A Month of Scottish Gravestones - Govan Old Church

Yesterday we looked at ancient burials. Interestingly evidence of ancient burials is prolific in Scotland. One of my very favourite places to visit is Govan Old Church. Inside are a number of  early medieval stones, five hogback stones and a sarcophogus. 

Like many historic treasures in Scotland, these stones were lost to time and lay beneath the soil. Then in 1855, when the Sexton began digging a grave in the north east part of the kirkyard, he struck what he thought were tree roots, only to discover on closer inspection that he had come across a sarcophagus buried in the kirkyard. It is not know when the sarcophagus was buried but there is some thought that it may have been buried during the reformation to preserve it from iconoclasts. Given the ornamentation on the outside of the sarcophagus, it is felt that it was meant to have been placed within the church as a focal point. Although the sarcophagus was empty when uncovered, it is believed that it once held the remains of St Constantine and likely dates from the late 800s. 

Once the sarcophagus was uncovered, excavation on the rest of the kirkyard uncovered 47 early medieval stones, including the 5 hogback stones and the sarcophagus. The hogback stones, the sarcophagus and twenty five of the best preserved stones are on display inside the church, which now functions as a museum. There are still 16 stones within the kirkyard. 

These magnificent stones stem from a unique period in history when the Kingdom of Strathclyde stood where Govan now stands. The evidence in these stones show that this was a large community from at least the 9th century, likely even earlier.

The jewels of the stones uncovered are what are known as the hogback stones, seeming to resemble the back of a hog. However, they also strongly resemble an upturned Viking boat and Vikings are known to have lived in and around Strathclyde in the 9th and 10th centuries. 

The sheer volume of stones uncovered shows the importance and expanse of this once thriving kingdom. The history that comes from these stones being uncovered shows that Strathclyde, or what is now Govan was one of the earliest Christian settlements and may well be as important in history as Iona or St Andrews. 

The stones are beautifully displayed and there are story boards which explain the things of note for the stones. 

Two to highlight are the Sun Stone and the Cuddy Stane: 

The Sun stone has 4 snakes which emerge from a boss and the placement of them resembles the sun. 

The Cuddy stane carvings seem to show Jesus being carried into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

To learn more about the work being done at Govan Old Church, visit their website: http://thegovanstones.org.uk/

Govan Old Stones

I have been a supporter of the Govan Stones for a number of years now. Last night, there was an open house of sorts including a couple of talks, so we headed over to Govan from the Necropolis. The Govan Old Church is generally open for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so having the opportunity to show the stones to the tour participants was an added bonus. 

SAVE THE GOVAN STONES

 The Govan Stones are an absolute gem of a discovery and give a fascinating glimpse into the depth of history of the Strathclyde area. During an excavation in the kirkyard, a number of ancient stones, dating back to between the 9th and 11th centuries, were uncovered. It is thought that these stones are so large and elaborate because they originally were carved to commemorate the lives of some of the more powerful kings and families in the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde.

The church has done an amazing job of showcasing the 31 stones, which are displayed throughout the church, with storyboards explaining the carvings and thoughts behind their meaning. 

Perhaps the gem of the collection are the 5 ‘hogback’ stones. While they were named because of their resemblance to a hog’s back, they are also very much replicas of Viking ships which have been upturned. Another tangible piece of history of Strathclyde’s historic connection to Viking history.

And if the hogback stones are gems, then the crown jewel is most definitely the stone sarcophagus, uncovered 1855 and thought to have held the remains of St Constantine, son of Pictish King Kenneth MacAlpin, who died in 876.

Strathclyde was a powerful ancient kingdom of the Britons from the 5th to 8th centuries. The Kingdom was initially centred in Dumbarton and spread all along the Clyde river. The Kindgom stretched all the way to Cumbria in the south and then west over to Wales. The Govan Stones are tangible proof of this. As such they need to be not only maintained, preserved and conserved but also displayed in a way that the public can see them, enjoy them and learn from them. 

Two years ago, the Govan Stones were deemed “a wee gem of a museum” by Dig It – celebrating Scotland’s archaeology.

The stones are housed in Old Govan Parish Church. Surrounding the church is a very old, very historic graveyard – proven by the fact that these stones and the sarcophagus were once buried here. The church is an A-listed building. A building of national or international importance. It was recently slated to be closed, leaving access to the stones also closed. 

As a last minute effort to keep the church open and the stones and sarcophagus available to the public, the Govan Heritage Trust has managed to stop the closure. However, this is a short-term fix and money is desperately needed in order to keep the building open long term. The Govan Stones have launched an appeal for funding. To assist with this appeal, please visit The Govan Stones Appeal website. Please help to keep this historically significant collection open to the public.  

Govan Old Parish Church and the Govan Stones

After watching the Time Team episode on Govan and the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde, I decided that a visit to Govan Old Parish Church to see the Govan Stones was in order. 

I ventured out on April 26th in the chucking rain and was not disappointed. What an amazing history this church has. 

During an excavation, a number of ancient stones, dating back to between the 9th and 11th centuries, were uncovered in the church yard. It is thought that these stones are so large and elaborate because they originally were carved to commemorate the lives of some of the more powerful kings and families in the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. 

The church has done an amazing job of showcasing the 31 stones, which are displayed throughout the church, with storyboards explaining the carvings and thoughts behind their meaning. 

Perhaps the most impressive part of the collection are the 5 Hogback stones. These date from the 11th century and are relics from the time when Viking lords were settling in the area. The stones are thought to be in the same shape as the Viking longhouses. The stones are referred to as Hogbacks because the curved carvings look similar to a pig's back. 

This historic display of old gravestones, including the very rare Hogbacks is open to the public every day from 1:00 - 4:00 and only a couple of blocks from the Govan subway station. The display is free to view, although a donation is a terrific idea. The guides are very knowledgeable and eager to share the rare display with others. 

If you have an interest in: grave slabs, old stones, graveyards, ancient history, vikings, archaeology, Scotland, Glasgow or old churches, I highly, highly recommend a visit. 

http://www.thegovanstones.org.uk/

Strathclyde Sarcophagus - Old Parish Church Govan

This Sarcophagus in Govan's Old Parish Church, is thought to have once held the remains of St Constantine, son of Pictish King Kenneth MacAlpin, who died in 876.

The Sarcophagus was discovered on 7 December 1855 by the sexton of the church. As he was digging a new grave in the Kirk yard, he found the sarcophagus laying just a couple of feet below the surface.

Given the size and ornate detailing, Professor Driscoll, professor of historical archaeology at Glasgow University, felt that it was created as a public monument to be displayed and viewed. "I think this sarcophagus is to house Constantine's relics as part of making this church into an important place," Prof Driscoll says.

Strathclyde was a powerful ancient kingdom of the Britons from the 5th to 8th centuries. The Kingdom was initially centred in Dumbarton and spread all along the Clyde river. The Kindgom stretched all the way to Cumbria in the south and then west over to Wales. 

Following the capture of Dumbarton in 871, the powerhouse of the Kingdom moved to Govan, with the church of St Constantine being in the centre. Govan Old Parish Church now stands on the site where the church of St Constantine once stood. 

For those who had ancestors in Govan, a major shipbuilding hub, the Old Parish Church holds their own archives  for Baptism, Marriages and Burials. The archives can be viewed by appointment. If you are unable to get to the church, you can seek the services of a local genealogist to act on your behalf. 

Here is the link to the church: http://www.thegovanstones.org.uk/