It will be observed that the sedilia is placed at a considerable height above the floor. This may arise from the steps leading to the altar having been removed, and the floor of the whole of the east end lowered to the general level of the choir; or, perhaps, the floor of the whole church has been lowered. The bases of the piers at the crossing, which are of a very unusual height, would rather support the latter view (see Fig. 872). It is not clear where the original entrance to the church was situated. Two doors in the east end now give access to it, but these are clearly modern innovations. There is a pointed doorway in the north wall of the choir (see Fig. 872), which now gives access to a vestry, and, from its position, it seems likely to have originally led to the sacristy. Whether viewed from the village as one approaches the church from the opposite high bank of the burn (see Fig. 873), or as seen from the rocky shore (see Fig. 871), the Church of St. Monans, both from its situation and the completeness and charm of its ancient architecture, is one of the most picturesque and interesting structures of its class in Scotland. Although, from what is above said, we cannot regard this structure as so old as 1360, still we consider it worthy of being included amongst the Scottish examples of decorated work. WHITHORN PRIORY, WIGTONSHIRE. The name of Whithorn is a venerable one in Scottish annals. Here, according to tradition, St. Ninian, in the beginning of the fifth century, planted the first seeds of Christianity in Scotland. It is disputed whether his first oratory, called _Candida Casa_, was established, after the manner of the early hermits, on a small isle or peninsula at the point of the promontory which lies between the bays of Luce and Wigton, about three miles south from Whithorn, or on the spot where the monastery afterwards arose. There are the ruins of a small chapel[165] on “The Isle,” and although that structure evidently belongs to a much later time, it is surmised by Mr. Muir and others that it is probably the successor of St. Ninian’s first foundation. It has been mentioned in the Introduction[166] that other indications exist in this region in the form of ancient sculptured stones, which point to its early Christianisation, and that after a great school of religious instruction had been established here, it gradually died out, and became practically extinct. But under David I. a new religious fervour arose, and the diocese of _Candida Casa_ was established between 1124 and 1130. This part of Galloway having been long under the sway of Northumbria, the bishop remained under the jurisdiction of the see of York till 1472, when the archbishopric of St. Andrews was constituted; and, in 1491, when Glasgow was made a metropolitan see, the Bishop of Galloway became Vicar-General.