The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
The building marked as chapter house on the Plan occupies the position
in which that chamber would likely be. It is now divided into two, and
has lost all traces of its ecclesiastical purpose--one side being used
as a bottling store and the other as a stable. There is a large
fireplace in the north wall, of distinctly Gothic design. That is not a
usual feature in a chapter house; but in the sacristy over the chapter
house of Glasgow Cathedral there is a large fireplace. At Paisley, the
arrangement may have been reversed. The vestry may have been on the
ground floor and the chapter house above. This building is at present
some five stories in height, the upper floors being reached by the wheel
stair shown on the Plan. It is from this high building that the chamber
over St. Mirin’s is reached, which is a fair indication that this
chapter house tower, as it may be called, is as old as St. Mirin’s. The
same stair also accommodates the refectory range of buildings on the
south side of the cloister, which are three stories in height, and have
another stair at the west end.
It is thought by some that the first central tower erected over the
crossing was of inferior workmanship and gave way. Another central tower
is believed to have been erected by Abbot Tervas. This tower probably
fell during the siege by Lennox and Glencairn, no doubt destroying much
of the choir and transept in its fall. It has been mentioned above that
western towers appear to have been contemplated. Possibly it may be one
of these to which Martine, when speaking of John Hamilton, Archbishop of
St. Andrews, refers when he says, “At which church [Paisley] he built a
prettie handsome steeple, which fell before it was well finished.”[17]
It is thought that the body of Archbishop Hamilton was buried in the
abbey, and a tablet in the church looks as if it marked his grave. It
contains his arms and initials, J. H., and “the motto he assumed, which
contrasts strangely with his troubled life, ‘Misericordia et pax.’”
Several monuments with inscriptions of sixteenth century date exist in
the building. On the west buttress of the north transept, at 21 feet in
height, is the shield of the Stewarts, with a pastoral staff and the
word “Stewart.”
One of the south piers of the nave is called the Cathcart pillar, having
carved upon it a shield with the Cathcart arms (see Fig. 964). This is
believed to be a memorial of Sir Allan Cathcart, one of the knights who
sailed for the Holy Land with Bruce’s heart. The heart was brought back
by Sir Allan, and buried at Melrose.
DUNKELD CATHEDRAL, PERTHSHIRE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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