Interior -view of lectern Digital image of C 17690 CN

Description Interior -view of lectern Digital image of C 17690 CN

Date 3/11/1993

Catalogue Number SC 785477

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 17690 CN

Scope and Content Lectern, Crichton Memorial Church, Crichton Royal Hospital, Glencaple Road, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway This brass lectern stands in the crossing at the foot of the steps leading to the choir. The main section of the stand takes the form of an angel with elaborate wings who supports a brass reading board on which an open Bible rests. A short flight of oak steps leads to the lectern from the black marble steps of the choir. The lectern was supplied by the Army & Navy Auxiliary Supply Company as a memorial to Dr James Rutherford who was medical superintendent of the hospital from 1883 until his retirement in 1907. Dr James Rutherford (1840-1910) was appointed medical superintendent of Argyll & Bute District Asylum at Lochgilphead in 1870, the first district asylum to be built in Scotland. He was a notable pioneer in introducing the open-door system of unlocked doors in certain wards, extending the freedom of patients by granting parole, and introducing the employment of patients in useful outdoor occupations. In 1874 he was appointed medical superintendent at Woodilee, Lenzie, where he applied the same methods as well as adding bright and attractive day rooms to the usual corridor and single bedroom system. He made his reputation as an excellent physician and administrator, and in 1883 was appointed physician superintendent at the Crichton Royal Hospital where his established methods of treatment and administration greatly increased the reputation of the institution. During his 24 years in the post, he supervised the construction of the Crichton Memorial Church and a model farm steading, the introduction of an artesian water supply, the installation of electric light, the introduction of the villa or colony system for the accommodation of different categories of pauper patients, and the provision of 18 estate cottages. He retired from the post in 1907, and died three years later from heart failure. Crichton Memorial Church, designed by the architect, Sydney Mitchell (1856-1930), was built in 1890-7 during a major period of development of the Crichton Royal Hospital (then the Crichton Royal Asylum for Lunatics) site. It stands at the heart of the complex of buildings, and is unquestionably the finest building within the grounds. It was designed to be used by all denominations and all classes of patients, and was built as a memorial to the asylum's founder and to celebrate the institution's 50th anniversary. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap