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A Conundrum at Temple Church,
Midlothian
Mystery Letters
Whilst out at Temple in December
I decided to walk around the little ruined church, when I was
checking for details inside it, something told me to walk to the
front, the East end, when I looked up I noticed these letters on
the pillar of the window.
At first it looked like V I then looking closer it could be V D,
if it is the latter then it could mean “ Verbum Dei “ meaning
word of God, or Visio Dei meaning “ Vision of God “. This is
obviously a fillet put in to repair damage, the piece of stone
that the letters are on could have been used from a damaged
headstone. I wonder when this was done, was it during the
reformation or was it done in the earlier part of the last
century, I doubt if we will ever know, however, the letters have
been carved out by a real craftsman as you can see.
So here we are again, yet another conundrum, first the stone on
the belfry with the letters VÆ SAC M I H M which we are told
means “ Vienne Sacrum Concilium Militibus Johannis
Hierosolymitani Melitensibus “ or 'The Sacred Council of Vienne,
to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and Malta”. I do not
think this is probable and I have my own view on what it means
but will explain at a later date.
Chev Archie Young KCTpl FSA Scot
January 2008
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