{{Short description|A historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}{{Featured article}}

style="background:#E2E6E9;"|+Remains of chanonry! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 1! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 2! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 3 border=0 align=center style="background:#E2E6E9;"

factoids

name

Elgin Cathedral|image= Elgin Cathedral view from rear.jpg|country= Scotland|location=Elgin, Moray

Catholic Church>Catholic|dedication=The Holy Trinity

Honorius III

Andreas de Moravia

Diocese of Moray>Moray (est. x1114â€“1127x1131)|deanery=ElginInvernessStrathspeyStrathbogie|events={{Collapsible list

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| 2 = (File:Elgin Cathedral main entrance.jpg|left|thumb|175px|The main west portal before the Reformation) {{clear}}
| 3 = {{center|c. 1114/15}} Gregory, the first recorded Bishop of Moray, first appears in charters

| 4 = {{center|1207}}
Bishop Brice de Douglas gets approval for the church at Spynie to the fixed location of the cathedral
| 5 = {{center|1224}}

Bishop Andrew de Moravia gains approval for the move of the bishopric to Elgin

| 6 = {{center|1226}}

Andrew issues new constitution greatly increasing the number of canons

| 7 = {{center|1270}}

Destructive fire prompts significant reconstruction and enlargement; provision of new west doorway

| 8 = {{center|1362}}

King David II's nomination, Alexander Bur, becomes Bishop

| 9 = {{center|1390}}

Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan burns the cathedral and chanonry; central tower collapses; Bishop Bur appeals to the King for reparation for the acts of his brother

| 10 = {{center|1401}}

Probably late in the year, Rothesay) arrested by AlbanyBoardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 235â€“6

| 11 = {{center|1402}}

Alexander, Lord of Lochaber attacks cathedral

c1485}}Bishop Andrew Stewart completes chapter house refurbishment

| 13 = {{center|1560}}

Parliament abolishes Mass; Bishops now use St Giles Church in Elgin}}

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| 2 = (File:St Giles Kirk Elgin.jpg|thumb|left|175px|{{center|St Giles Kirk}}){{clear}}
| 3 = {{center|1561}}

'popish trappingsâ€™ removed from cathedral

| 4 = {{center|1567-8}}

Roof lead and bells removed by order of parliament

| 5 = {{center|1573}}

Patrick Hepburn, the last Catholic bishop of Moray died

| 6 = {{center|1637}}

Roof covering the choir collapses

| 7 = {{center|1640}}

The minister of St Giles church dismantled the Rood screen for firewood

| 8 = {{center|1707}}

William Hay, the last bishop of Moray died; Union of the Parliaments

| 9 = {{center|1711}}

Central tower collapsed destroying nave

| 10 = {{center|1823}}

A Pictish cross-slab found near St Giles Church is moved to the Cathedral

| 11 = {{center|1824}}

Crown funded the roofing of the chapter house supervised by Robert Reid

| 12 = {{center|1824â€“6}}

John Shanks, a cobbler of Elgin, shifted '2853 cubic yards of rubbish' from cathedral grounds

| 13 = {{center|1834}}

Extensive reinforcement and repairs to walls under supervision of Robert Reid

| 15 = {{center| 1841 }}

John Shanks died and is buried in the cathedral cemetery

| 16 = {{center| 1857 }}

The Pans Port gate refurbished and anachronistically ornamented

| 17 = {{center| c. 1912 }}

The brewery on the east bank of the River Lossie and directly opposite the cathedral is removed

| 18 = {{center| 1938}}

The Pans Port and an existing section of the original precinct wall taken into public ownership

| 19 = {{center| 1954 }}

The Precenter's Manse taken into public ownership

| 20 = {{center| 1972â€“89 }}

chapter house window tracery replaced and glazed and re-roofed

| 21 = {{center| 1998â€“2000 }}

Restoration of interior of north and south towers completed

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Bricius de Douglas>Brice de DouglasAndreas de Moravia

Alexander Bur Patrick Hepburn (bishop)>Patrick Hepburn{{designation list | embed = yes| designation1 = Scheduled monument| designation1_date = 6 February 1995

num=SM90142|short=yes}}| designation1_free1name = Category| designation1_free1value = Ecclesiastical}}

Alexander II of Scotland>King Alexander IIAlexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of HuntlyJohn Shanks|functional status=Ruin|architectural type= Cathedral

