Entering the Cathedral, we stand near the back of the nave and look towards the sanctuary. The nave is quite narrow with natural stone walls, simple vaulted ceiling, and a bright red carpet! The crossing and sanctuary are framed with bricked Gothic arches, and we can see the centrally placed communion table with pulpit and lectern to the sides. Colourful stained glass windows can be seen on the far Eastern wall. INDEX
W2. NAVE CEILING
The joins of the simple ribbed vaulting are covered by bosses of several designs. In the top view, a face looks down on us! [Photo1 Credit: Wikimedia Ymblanter ; Photo2 Credit: Flickr Tony Rundle ]
W3. WEST WALL WM WM
The nave has a single central aisle. Looking along this aisle to the West we can appreciate the Western wall with its five-lancet window, and inset wooden entry surrounded by three plaster tablets. A colourful prayer tree stands on the small table to the left.
W4. WEST WINDOW WM
The shape of the West window was copied from an old design, but shortened to accommodate the doorway below. This great window was erected by Mrs Taylor in memory of the Hoyes family, including William, Mary, Janet and Lewis (her father, mother, brothers and sister. The five figures are those of Peter, Mary, Christ, Martha and John. In the smaller lights formed by the basket tracery, are the nine ‘fruits of the Spirit’ (Gal.5:22), and above is the Holy Spirit as a dove. The window was designed by James Ballantine of Edinburgh.
W5. WEST WALL TABLETS AK WM
There are three marble tablets on the West wall. ••• Left Tablet: This remembers Alexander Gray (1736 – 1799), his wife Mary Ross (1747 – 1799), and members of their family. Alexander was an elder of this parish for 20 years. ••• Right Tablet: This tablet remembers Robert Sutherland Taylor (1804 – 1884) and his wife Mary Poyntz (1807 – 1867). Robert served his local community well and died in France. •• The small tablet above the entry door reads: ‘This antient Cathedral having fallen into decay and ruin, was re-edified, dedicated and restored to Religious Service by Elizabeth, Duchess and Countess of Sutherland in the years MDCCCXXXV, VI & VII. The Lord is in his Holy Temple Psalm XI.’
W6. SIR RICHARD DE MORAVIA WM WM
In the Southwest corner of the nave is preserved the sarcophagus, formerly in the choir, of Sir Richard de Moravia, brother of Bishop Gilbert. He fell fighting against the Norse at the battle of Embo, about 1245. The effigy is a fine though mutilated specimen of the sepulchral art of the thirteenth century.
W7. NORTH NAVE WALL WM WM
On the North wall there are four single-lancet windows, placed when the nave was rebuilt in the 1830s. The left two have brass plaques placed beneath them. We check out the windows in detail, starting from the left.
W8. NORTH NAVE WINDOWS WM
Window 1: This Praise window dates from 2005, and is by Alison Kinnaird, one of the world’s leading glass artists. Interestingly, she is also an exponent of Scottish harp music. ••• Window 2: By Crear McCartney of Lamington, this window is in memory of Elizabeth Mackay, first woman elder of the Cathedral. The main theme is the role of Woman in the Life and Work of the Church. The window depicts Queen Margaret teaching King Malcolm to read. Queen Margaret spent her life dedicated to the work of the Church and supporting her husband. The text ‘Toward the Sun - rising’ and the symbols of the Holy Trinity occupy the apex of the window. The mountain at the top is Ben Loyal. ••• Window 3: This window is by James Ballantine of Edinburgh, 1928, in memory of John Bell, his wife and daughter. The subject of this window is Simeon and the infant Christ. The inscription reads: ‘Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. On earth Peace, Goodwill toward men. To the glory of God and in memory of John Bell, his wife Mary and their daughter Anne Barclay Bell, 1928.’ ••• Window 4: The window on the right, also by James Ballantine, of Edinburgh, 1916, is in memory of Thomas and Alexandrina Barclay of Skelbo. The main figure is Abraham receiving God’s encouragement from the angel. The inscription reads: ‘I am thy shield. To the Glory of God and in memory of Thomas and Alexandrina Barclay, 1916.’
