41. NORTH SIDE WINDOWS II SMC SMC

There are three more stained glass windows along this side, but only two are easily visible – the Easternmost window is in the private Northeast vestry(?). From left these windows are: the Leggett Memorial Window; the Gilchrist Memorial Window, and the Jameson Memorial Window. •• The Leggett Window depicts a crucifixion scene. The text reads: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. The Leggett connection is unclear. •• The text on the Gilchrist Window reads: ‘Peace on earth to men of goodwill.’ Marshall M. Gilchrist was an organist in this Church 1920 – 1938. ••  This smaller window shows two musical angels. It remembers George Jamesone (or Jameson) (c. 1587 – 1644), a Scottish painter who is regarded as Scotland's first eminent portrait-painter.  INDEX

42. NORTHEASTERN CORNER CD IH IH

The Northeastern corner of the nave is taken up with the pipe organ. A simple wooden Cross hangs on a column in front of the organ. Turning slightly right we now face the sanctuary area and the Great East Window. On the left hand side, the sanctuary space extends beyond the organ. There is a window through there, and perhaps other items of interest, but all inaccessible to the public because of the rope barrier. Some long distance views can be had from the Mitchel Chapel on the right.

43. PIPE ORGAN CD CD

The organ at St Machar’s is a magnificent Willis Organ installed in 1891 and regularly maintained since. More details are available on the Cathedral Website (www.stmachar.com). The Choir, which has grown and developed in recent years, includes eight Choral Scholars and a strong body of committed singers.

44. SANCTUARY IH

The sanctuary layout of the Cathedral is simple. A solid communion table stands in front of the Great East Window. There are two candles and a reading stand on the table. On either side is a tall ‘menora’ candlestick with seven candles. The distinction between communion table and altar relates to the theological truth that ‘Christ died once for all’, but the point is probably lost on most worshippers!

45. SMALLER WINDOWS OF EAST WALL SMC SMC

The two smaller windows in the East wall are the Walker memorial window at left, and the Reid memorial Window at right. The poor quality of these photographs makes it difficult to describe the content of these windows, and I have no information about Walker or Reid. The Reid window is located in the Mitchel Chapel.

46. GREAT EAST WINDOW G

The East Window (1953) is the most recent of the sixteen 19th and 20th century stained glass windows in the Cathedral Church of St Machar. Brilliantly executed by William Wilson, this fine three-light ‘story’ window is one of the most beautiful created in Scotland in modern times. [Photo Credit: Geograph Stephen Craven]

47. TOWARDS THE MITCHEL CHAPEL G

Looking diagonally across the sanctuary, we can see the altar of the Mitchel Chapel in the Southeast corner of the building. [Photo Credit: Geograph Stephen Craven]

48. MITCHEL CHAPEL AND SANCTUARY CROSS SMC SMC

The Mitchel Chapel is a pleasant reflective space. Every cathedral needs a space like this for small gatherings. •• The sanctuary cross stands at the entrance to the Mitchel Chapel. This stone column carved with a celtic cross is believed to have been associated with the original church of St Machar on this site. Close by is a stand for candles: the candle flame has been a Christian symbol for centuries.

49. SOUTH NAVE WINDOWS I SMC SMC IJ

We look now at some of the windows of the South nave, shown here from East to West; •• White Memorial Window; ••• Artist Memorial Window: no detail appears to be available for these two windows; ••• Leslie Memorial Window, or The Builder Bishops’ Window. This is a splendid example of the work of Aberdonian, Dr Douglas Strachan. The window depicts (left to right) Bishop Kininmound 11, Bishop Elphinstone and Bishop Lichtoun, three men whose legacy is the awe-inspiring St Machar’s of today.

50. PULPIT V

A highly decorated pre-Reformation pulpit from Bishop Stewart’s time at the Cathedral is now kept in King’s College, Aberdeen. The present pulpit dates from the 16th century.    

51. SOUTH WALL DW

We explore the South wall further. From left there are three pictorial plaques grouped together under a clock. Then another window, and a wooden enclosure of the Southern entry porch, with a staircase leading up to the room above. A list of past clergy is attached to the structure. To the right of this we find several regimental colours hanging. It is the custom to lay up Regimental and King’s Colours. The Colours here belong to the Scots Guards and the Gordon Highlanders.