Gothic architecture>Gothic}}{{Clear|left}}Elgin Cathedral is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. The cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was established in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II outside the burgh of Elgin and close to the River Lossie. It replaced the cathedral at Spynie, {{convert|3|km|0}} to the north, which was served by a small chapter of eight clerics. By 1226, the new and developing cathedral was staffed with 18 canons increasing to 23 by 1242. A damaging fire in 1270 prompted a significantly enlarged building. It remained unaffected by the Wars of Scottish Independence, but again suffered extensive fire damage in 1390 when attacked 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 Lord of the Isles followers.As the cathedral grew, so did the number of clerics and craftsmen. The repairs following the 1270 and 1390 fires resulted in the doubling in length of the choir and the provision of outer aisles to both the nave and choir. Today, some parts of walls reach their full height while others are at foundation level, but the overall cruciform shape is still discernible. A mostly intact octagonal chapter house dates from the major enlargement after the fire of 1270. The gable wall above the double door entrance that links the west towers is nearly complete and was rebuilt after the fire of 1390. It accommodates a large window opening that now only contains stub tracery work and fragments of a large rose window. The transepts and the south aisle of the choir contain recessed and chest tombs with effigies of bishops and knights. The now grass-covered floor bears large flat slabs that mark the positions of early graves. The residences of the dignitaries, canons and chaplains that stood in the chanonry were also destroyed by the fires of 1270, 1390 and 1402 forming part of the reconstruction process. Only the precentor's manse is substantially intact, while two others have been incorporated into private buildings. Both west front towers are mostly complete and were part of the initial construction. A protective wall of massive proportions surrounded the cathedral precinct, but only two small sections have survived. The wall had four access gates but only one, the Pans Port, still exists.By the time of the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the number of canons had increased to 25. After the Reformation the cathedral was abandoned, and its services transferred to Elgin's parish church of St Giles. After the removal of the lead waterproofing of the roof in 1567, the cathedral fell steadily into decay. The building was still largely intact in 1615, but a winter storm brought down the roof covering the eastern limb. In the spring of 1711, the central steeple above the crossing collapsed, taking the walls of the nave with it. Ownership was transferred from the Church to the Crown in 1689, but that made no difference to the building's continued deterioration. Only in the early years of the 19th century did the Crown begin the conservation process. The structural stabilisation continued until the end of the 20th century, with significant improvements to the two western towers.

Early church in Moray

{{Further-text|Mormaer of Moray|Earl of Moray|Bishop of Moray for more on medieval history of Moray}}(File:Cathedral churches of Moray.png|thumb|230px|left|{{center|The first cathedrals of Moray}})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 Celtic church and administered scattered localities.Barrow, Kingship and Unity, pp. 67â€“68 It is uncertain whether there were bishops of Moray before c. 1120,Cowan, Medieval Religious Houses, p. 206 but the first known prelateâ€”possibly later translated to Dunkeldâ€”was Gregory (or Giric, in Gaelic) and was probably bishop in name only.Barrow, Kingship and Unity, p. 68 Gregory was a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by Alexander I (Alaxandair mac MaÃl Choluim) between December 1123 and April 1124,Watt, Fasti, p. 278 and again in a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery.Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, pp. 28â€“30, 44; notes and translation, pp. 279â€“88; See Kenneth Veitch, Replanting Paradise": Alexander I and the Reform of Religious Life in Scotland in The Innes Review, 52 (Autumn 2001), pp. 140â€“6, for arguments about the date 1114. He is recorded for the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abbey in c. 1128.Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, p. 63 These are the only known details of Gregory with no basis for later assertions that he was a promoted monk in a 'Pictish Church'.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral and Diocese, p. 25After the suppression of Ã“engus of Moray's rebellion in 1130, King David must have regarded the continued existence of a bishopric in Moray as essential to the stability of the province.Alan Orr Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500â€“1286, 2 Vols (Edinburgh, 1922), vol. ii, pp. 173â€“4, 183; Alan Orr Anderson, Scottish Annals from English Chroniclers: AD 500â€“1286 (London, 1908), republished, Marjorie Anderson (ed.) (Stamford, 1991), pp. 158, 166; for confusion with "Malcolm MacHeth", and analysis, see Richard Oram, David: The King Who Made Scotland (Gloucestershire, 2004), pp. 77, 84â€“7, 90â€“1, 93, 101, 113â€“5, 117â€“8, 189.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 5 However, the next bishop, William (1152â€“62) was an absentee titular bishop and King David's chaplain. Having been David's aide since 1136, he likely did little to improve the stability of the see by the time he died in 1162.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral and Diocese, pp. 25â€“6Felix was the next bishop and is thought to have been prelate from 1166 to 1171, although no accurate dates are certain. Little is known about his tenure, with only one instance of him appearing as a witness in a charter of William the Lion at his court held in Elgin.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral and Diocese, p. 26Following Felix's death, Simon de Toeni, King William's kinsman and a former abbot of Coggeshall in Essex, became the next bishop. Bishop Simon was the first of the early bishops to adopt a hands-on approach to his diocese and was said to be buried in Birnie Kirk, near Elgin, after his death on 17 September 1184, although this claim first emerged in the 18th century.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral and Diocese, pp. 26â€“7Simon's successor was Richard of Lincoln, once again a royal clerk, and one who struggled to build up the revenues of the bishopric during and after the insurgence of Domnall mac Uilleim (Donald MacWilliam). Richard is regarded as the first significant resident bishop of the see.During this early period, these bishops had no settled location for their cathedral, and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie, Kinneddar and Spynie.Cowan & Easson, Medieval Religious Houses, p. 206 Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April 1206 that allowed bishop Brice de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spynie. The inauguration was held between spring 1207, and summer 1208.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 21 A chapter of five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constitution on that of Lincoln Cathedral.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, pp. 21â€“2 Elgin emerged as the lay centre of the province under David I, who likely established the first castle in the town.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 119 It may have been this castle, with its promise of better security, that prompted Brice to petition the Pope to move the seat from Spynie to Elgin before July 1216 .Lost Episcopal Acta {{Clear|left}}

