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
and a tower over the crossing. The eastern part of the choir (Fig. 983)
forms the presbytery, which, like that of most Scottish churches, is
without aisles, and is lighted by a large central and two side windows,
all containing late tracery. On the south side of the choir, west of the
presbytery, is an aisle, separated from it by two circular piers and
three arches. From above the caps of the piers two bold arches are
thrown across the south aisle, after the manner of flying buttresses
(Fig. 984). It will be observed from this view that there is a
peculiarity of construction in the upper part of the choir walls, the
clerestory windows being placed over the piers and not over the arches,
as is usual. This arrangement has had the effect of preventing the
flying arches or buttresses from being carried as high as they might
have been (Fig. 985) had the windows been placed over the arches in the
ordinary manner. The flying arches or buttresses are thus very low, and
interfere with the space in the aisle (see Plan). There are a sedilia,
with three divisions, and a piscina (Fig. 986) near the east end of the
south wall of the choir. Part of the pavement there still exists, and
two steps are observable in the floor.
On the north side of the choir is the sacristy, which occupies the place
of the north aisle. The door to the sacristy (Fig. 987) is of fine
design, and the ornament of the caps of the shafts (Fig. 988), together
with the caps of the piers between the choir and the south aisle and the
arches of the crossing (Figs. 989 and 990), exhibit fine examples of
Celtic carving, mixed with grotesque figures. Carving of an identical
description is shown in Figs. 991 and 992 on slabs in St. Oran’s Chapel,
one of which, dated 1489, also exhibits late Gothic ornaments on the
edge. This stone bears the following inscription, from which it would
appear to be in memory of the father of Abbot Macfingone, and of the
abbot himself (whose tomb and monument are preserved in the choir, as
will be pointed out further on):--“Hec: est: Crux: Laeclanni: Meic:
fingone: et: ejus: fil--Ohannis: Abbatis: de: Hy: facta: Anno: domini:
Mº. CCCCLXXX: IXº. Numerous examples of carving of a very similar
description occur throughout the West Highlands, and, where dated, are
all of about the above period. The undated specimens are also distinctly
in the same style and of the same epoch. There can, therefore, be no
hesitation in assigning the sculpture in the cathedral, which is of a
similar character (such as the caps in Figs. 988 and 990), to about the
same date. The dog-tooth ornaments in Fig. 993 and other similar
examples, which are not rare at Iona and throughout the Western Islands,
are thus clearly a revival, at a late date, of ancient forms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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