The Friends Of Loudoun Kirk

Pages 1, 2

Lady Flora

Another of the Loudoun family worth note, is the tragic Lady Flora Hastings. She was defamed by Queen Victoria through a court scandal. Lady Flora suffered a liver complaint with the unfortunate symptoms which resembled pregnancy. The family received a gift of a bracelet but no formal apology from the Queen even though Lady Flora later died from her illness. A memorial to her can be found within the walls of the kirkyard and her sister built the Lady Flora Institute in her honour.

Lady Flora

The grave of Thomas Fleming

Covenanters

The graveyard is also unusual in the fact that it is ecumenical in nature, with coventantors and Roundheads buried here alike. One such covenanter is Thomas Fleming. Unfortunately the stones suffer from much wear and tear of natural erosion and the constant threat of vandalism. Many of the stones within the kirkyard have disappeared or deliberately broken. Fortunately some repair work has been carried out by the Covenanters Memorial Association to repair some of the covenanting stone. Later threat to the stone has necessitated it’s repositioning in the shelter of the kirk walls.

SAS

The Friends of Loudoun Kirk are honoured to have the support of the Belgian SAS veteran paratroopers. During the Second World War the Belgians were billeted at Loudoun Castle under the leadership of their training officer Lt Colonel Eddy Blondeel. In 1998 Col Blondeel paid a visit to the kirk and a small informal service was held as a memorial to his comrades who lost their lives during the War. A plaque with the SAS emblem "Who Dares Wins" was gifted along with a generous donation to the Friends of Loudoun Kirk and it will be mounted on the kirk wall on completion of it’s restoration.

Memorial Service