In the Presbyterian kirk, each church is led and overseen by its elders. Elders are elected and after being ordained by the minister they are appointed for life. They traditionally took pastoral responsibility for districts within the parish.  Lorimer emphasises their piety and reverence in this picture although none of his models was an elder in real life and the Minister’s head was taken from that of the sheriff substitute of Jedburgh.  As a Paris-trained artist sensitive to tonal values and the effects of light, Lorimer was apparently fascinated by the complexities of indoor lighting.