Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral from southwest.
Impressive west front of Elgin Cathedral.
West portal.
Detail of angel on the west tympanum.
Ruins of Elgin Cathedral, looking east from the west gallery.
Remains of chapels on the south side of the nave.
Exterior view of choir and presbytery from south.
Detail of presbytery wall.
Statues from the central tower.
Chapter house from above.
Interior of the chapter house.
Spectacular star vault of the chapter house.
Roof boss of Christ in the chapter house.
Elgin Cathedral is a magnificent 13th-century ruin in the Scottish Highlands, best known for its dramatic west facade and octagonal chapter house.
History
In 1200, the seat of the Bishop of Moray was moved from nearby Spynie to Elgin and construction work immediately began on a new cathedral. The original building, cross-shaped with a rectangular east end and twin west towers, was consecrated in 1224.
Around 1270, possibly after a fire, the original building was significantly extended. The east end was doubled in length and increased in height, side aisles were added to the choir and nave, and a chapter house was added on the north side. The result was one of the most magnificent buildings in Scotland. A century later, Bishop Alexander Bur (1362-97) declared that Elgin Cathedral was:
the ornament of the realm, the glory of the kingdom,
the delight of foreigners and stranger guests,
an object of praise in foreign lands.
Unfortunately, the magnificent cathedral had a difficult history. In 1390, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, known as the "Wolf of Badenoch," brought an army of Highlanders to burn the cathedral and town of Elgin. The attack was part of a feud with the bishop and specifically in retaliation for being excommunicated for marital infidelity. In a letter to King Robert III, the bishop lamented the destruction of his beautiful church, as quoted above.
In 1402, Alexander Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, plundered the cathedral. He tried to return the following year to collect more booty, but was met at the gate by the bishop and chapter and shamed into leaving. The cathedral was extensively repaired after these setbacks. The east end was probably renovated first so services could continue; new features here include the tracery of the rose window and larger windows in the choir aisles. The center tower was also rebuilt and the chapter house reached its final form around 1500. Further work had to be done after the central tower collapsed in 1506.
In another century came the Reformation, and in 1560 the cathedral was abandoned for the town's parish church. The roof was immediately dismantled for its valuable lead, the bells were taken away, the choir screen was used for firewood, and the stones continued to be plundered. Only the chapter house survived fully intact, thanks to its usefulness as the meeting place for the Incorporated Trades of Elgin.
In 1711, the nave was destroyed when the central tower collapsed. After nearly four hundred years of neglect, the first steps were taken to preserve Elgin Cathedral in the early 19th century. Today, the ruin is administered by Historic Scotland.
What to See
Given Elgin Cathedral's history, it is a testament to the skill of the 13th-century builders than anything survives at all. Although little of the nave survives, most of the presbytery is still intact and the impressive west front still stands nearly to its full height.
Flanked by strong square towers, the west facade centers on a large arched window above a wide processional portal with eight engaged columns on each side (c.1270). The outermost archivolts are carved with dog-tooth and foliage decoration.
The two doorway arches and sculpted tympanum were added by Bishop Columba of Dunbar (1422-35); his coat of arms can be seen high on the gable, along with those of the king and the bishopric of Moray. The oval niche over the doorway, now empty, probably contained a sculpture of the Holy Trinity (to whom the cathedral was dedicated), flanked by adoring angels who can still be seen.
The north tower can be climbed for excellent views of the cathedral ruins, the town of Elgin, and the surrounding countryside. Climbers enter at the base of the south tower, then cross to the north side via an enclosed walkway below the great window.
The nave, now open to the sky and carpeted with grass, has mostly disappeared, but there are some notable remains to be seen. The foundations of great pillars give a sense of its height and grandeur, and in the southeast corner are large statues that once stood high in niches in the central tower. Depicting a bishop and a knight, they look like giant chess pieces. Near the presbytery, look for a Pictish cross slab carved with elaborate designs.
The presbytery and its side aisles, rebuilt in the late 15th century, remain remarkably intact. The attractive east facade is decorated with two levels of five slender arches and a large rose window.
Next to the presbytery on the north side is the chapter house, the best-preserved part of the cathedral thanks to its use as a meeting place. Its current form dates from around 1500. It has an octagonal floor plan with a slender central pillar and fine star vault with carved roof bosses.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Elgin Cathedral |
| Location: | Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Dedication: | Holy Trinity |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
| Status: | ruins |
| Stock photos: | Elgin Cathedral Stock Photos |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | King St, Elgin, IV30 1HU |
| Coordinates: | 57.650628° N, 3.30549° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 01343 547 171 |
| Website: | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/...PropName=Elgin%20Cathedral |
| Facilities: | toilets, small bookshop |
| Accessibility: | Wheelchair accessible |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Elgin Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Scotland Map.
Article Sources
- Personal visit (September 30, 2010).
- Richard Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral: The Official Souvenir Guide (Historic Scotland, 1999; repr. 2007).
- Elspeth and Michael Wills, Blue Guide Scotland, 12th ed. (London: A&C Black, 2001), 439-40.
- Elgin Cathedral Property Detail - Historic Scotland
- Elgin Cathedral - Undiscovered Scotland
Last updated on December 20, 2010.
