The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
The chancel is 6 feet east and west and 10 feet north and south inside.
The walls 2 feet 7 inches to 3 feet thick. About 5 feet 6 inches in
height of the east gable remains. The sill of the east window appears to
have been 4 feet 7 inches above the ground outside--about the same level
as the window in the north transept. The width and height of the east
window cannot be ascertained as the gable is gone. Probably there were
no arches at the cross. The proportion on which it was formed is not
evident; but these proportions may be observed in it. The interior of
the chancel is in the proportion of the vesica piscis. The length of the
north transept is twice that of the chancel, and half that of the nave.
The interior has been used as a burial-place since the disuse of the
church, and two altar tombs remain in the nave. One is without
inscription, but the other is of a Dutch captain who died in 1636. The
inscription is in Dutch. This is the only cross church in Orkney or
Shetland of which any remains exist, and on that account is of
importance. In this churchyard was found, about 1850, a very interesting
tombstone, which has been presented to the Museum of the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland by the Rev. Dr. Hamilton of Bressay. This stone
stood erect. It is 4 feet high, 1 foot 4½ inches wide at top, and 11
inches wide at bottom, and 1¾ inch thick. Both faces are ornamented with
carving in low relief. On one face the upper portion contains a square
of interlaced work, within which is a circle containing an interlaced
cross. Below are two dogs, head to head, with their mouths open, and
tails curled over their backs. Below them are two bishops, face to face,
with low mitres, and holding pastoral staves. They resemble the bishops
of the Norse chessmen. On the other face, in the upper part, is a circle
of interlaced work. In the spandrils above it are two nondescript
animals, with their mouths open, apparently eating a man--one the feet,
the other the head. Below the circle are two bishops as on the other
face, between them a man on horseback. Below there is a nondescript
four-legged animal with its tail over its back--possibly a lion or dog.
Other small spaces are filled with interlaced work. On the two edges is
an inscription in Ogham characters, which has been the source of much
discussion; but the stone is somewhat chipped, and the decipherers have
not had a good chance. Amongst many translations is this--on one edge,
“The cross of Natdods daughter here;” on the other edge, “Benres of the
sons of the Druid here.” Probably this stone is of the ninth or
beginning of the tenth century.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS.
There is no cross church in Orkney, and only one in Shetland.
In Ireland there is no circular, octagon, or cross church, except, of
course, the cathedrals and some monastic churches.
There is no aisle in Orkney or Shetland.
There are no plinths or basements to any of these churches.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account