Bell Dallas

There are not many of the St James‘ congregation who get a mention in the local papers for one reason or another. So it was intriguing to find a reference in 1887 to an ‘Isabella Dallas’.  Isabella was born, the daughter of William Dallas, a sawyer (i.e. joiner) in 1810. It is not clear why her birth was registered at Dunnottar Church, and there is no entry of a Baptism at St James’ for her.

However, she served St James for over 30 years from 1855 until her death in 1887 as the “pew-opener”. Presumably the chapel in the High Street had pews with outward-hinged doors on them, and her duty was to open them before the service. Otherwise opening the doors would block the aisle. In those days, members had to pay a ‘seat rent’ which entitled them to sit is a particular numbered pew, which is why our existing pews (bought to furnish the new church) have numbers on their ends.  This practice was only ended (against considerable resistance) in the 1930s.

She was always known as ‘Bell’.   Although her death certificate states she is single, the censuses record three sons, twins William and Robert (Burness) born in 1840 and John (Mcabe) born in 1850.
Bell was able to see the transformation from the chapel in the High Street to the modern church we now occupy.   Her death is reported in the local Stonehaven Journal was a result of injuries. She returned to her house from her duties at church, thought she had left her purse behind, and walked back up the High Street. Unfortunately, she tripped over a ‘pile of bricks’, and in doing so suffered a broken leg and internal injuries from which she did not recover. Her death certificate records her as ‘Church Caretaker’.

She must have been highly thought of, as a memorial was erected by subscription, which raised £11 16s 7d (over £1,350 in today’s money). In the south east corner of the nave, the memorial plaque to ‘Bell’ is firmly fixed on the wall above the triptych of pictures, which is itself above the votive candle stand.

The newspaper article also states that Bell was a favourite not just of the congregation, but of the many visitors who attend the church in the summer months.