A Month of Scottish Gravestones - Cathedral Churches

In the Catholic faith, a Cathedral is a church that seats a Bishop. The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian and therefore has no Bishops. However, any church that was a cathedral prior to the reformation is likely still known as a Cathedral, even though it is not a Catholic church. Here are a few examples:

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

St Giles was first built in 1124 by King David I. It has a very rich history, having been John Knox's parish church during the Reformation. In 1385, the church suffered a fire but was soon rebuilt. St Giles stands proudly on the Royal Mile (High Street) and is the main protestant church of Scotland in the capital. The church has been the home of Sunday worship for 900 years. It is also home to the esteemed Thistle Chapel, home to the most noble Order of the Thistle, a largely chivalrous group, with membership being bestowed by the monarch. Inside there are 16 stalls, one for each member of the Order of the Thistle. Each stall is identified by an heraldic coat of arms of the member who is to be seated within. 

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow

Known as Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow High Kirk, St Kentigerns, or St Mungos, the site was a place of worship from about 550.The current church was built Glasgow Cathedral was built in the late 1200s, and managed to survive destruction during the reformation 1560 and is Scotland’s largest place of worship. 

The tomb of St Mungo, dating from the 7th century, lies in the lower hall of the church. 

St Andrew's Cathedral, St Andrews, Fife

St Rule’s Church was likely built around 1130 and is considered to be the first place of worship in Scotland for the newly arrived Augustinian canons. The cathedral was begun in 1160 and work continued over the next 150 years. When the cathedral was finally dedicated in 1318 – in the presence of Robert the Bruce – it was by far the largest church in Scotland. The church fell into ruin after the Reformation. Even in ruin, it is spectacular. 

Dornoch Cathedral, Dornoch

From 1222, Gilbert de Moravia, first Bishop of Dornoch, a relation of the Earls of Moray, built Dornoch Cathedral at his own expense. In 1570, it was set on fire and Gilbert's tomb was desecrated during a clan feud between the Murrays of Dornoch, and the Mackays of Strathnaver. 

There is a sarcophogus which holds the remains of Sir Gilbert

The Cathedral has since been restored. It has seen two of its ministers become moderators of the Church of Scotland

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney

St Magnus was built in 1137 by the Norse Earl, Rongnvold Kolsson. He was instructed by his father to build a grand "minster" and dedicate it to his uncle, the Earl Magnus. 

The Orkney Isles were under control of the Norse until they were taken over by King James III of Scotland in 1468. The reformers failed to damage this Cathedral in the 1560s, so it was converted to a Church of Scotland soon after. 

The remains of Rongnvold and those of St Magnus are interred in two separate pillars within the church. 

Also within the church is a carving in memory of Dr John Rae. He is buried in the kirkyard.