The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
According to Mr. Honeyman, a portion of the lower church, situated at
its south-west angle, and extending from the transept eastwards to the
third buttress of the choir, and including one bay and a half, shows
some differences in its style of architecture from the remainder, and
may be regarded as of the transition style, and may thus be of the date
of Bishop Joceline; while the remainder of the lower church and the
whole of the choir are built in the first pointed style, and cannot be
earlier than the second quarter of the thirteenth century. The actual
builder of the lower church and the choir above, as they now exist, was
Bishop William de Bondington (1233-1258). A large part of the structure
was completed before his death in the latter year, and the style of the
work thoroughly corresponds with his period. In 1242 an ordinance was
made for a national collection annually during Lent in aid of the
building.[61]
According to Mr. Honeyman, the foundations of the nave were laid, and
part of the walls was carried up, before the building of the choir was
begun.
Most of the nave appears, from the style of its architecture, to have
been chiefly erected at the end of the thirteenth or the beginning of
the fourteenth century, but there is no record of its construction. It
forms one of the finest examples of the late first pointed or early
decorated style in Scotland.
Bishop Wishart occupied the see during the greater part of the War of
Independence, and supported the Scottish party on all occasions. He
obtained permission from Edward I. to cut timber in the forest of Luss
for the purpose of erecting the spire of the cathedral; and it was one
of the causes of accusation against him which led to his imprisonment in
England that he had used the timber so obtained, not for building the
spire, but for making engines of war with which to attack Edward’s
forces.
The wooden spire of the cathedral, which was erected during the
fourteenth century, was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1400. A new
tower of masonry was erected over the crossing by Bishop Lauder
(1408-25), who carried the work as high as the main parapet. This bishop
appears also to have begun the completion of the chapter house, a
detached structure lying to the north-east of the choir. The walls of
this building were partly erected about the time of the construction of
the choir, but were afterwards raised to two stories in height and
vaulted by Bishop Cameron.
Bishop Lauder was succeeded, in 1425, by Bishop Cameron, called “The
Magnificent,” from his lavish expenditure and the splendour of his
Court. He erected the stone spire above the tower of Bishop Lauder, and
also completed the chapter house wing containing the sacristy on the
upper floor and the chapter house on the ground floor. His arms are
still to be seen on the portions of the structure erected by him. The
beautiful rood screen was also probably constructed by him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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