One of three known versions, this was likely intended as a companion piece to The Repentence Stool, (1794, National Galleries of Scotland) - the subject being a small, wooden, 3-legged stool that placed in full view of the congregation and where the offender could be delivered an admonishment from the minister. The interior in this watercolour is thought to be Dunfermline Abbey: the green napery draped upon the pulpit and lower lectern was customary from the early seventeenth century and visible at the left of the pulpit is an iron bracket for a silver or pewter baptismal basin.

Catechising - a means of instruction through a series of questions and answers - became a part of life in Scottish churches with itinerant catechists being employed. Over-enthusiastic preachers were kept to their allotted time by the hourglass on the pulpit. Here the minister questions a man on his faith but around him is all of life. Before the pulpit sits a girl reading from a page inscribed ‘Catechism of / the Kirk of / Scotland / …’; a mother pulls in a reluctant son armed with a book entitled ‘Shorter Chatect..’ [sic]. In the background, with characteristic humour, Allan depicts a church warden remonstrating at restive boys running amok who contrast with the seated boy reading his prayer book with stick and ball set aside.
(The Fine Art Society, The Wilkie Tradition, Edinburgh, 2020, no.9)