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 corbels for supporting the loft still exist, as shown on the Plan
and in Fig. 1109. The nave is lighted by a large four light window in
the west gable (see Fig. 1110), and one narrow lofty pointed window in
the south wall (see Fig. 1108). There are one upper and one lower window
in the south wall at the rood loft, the lower window pointed and the
other square headed, and immediately to the east, in the south wall,
another narrow and tall pointed window. Between the priest’s door and
the east gable the chancel is emphasised by a large three light
traceried window in the south wall (see Fig. 1110), and also by a slight
rise in the base, which runs all round the church. There is a small
round window in the east wall fitted with a piece of cast iron tracery,
put in about the beginning of this century. Only one window occurs in
the north wall, viz., at the rood loft, which corresponds to the lower
window on the south side, and is furnished with similar corbels at each
side, for the support of the rood loft. There is in addition a lower
corbel a few feet west from the window, which was probably the wall rest
of the upper step of the stair leading to the loft. The south-west
doorway (Fig. 1111) has a very impressive appearance. The jambs and arch
are moulded with two deep and wide hollows, having a filleted round
between, which terminates, like many late Gothic mouldings, on a splayed
base. The round arch is surmounted by a richly carved ogee shaped label,
resting at each side on figures bearing shields, and terminating with a
heraldic display at the top, where on a shield couché are carved the
arms of Lord Gray, namely, a lion rampant, within a bordure
[Illustration:
Window in South Wall of chancel.
Window in West End Wall.
FIG. 1110.--Fowlis Easter Church.]
engrailed, above which is a helmet supported by two lions, and bearing a
swan’s head and neck, with wings elevated for crest. The carving is,
unfortunately, a good deal decayed.
Adjoining the interior of each of the west doorways is a stoup; that on
the north side is shown in Fig. 1112.
The ambry or sacrament house stands in the east wall on the north side
of the altar. It is one of the most elaborately carved and sculptured
examples now remaining in Scotland. The sacrament house is well shown in
the drawing by Mr. Robertson (Fig. 1113). It is 5 feet 6 inches high by
3 feet wide across the cope and base. The opening, which is checked
[Illustration: FIG. 1111.--Fowlis Easter Church. South-West Doorway.]
for a door, has an ogee arch with richly carved buttresses on each side.
Above the recess is sculptured a remarkable group (Fig. 1114). In the
centre is the bust of the Saviour, on a larger scale than the other
figures, holding in His left hand the globe, surmounted by a small
cross--the attribute of sovereignty. On each side is an angel--that on
the right holding the cross, and that on the left the pillar of the
scourging. Both
[Illustration: FIG. 1112.
Fowlis Easter Church.
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