W9. SOUTH NAVE WALL WM WM
The South wall of the nave is much the same as the North wall in lay-out. The most noticeable difference is that the right-hand window is of plain glass. The curious little niche feature in this wall, just visible at extreme left, is the remains of an original nave pillar. We now look in detail at the three stained glass windows, beginning at left.
W10. SOUTH NAVE WINDOWS WM
Window 1: This window is by Francis H.Spear of London 1952, in memory of Brigadier General Sir George Paynter, Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland. At the top is the Lamb of God, and below St.George, patron saint of soldiers, and the legendary dragon. St.Andrew (for Scotland), St.Peter (for fishermen), St.Hubert (for huntsmen) and St.Gilbert (for Dornoch) are also shown. The arms at the bottom are for Eton College and the Scots Guards. The inscription reads: This window dedicated to the Glory of God and given for the adornment of God’s House and in memory of the life and service of Brigadier General Sir George Paynter, KCVO, CMG, DSO, Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland. He had a heart that was always young. ••• Window 2: This window by Kempe of London, 1905, erected in memory of John Barrow of the Castle, and later, Burghfield [now the University of the Highlands & Islands Dornoch Campus]. He was closely involved in the early days of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club. This window depicts St.Peter, the Apostle, holding the keys of heaven and receiving the charge of the flock. The inscription reads: ‘To the Glory of God and in honour of the Apostle St Peter And in loving memory of John James Jerome Barrow who died 18th July1903. His widow dedicated this window in 1905.’ ••• Window 3: This was erected in 1972 in memory of Hector Munro of Dornoch, who spent many years as a railway engineer in Nigeria. The window shows Christ with his right hand pointing upwards towards the Lamb of God and his left hand stretched downwards towards a kneeling pilgrim at His feet, and includes references to Hector Munro’s life in Africa. The inscription reads: ‘To the Glory of God in memory of Hector A C Munro Born 2nd August1890 and died 17th December1968. This window is erected by his widow Helen Munro.’
3. CROSSING
C1. CROSSING AK
When a church is laid out in cruciform shape, the intersection of the two bars of the cross intersect in a square known as ‘the crossing’. In Dornoch Cathedral this is an open space with the pulpit, lectern and baptismal font situated at three of the corners. In the photograph, the font is at extreme right – rather distorted. Shown here to the right of the crossing is the East wall of the South transept which we shall investigate shortly.
C2. CROSSING VAULTING WM
The crossing has a vaulted ceiling with sharp, clear defining ribs, and above this is the square bell tower.
C3. BAPTISMAL FONT
The Cathedral font is of a simple octagonal shape, supported on five short columns. It is covered by an octagonal timber canopy. The cover hides a receptacle which is filled with water for baptising children and new converts. Baptism is regarded by the church as a rite of entry into the church, and indeed into life with Christ.
C4. PULPIT WM AK
Dornoch Cathedral is especially memorable for its stunning woodwork. The wonderfully carved pulpit was gifted by Mrs J Baron of Northfield in 1911, and adds much to the atmosphere and majesty of the Cathedral. The octagonal pulpit has seven exquisitely carved panels of flowers and foliage. You can view them here. For future reference we note the door in the North chancel wall, just beyond the pulpit, seen in the second photo. This is the door leading to the tower.
C5. LECTERN AK WM
The lectern is from where the Scripture is read on a Sunday. Many churches and cathedrals have a brass eagle lectern, but the lectern here is rather different. It is a sign of the times that these days many lecterns and pulpits are cluttered with microphones and wiring!
C6. FROM THE LECTERN
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From the lectern we look past the font to the back of the nave. We notice the memorial tablet of the South transept at left, and below it, set into the wall, one of the mortality stones to be found in this Cathedral. [Photo Credit: Flickr Tony Rundle]