Elgin Cathedral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin i

n Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinit
y, was established in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the b
urgh of Elgin and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie
, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eigh
t clerics. The new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and t
hen increased to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding program
me greatly enlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Inde
pendence but again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by
Robert III's brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf
of Badenoch. In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack
by the followers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to sta
ff the cathedral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to mai
ntain the buildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by t
he time of the Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned an
d its services transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the remov
al of the lead that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell i
nto decay. Its deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the
building was in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the seElgin Cathed
ral, sometimes called The Lantern of the North, is a historic ruin in Elgin, Mor
ay, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was estab
lished in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside of the burgh of Elgi
n and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, 3 kilometr
es (1.9 mi) to the north, that was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. T
he new and bigger cathedral was staffed with 18 canons in 1226 and then increase
d to 23 by 1242. After a damaging fire in 1270, a rebuilding programme greatly e
nlarged the building. It was unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence but
again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 following an attack by Robert III'
s brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch.
In 1402 the cathedral precinct again suffered an incendiary attack by the follo
wers of the Lord of the Isles. The number of clerics required to staff the cathe
dral continued to grow, as did the number of craftsmen needed to maintain the bu
ildings and surrounds. The number of canons had increased to 25 by the time of t
he Scottish Reformation in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned and its servic
es transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the le
ad that waterproofed the roof in 1567, the cathedral steadily fell into decay. I
ts deterioration was arrested in the 19th century, by which time the building wa
s in a substantially ruinous condition.
The cathedral went through periods of enlargement and renovation following the f
ires of 1270 and 1390 that included the doubling in length of the choir, the pro
vision of outer aisles to the northern and southern walls of both the nave and c
hoir. Today, these walls are at full height in places and at foundation level in
others yet the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact oc
tagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. T
he gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearl
y complete and was rebuilt following the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large w
indow opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large
rose window. Recessed and chest tombs in both transepts and in the south aisle o
f the choir contain effigies of bishops and knights, while large flat slabs in t
he now grass-covered floor of the cathedral mark the positions of early graves.
The homes of the dignitaries and canons, or manses, stood in the chanonry and we
re destroyed by fire on three occasions: in 1270, 1390 and 1402. The two towers
of the west front are mostly complete and were part of the first phase of constr
uction. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others hav
e been incorporated into private buildings. A protective wall of massive proport
ions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only a small section has survived. T
he wall had four access gates, one of whichthe Pans Portstill exists.
Contents [hide]
1 Early cathedral churches of Moray
2 Cathedral church at Elgin
2.1 Diocesan organisation
2.2 Cathedral offices
2.3 Chanonry and burgh
2.4 PostReformation
3 Building phases
3.1 Construction 12241270
3.2 Enlargement and re-construction after 1270
3.3 19th and 20th century stabilisation
4 Burials
5 Referenced figures
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Early cathedral churches of Moray[edit]
Further information: Mormaer of Moray, Earl of Moray, and Bishop of Moray for mo
re on medieval history of Moray
The first cathedrals of Moray at Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie
The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre-eminent see of the
Scottish church, St Andrews, which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celt
ic church and administered scattered localities.[1] It is uncertain whether ther
e were bishops of Moray before c. 1120 [2] but the first known prelatepossibly la
ter translated to Dunkeldwas Gregory (or Gregoir). He was probably bishop in name
only, with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln.[3] Gregory was
a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (A
laxandair mac Mal Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,[4] and again in
a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.[5] He is recorded for
the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abb
ey in c. 1128.[6] After the suppression of engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, Ki
ng David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essent
ial to the stability of the province.[7][8] These early bishops had no settled l
ocation for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie
, Kinneddar and Spynie.[9] Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April
1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spyn
ieits inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208.[10] A chapter of
five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constit
ution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.[11] Elgin became the lay centre of the provi
nce under David I, who probably established the first castle in the town,[8][12]
and it may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that pro
mpted Bricius, before July 1216, to petition the Pope to move the sev