Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Scotland - Dunblane Cathedral

It has been almost a month since we returned from Scotland.  Lots of photographs still to share.  This post will be a long one to share photos of Dunblane Cathedral.  We had lots of opportunities to visit  there since we were based in Dunblane for our two weeks.


I am quoting from the Dunblane Cathedral booklet given to us by our guide for the Cathedral and published by The Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral, 1987.

"Scotland was once served by many fine medieval churches.  Sadly and for a variety of historical reasons, many of these, including the great border abbeys and the cathedrals of St. Andrews and Elgin, now lie in ruins.


Dunblane Cathedral is one of several medieval cathedrals which happily still house living congregations.



"The fabric of the building is maintained by Historic Scotland as a church of the Church of Scotland.


A cathedral in the Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian in constitution, is simply a parish church like any other.


But the Church of Scotland continues to refer to Dunblane, like its other medieval cathedral churches, as a 'Cathedral' thus honoring their role in the development of the Christian witness throughout Scotland's history.


"Today Dunblane Cathedral is the church for a congregation of more than one thousand members and welcomes visitors from all over the world."



"Christianity was first established here by St. Blane around the year 600, if the old tradition is to believed."


"The oldest object to be seen in the Cathedral today is the standing stone cross...It dates perhaps from the 9th century and carries Pictish designs similar to those on many fine stones in other parts of Pictland.  It was found in 1873 under the floor of the chapter house."





"The woodwork is one of the glories of Dunblane Cathedral and include particularly fine examples of late 19th and early 20th century craftsmanship... The front pews of the nave ... are decorated with carved animals..."






Carved figures around the pulpit reflect the history of the Cathedral.





"A stone church was built here in the 12th century; only small traces of it now remain.  But the fine tower surviving today was in its lower four stories, built around David's time (not sure who David was) ...it was probably detached from the church, and served for defense as well as for a belfry.  Its upper stories were added in about 1500."


"The tower houses nine change ringing bells, the largest almost 25 cwt.  Change-ringing is not common in Scotland and Dunblane has one of only eighteen such towers."


"In 1233 Clement, a Dominican friar, became bishop.... As a Dominican, Clement knew the importance of preaching and so gave us the magnificent nave with its aisles though he probably did not live to see it completed.  He died in 1258 and the effigy on what is believed to be his tomb is in the choir."





"For the next 300 years, until the Reformation, the cathedral was filled with more and more elaborate furnishings."



"In 1560 the Church of Scotland became reformed or protestant.  The reformers swept away furnishings and decoration which they considered to be signs of idolatry....no attempt was made to keep up the whole building.  By about 1600 the roof of the nave had fallen in; its walls and pillars stood roofless for 300 years.  But the choir was maintained and used continuously over the centuries."




"In 1889 a great restoration of the whole church was begun... the nave was reroofed and the whole church brought back into use..."



Here is is on a Sunday morning after the service.





11 comments:

Tom said...

...so many amazing details.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Wow and more wow! Each shot is just breath taking. I would love to visit here and see this for myself, but I doubt I will ever travel overseas. Thank you for sharing.

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Beautiful architecture and excellent photos.
I am delighted with your relationship.
Greetings from Poland.
Lucja

krishna said...

Such a beautiful story about the church.. this reminds me my visit to England. We were in England only for seven days .. So we could visit very little part . We went to Salibury, and visited Salibury Cathedral, where the great Magna Carta is kept. Among the Medieval remans we saw the Poultry Cross..

Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

Stewart M said...

They really dont build them like that any more. Remarkable building really.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

diane b said...

That sure is an impressive cathedral/church. So old with a wealth of history. The wooden carvings are amazing. It is great that it is still in use for worship.

Fun60 said...

Magnificent carvings and of course that is where Andy Murray got married.

Lady Fi said...

What a lovely church.

betty-NZ said...

It's so exciting and satisfactory to see that such an old church is actually still in use! Wow!! Thanks for the photos and the history of this beautiful place.

Cynthia said...

That rood screen in Dunblane Cathedral is so beautifully carved, along with all the other ornate carving. They don't make 'em like they used ta, do they! (Cathedrals, that is.)

Anne (cornucopia) said...

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing so many photos of this stunning cathedral. The architecture, inside and out, is fantastic. And it looks like you were allowed to go up into the balcony. (Some historic churches around me don't allow one to do that.) Did you take any photos of the gravestones? (I would love to see those in a Tuesday's Treasures link up, if you did.)