Edinburgh: Greyfriars Tollbooth & Highland Kirk, Church of Scotland, Nave

Memorial Window- Reverend Robert Traill (1603-1676)

Window of two lancet lights.
This window depicts a central coat of arms of the Traill family. Except for these central coats of arms, the windows are of a grisaille design.

This window was donated by Anthony Traill, W.S. in memory of his ancestry. Traill was chaplain to the first Marquis of Argyll, became the minster of Greyfriars in 1648. He attended Montrose on the scaffold and was banished for his support of the Covenanting armies.

Dedication:
‘In memory of Robert Traill, minister of Greyfriars. Born 1603, died 1676.’

Firm/Company:
James Ballantine & Son: (James: 1808-1877, Alexander: 1841-1906, James: 1878-1940) The founder James, was born in Edinburgh. He was apprenticed to a house painter as a young man and had few advantages in the way of education. He later campaigned for the education of apprentices beyond the craft/trade they were learning. He also mixed paints as a young man for David Roberts, a scenic artist at the Theatre Royal. He continued by apprenticing in Stained Glass and established his own business with George Allan in 1837. James was out spoken in leading the Stained Glass design aesthetic in Scotland and was incredibly prolific. His son Alexander took over the firm in 1877, he then trained his son James, who took over the firm in 1906.