The North transept is a mirror of the South transept, except that much of the West side is filled with the Cathedral pipe organ. INDEX
N2. PIPE ORAN WM (X3)
The first organ was built by Eustace Ingram and given by Andrew Carnegie. It was installed in 1893 and opened in January 1894. It was the first organ installed in the county of Sutherland. It was enlarged and hydraulic power introduced in 1909 at a cost of £200 given by Andrew Carnegie. According to plate on the organ: 'In 1979 a complete rebuild of the organ was made possible thanks to the generosity of Margaret Carnegie Miller and many others who love Dornoch'.
N3. WEST WALL MEMORIAL AK
On the West wall, North of the organ, we find this creative memorial to John Ross MD (1806 – 1849), who was born in this parish and died in Baghdad after serving as a civil surgeon.
N4. NORTH WALL WM
There are three lancet windows in the North wall of the transept, and a memorial on the wall below to the right. The doors lead through to the North lobby.
N5. LOBBY WINDOWS WM WM
The lobby contains two beautiful lancet windows: the Western window at left, the Eastern window at right. Alison Kinnaird, who designed the nave Praise window, also designed and engraved these two newest windows. The theme of these windows is ‘Dance’. Together they represent East and West, Dawn and Dusk, Male and Female, and Land and Sea. Both windows feature a central figure surrounded by flora and fauna of the local area. ••• We leave the lobby and return to the North transept.
N6. TRANSEPT NORTH WINDOWS WM
These are the windows of the North wall, with the little sign ‘Erected and Dedicated 1908’ below. All three lights are by Heaton, Butler and Bayne of London c1910. They are in memory of the Rev. Dr. Donald Grant, Minister of the Cathedral for 28 years. He was involved with many facets of the life of Dornoch, including Golf Club (Captain 1903 – 1905) and the Curling Club. The windows show scenes from the life of Christ. On the upper left, the lover of little children; lower left, shows the Feeding of the 5000. The central light has at top,Christ, the Light of the World, and underneath, Christ heals the sick. The right hand window depicts Christ, the Good Shepherd. The inscription reads: ‘To the Glory of God and in memory Of the Rev Donald Grant, DD Parish Minister of Dornoch 1878 – 1906. Erected by Parishioners and Friends.’
N7. GREAT WAR MEMORIAL
The one memorial on the North wall remembers those of the congregation who were members of the Glasgow Sutherland Association who were killed in WWI. [Photo Credit: historylinks]
N8. EAST SIDE OF NORTH TRANSEPT AK
We come to the East wall of the transept, noticing that the windows of the side walls of the transept are not stained glass. However, at the far end is the framed Cathedral charter, and as well, there are various memorials on this wall.
N9. CATHEDRAL CHARTER WM (x4)
Two copies of the Cathedral Charter (one in English) can be found at the North end of the North transept. Bishop Gilbert gave his new cathedral a constitution, which was similar to that of Lincoln Cathedral. His Charter (on display in the Cathedral) sets out how the church hierarchy was organised, and gives job descriptions for each of the main church officers. It is likely that Gilbert’s Charter remained in use for the next 300 years, until the coming of the Scottish Reformation.
Here is an extract from the Appointment by Gilbert, Bishop of Caithness, of a Constitution for the Chapter of his diocese:
“To all the faithful in Christ who shall see or hear this writing, Gilbert, by divine mercy Bishop of Caithness, greeting in the Lord everlasting. Whereas in the times before our administration there was in our cathedral church but one priest serving God, both on account of the poverty of the place and also of frequent invasions, we, desiring for the honour of Lord Jesus Christ, and the most blessed Mary, his mother, and all saints, to amplify the divine worship therein, and having diligently considered the same and sought the advice of discreet men, have determined at our own expense to build the said cathedral church and consecrate the same to the honour of the before-mentioned Mother of God, as also to erect a conventual as our poverty may permit. We ordain therefore and provide that in the said church there shall be ten canons with the bishop who shall be for the time, and they shall vigilantly by themselves or their vicars by turns discharge the duties of the ministry therein, over whom as their head the bishops shall preside. Out of their number five shall be appointed dignitaries, to wit, a dean, precentor, chancellor, treasurer, and archdeacon, each of whom, together with the bishop and the Abbot of Scone, a canon appointed in the said church, shall find one priest to minister for him in the said church in his absence every day. The three remaining canons shall find deacons who shall diligently assist and serve the foresaid priests in the said church.”
Source: Dornoch Cathedral and Parish by Rev Dr Charles Bentinck, published in 1926
N10. EAST WALL MEMORIALS WM WM
First Memorial. This is another War Memorial, remembering those of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders who gave their lives in operations before ‘New Orleans’ (1814 – 1815). The Battle of New Orleans, fought on January 8, 1815, was the culmination of a month-long series of skirmishes between US and British forces in southern Louisiana. The battle was the final major engagement of the War of 1812. ••• Second Memorial: This memorial remembers William G. Murray (1890 – 1918) and his younger brother Alexander Murray (1895 – 1915) both killed in action serving with the Seaforth Highlanders.