Elgin Cathedral
Sunday, 6th October, 1pm
Thirty five members assembled on a cold October afternoon to mark the 800th anniversary of Elgin Cathedral with a free guided tour at the invitation of Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Our informative guide was Lynda Dean from HES, who recounted the chequered history of the Cathedral in her own inimitable style.
The tour began in the chapter house, the administrative centre for the bishops and canons of the cathedral in medieval times. We learned how the first cathedral was located in Spynie, but with permission from Pope Honorius III, work began on a new Cathedral in Elgin in 1224. Less than 50 years later the building was devastated by fire, but rebuilt in style by Bishop Archibald. The Cathedral survived the Wars of Independence, but late in the fourteenth century, Bishop Alexander Bur fell into a dispute with Alexander Stewart, the Earl of Buchan, known as the Wolf Of Badenoch. After a rampage through Moray, Stewart burned the cathedral and the residences of the canons and chaplains on 17th June 1390. The work of rebuilding began almost at once and continued throughout the fifteenth century, including the reconstruction of the central tower and the west front, and the remodelling of the chapter house.
After the Reformation in 1560, the Cathedral fell out of use as a place of worship, and the fabric of the building started to deteriorate. In 1567, by order of the Privy Council, the lead roof was removed and sent to Aberdeen to be transported to the Netherlands. The ship carrying the lead and the cathedral bells sank in Aberdeen harbour. Another disaster occurred on Easter Sunday, 1711 when the central tower collapsed, taking much of the nave with it. Only the chapter house and the south choir aisle remained intact and roofed.
Lynda then took us on a tour of some of the Cathedral’s notable features, including the Gordon tomb in the south choir, the dwelling of Marjory Gilzean, mother of General Anderson, who was born in poverty in the Cathedral, and the Pictish stone dating from the 800s, which was unearthed near St Giles in the centre of Elgin in 1823. There was time at the end of the afternoon for members to explore for themselves, including the excellent displays of stone carvings and ancient glass in the Towers.
Thanks to Linda and HES for a memorable afternoon
Elgin Cathedral is maintained by HES, and is open daily throughout the year from 10am to 4/4.30pm.
