1. APPROACHING ALONG SEAGATE GSV
Nethergate / High Street / Seagate is a system of roads through central Dundee that passes St Andrew’s Catholic Cathedral in the South West, and St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in the short High Street section. This view is from a little further East in Seagate, looking back St Paul’s stands on a rather confined site, making it difficult to obtain good pictures. In fact the only easily obtained photographs of the exterior are taken from High Street / Seagate, or from the short Exchange Court which ends at the Cathedral apse. [Photo Credit: Jose Ignacio Jaeger Neto] INDEX
2. APSE VIEW GSV
Here is the Exchange Court view , which is not very inspiring! This shows the apse, the transepts, and the Western spire behind. [Photo Credit: Robin Carrie]
3. THE TOWER AND SPIRE GSV
Returning to High Street, this view is about as good as it gets. A stone front wall, with a special gate at left bounds a small Cathedral garden. From here we obtain a good view of the Western tower and spire, with a view of the North nave behind. I like to walk right around the exterior of the cathedrals I visit, but it is not possible here. [Photo Credit: Vadim Zahharov]
4. HIGH STREET GATE GSV
In 1852, when Bishop Forbes and the architect George Gilbert Scott surveyed possible sites for a new church, they chose Castlehill, because of its unique and striking location. St Paul’s Church was intended to be an inspiring addition to Dundee’s skyline, rising above the crowded town centre. In retrospect, Castlehill appears to have been a relatively small rise, surrounded by other buildings which reached skywards! [Photo Credit: Kafeel Sarwar]
5. UP THE GARDEN PATH? TA
The gateway is impressive, with colourful tints in the stonework.[Photo Credit: Paul Legate]
6. ADMIRAL ADAM DUNCAN GSV
Just near the gate is a statue commemorating Admiral Adam Duncan (1731 – 1804), shown wielding his telescope. The great Scottish Admiral was born in Dundee. He rose to the highest ranks in the British navy, his finest hour coming in 1797 when, thanks to his unorthodox and bold tactics, he was victorious over the Dutch Fleet at the Battle of Camperdown. Breaking through enemy lines, he captured eleven Dutch vessels, thwarted a threatened French invasion and became an overnight hero.[Photo Credit: Piotr Janczak]
7. THE WORLD OF GARGOYLES GSV
St Paul’s has a fine peal of eight bells in its tower. The bells are rung regularly for Sunday morning services and for special evening services. A proposal to increase the ring to ten bells (the frame for two extra bells already exists) is currently under consideration. •• We notice the protruding gargoyles atop the second and third stages of the tower.[Photo Credit: Jes Tomcroft]
8. SPIRE TA
The spire of St Paul’s is 210 feet (64 metres) tall. There appears to be a golden cockerel weather vane at the top. Roosters have been used for centuries in Christian buildings as symbols of vigilance and protection.[Photo Credit: Michen34]
9. HIGH STREET ENTRY GSV
We come to the front entry of the Cathedral, and are faced with many steps – a reminder of the ‘Castlehill’ location of this Cathedral. Little allowance was made for older and disabled worshippers in the olden days! [Photo Credit: Jan-Sören Wörmer]
10. CASTLE PLAQUE GSV
A nearby street plaque provides some interesting background to Castlehill and the setting of the Cathedral. [Photo Credit: Michael Simpson]
11. WELCOME SIGN AND FRONT PORCH GSV GSV
Time for us to enter St Paul’s! For those who enjoy visiting cathedrals, it is always good to see a Welcome sign. The entry porch is beneath the Western tower. [Photo1 Credit: AY CS; Photo2 Credit Fatima Iftikhar]
12. WAR MEMORIALS TA GSV
The Cathedral contains two war memorials relating to the 1914 – 1919 War. By the entry is the general plaque shown at left. The listing at right is on the West wall of the North transept: it shows the names of those from this parish who gave their lives. [Photo1 Credit: Axel K; Photo2 Credit David Striker]
13. NAVE Wiki
We now stand at the back of the nave and survey the Cathedral interior – a first impression. Tall narrow columns, pointed Gothic arches,colourful stained glass windows, pews, and a front apse with lectern, altar, pulpit, and a large reredos. [Photo Credit: William Starkey]
14. NAVE ROOF GSV GSV
The nave roof structure is interesting with dark stained scissor-truss supports and painted panelling in a pleasing dark blue shade. [Photo1 Credit: The PhotoGrabber; Photo2 Credit:Rupert Nagel]
15. WEST NAVE TA
We walk down the central aisle a little way, and look back to the West wall. The stained glass windows are prominent here, and we note the single (West) window on either side of the West wall. [Photo Credit: TheShis]
16. CENTRAL WEST WALL GSV GSV
The treatment of the centre West wall is unusual. Below is an arch which frames the entry doors, but then above, a similar arch frames an outward facing tower window. This position is often reserved as the organ loft, but that was never the intention here. [Photo1 Credit: Natalia Zubova; Photo2 Credit: Elizabeth]
17. WEST WINDOWS TA TA
Here are the West windows on either side of the front entry. Across both windows, there are four main panels depicting Christ, and beneath four smaller panels showing various events in Christ’s life. The major panels show (from left): Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Jesus with a plate (perhaps alluding to being the Bread of Life?), Jesus the Light of the World, and Jesus with a chalice – his blood shed for us. The lower panels show (from left): Jesus healing, Jesus teaching, Jesus healing the blind man, Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus. [PhotoCredits: alibatty]
18. NORTHWEST NAVE AND DONATIONS BOX GSV GSV
We continue exploring the nave by moving down the North side from this corner. Near the rear of the nave is a movable but ancient donations box. [Photo2 Credit: David Striker]
19. NORTH NAVE WINDOWS GSV GSV The Courier
The two windows at left are the Westernmost windows of the North nave wall. The window at left shows the Risen Christ between Moses and Elijah – representing the Law and the Prophets. The central window shows Jesus blessing the children. The right photo shows a gathering of ‘Soup ’n’ Soul’: a meal being provided in this corner of the Cathedral. While many cathedrals provide food for the needy, I suspect meals provided like this within the Cathedral walls are rather rarer. [Photos1,2 Credit: alibatty; Photo3 Credit: The Courier]
20. NORTH NAVE WALL TA
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This more distant view of the North nave walls shows that there are two more windows. One has clear glass set within a diagonal lattice framework, and the other is covered from outside – waste of a good window! Various small paintings can be seen along this wall too. [Photo Credit: Axel K]