.

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