52. BARBOUR MONUMENT G

John Barbour, died 1395, is known as the Father of Scots literature. It is known that by 1357 he was Archdeacon of Aberdeen. This memorial, consisting of four engraved wood panels, was commissioned by the Cathedral’s Kirk Session and Aberdeen University’s Scots Leid Quorum, and was created by wood carver, Roland Fraser. It commemorates the achievements of John Barbour. [Photo Credit: Geograph Oliver Dixon]

53. SOUTH WINDOWS II SMC

There is one remaining South window to the East of the South entry. This is the Smith Memorial Window. The central panel shows Christ in Glory holding a book with ‘A Ω’ revealed. I am unsure about the Smith name, but I notice that the gate houses at the entrance in the Southwest comer of the churchyard were designed by John Smith and completed in 1832.

54. SOUTH WALL TO THE WEST DW

This view shows us the South wall right to the Southwest corner.   

55. CLERGY LIST G

This displayed list shows an impressive list of bishops and ministers who have served at St Machar’s. It is hard not to be impressed by a list that dates back to 1131! Ministry was obviously influenced by historical events in Scotland, as for example in 1560 when the Scottish Parliament approved a Protestant confession of faith, rejecting papal jurisdiction and the Mass. [Photo Credit: Geograph Alan Findlay]

56. SOUTH WINDOWS III CD IH

The final two windows in the South wall are the War Memorial Window and the Crombie Memorial WIndow. •• The War Memorial Window in the Cathedral Church of St Machar, Old Aberdeen, depicts St Michael and the Dragon. Created by the renowned Aberdonian artist, Dr Douglas Strachan, it pays homage to those associated with the Cathedral who made the supreme sacrifice in the First World War. •• The Crombie Memorial Window (1908) was made by Douglas Strachan and has scenes depicting the founding of the Cathedral and life of St. Machar. It is an outstanding and brilliant example of his work.

57. SOUTHWEST CORNER V

In the Northwest corner is a large memorial to Bishop Patrick Scougal. He lived in one of the tower rooms, and died there in 1682. His mural monument, a large 3-dimensional tomb in the Southwest corner of the nave, is a notable example of 17th-century Scottish neo-classical design, including a ‘portrait’ of Scougal, and a rich array of symbolic ornament.   

58. BISHOP SCOUGAL MEMORIAL G SMC

Patrick Scougal (1607–1682) was a Scottish churchman who served as Bishop of Aberdeen from 1664. He was born in Haddingtonshire (now East Lothian), son of Sir John Scougal of Scougal, and a cousin of the painter John Scougal. In 1624 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh as Master of Arts. In 1636, he became a minister of Dairsie parish, Fife, moving on to Leuchars in 1645 and then to Saltoun, near Edinburgh, in 1659. He refused an offer to become Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh University in 1662. In this period, Scougal showed himself to be an extremely religious ideologue, preaching against papists and playing a leading role in the national witch hunt of the 1660s. However, his views on episcopacy became clear when in early 1664 he was offered and accepted the post of Bishop of Aberdeen. Perhaps because of his known and well-established religious fervour, hostility to Scougal’s newly shown pro-episcopacy sentiments was comparatively muted. In the same year, Scougal became chancellor of King’s College, Aberdeen.   [Photo1 Credit: Stanley Howe]

59. WEST NAVE G

Finally we stand back near the front of the central aisle and look to the West. The central nave is spanned by the balcony with enclosing walls: a central open arch and a blind colonnade. Above the balcony are the seven lights of the West window. [Photo Credit: Geograph Alan Findlay]

60. WEST WINDOW AND PORCH IH

The earliest glass in the cathedral dates from the 1870s with Clayton & Bell’s West window, and some others.

61. WEST WINDOW CD

The West window highlights the martyrdom of some of the early saints. We might expect to find St Andrew here, and sure enough, near the top left hand corner we find St Andrew with his diagonal cross. This completes our tour of St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen.