Project Timeline

September 2023

Reviving the Trinity Stones Project is announced at the Old Edinburgh Club's AGM as one of projects chosen for the inaugral Jean Guild Grant Funding.

Spring/Summer 2024

Jill Harrison lauches the project to OEC members following a talk by about the Trinity Church by Dr Lizzie Swarbrick.

Jill's photographic fieldtrips to sites across Edinburgh get underway. Meanwhile she builds a network of individuals interested in the project, from geologists and architectural historians to local archaeologists and neighbourhood groups. While her research continues, Jill organises and hosts two well-attended visits to the remaining Trinity College Apse. During the visits, questionnaires are distributed and laser scans are taken of the building. Jill meets a variety of local individuals and community groups in her search for more missing stones and actively works to promote the importance of ensuring existing and new Trinity stones are recorded and protected.

Autumn/Winter 2024

Research to date is collated and analysed with further research on-going. Jill gives a project update to OEC members at the Club's AGM and gives a public talk, Reviving the Trinity Stones: A Puzzle and a Treasure Hunt, as part of the Edinburgh City Council's Edinburgh 900 Celebrations.

Spring/Summer 2025

Jill gives lectures about the project to life-long learners in Newcastle and Dundee. She also attends the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network Fair and succesfully applies for the Trinity Network to be added to the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network. Jill meets with relevant bodies to discuss how to preserve Trinity Stones that are potentially at risk of damage and/or theft. Work gets underway on a project website and dates are organised for a public exhibition on the projects findings in 2026.

Autumn/Winter 2025

With most of her fieldwork complete, Jill gets busy compiling her findings and organising her material. Most of her energies are focused on creating the end of project exhibition.

Spring/Summer 2026

Jill takes part in the Jean Guild Grants Showcase; an evening organised by the Old Edinburgh Club to celebrate the research and achievements of the projects being funded through Miss Jean Guilds legacy.

A free end-of-project exhibition is hosted by the Museum of Edinburgh in May and June 2026. The exhibition comprised of 16 information boards and was complimented by a series of free outreach events. At the official exhibition launch party Jill and Council Archaeology Officer, John Lawson, revealed an exciting new arrival - the Passion Stone. A huge ceiling boss from the original Trinity Collegiate Church, the Passion Stone is so named because it depicts elements of the Passion of Christ including the stigmata and a crown of thorns. Jill was the driving force behind the Passion Stones move from the Astley Ainslie Hospital grounds to the Museum of Edinburgh. This was necessary as the Astley Ainslie site was under development and the stone was at risk of damage and theft. The Passion Stone, and some other Astely Ainslie Trinity Stones, were generously donated by NHS Lothian to the City of Edinburgh Council and are now safe and secure at the Museum of Edinburgh for all to see. Both the exhibition and outreach events were well-attended and received excellent feedback. The outreach events were made possible through extra funding from many generous donors.

Read the Old Edinburgh Clubs blog posts about the projects progress here