Cathedral church at Elgin

Despite Brice's earlier appeal, it was not until Andrew de Moravia's episcopate that Pope Honorius III issued his bull on 10 April 1224 authorising his legates Gilbert de Moravia, Bishop of Caithness; Robert, Abbot of Kinloss; and Henry, Dean of Ross to examine the suitability of transferring the cathedra to Elgin. The Bishop of Caithness and the Dean of Ross performed the translation ceremony on 19 July 1224. On 5 July, Alexander II (Alaxandair mac Uilliam) agreed to the transference in a writ referring to his previous land grant for this purpose. The land grant predated the Papal mandate and could indicate that work on a new church was already underway before Brice's death, but this is thought unlikely and that it was Bishop Andrew who commenced the building works on an unoccupied location.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral p. 23Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral and Diocese, p 30(File:Destruction of Elgin Cathedral by Thomas Allom.JPG|thumb|left|300px|{{center|19th-century depiction of the burning of Elgin Cathedral}})Construction of the cathedral was completed after 1242. Chronicler John of Fordun recorded (without explanation) that in 1270 the cathedral church and the canons' houses had been destroyed by fire. The cathedral was rebuilt in a larger and grander style, forming the greater part of the structure that stands today. This work is believed to have been completed by the outbreak of the Wars of Scottish Independence in 1296. Although Edward I of England took his army to Elgin in 1296 and again in 1303, the cathedral remained untouched, as it was by his grandson Edward III during his assault on Moray in 1336.Soon after his election to the see in 1362â€“63, Bishop Alexander Bur requested funds from Pope Urban V to repair the cathedral, citing neglect and hostile attacks. In August 1370 Bur began protection payments to Alexander Stewart, Lord of Badenoch, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch, who became Earl of Buchan in 1380, and who was the son of the future King Robert II.Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 72â€“3 Numerous disputes between Bur and Buchan led to Buchan's excommunication in February 1390. The bishop then turned for protection to Thomas Dunbar, the son of the Earl of Moray.Discussion on the quarrel, see: Grant, Alexander: The Wolf of Badenoch in Moray: Province and People, ed. Seller, W D H, Edinburgh, pp. 143â€“161; Oram, Richard D: Alexander Bur, Bishop of Moray, 1362â€“1397 in Barbara Crawford (ed): Church Chronicle and Learning in Medieval and Early Renaissance Scotland, Edinburgh, 1999, pp. 202â€“204Grant, Moray: Province and People, p. 151 In response, and possibly through frustration of the reappointment of his brother Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife as guardian of Scotland, Buchan descended from his island castle on Lochindorb and burned the town of Forres in May and Elgin, including the cathedral and its manses, in June.Grant, Moray: Province and People, p. 152Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 175â€“6 It is believed that he also burned Pluscarden Priory at that time, which was under the bishop's protection.McCormack, Excavations at Pluscarden Priory, p. 393 Bur sought reparation from Robert III for his brother's actions in a letter stating: {{cquote|my church was the particular ornament of the fatherland, the glory of the kingdom, the joy of strangers and incoming guests, the object of praise and exaltation in other kingdoms because of its decoration, by which it is believed that God was properly worshipped; not to mention its high bell towers, its venerable furnishings and uncountable jewels.}}Robert III granted Bur an annuity of Â£20 for his lifetime, and the Pope provided income from the Scottish Church over the following decade. In 1400, Bur complained to the Abbot of Arbroath about prebendary churches in the Moray diocese not paying their dues for the cathedral restoration.Shaw, History of Moray, p. 388 In the same year Bur wrote to the rector of Aberchirder church, telling him that he now owed three years' arrears of the subsidy that had been imposed on non-prebendary churches in 1397.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 97 Once again, on 3 July 1402, the burgh and cathedral precinct were attacked, this time by Alexander of Lochaber, brother of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, sparing the cathedral but burning the manses. For this, Lochaber and his captains were excommunicated, prompting Lochaber's return in September to make reparations and gain absolution.Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, p. 260In 1408, the money saved during an ecclesiastic vacancy was diverted to the rebuilding process, and in 1413 a grant from the customs of Inverness was provided.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 6 Increasingly, the appropriation of the parish church revenues led to many churches becoming dilapidated and unable to attract educated priests. By the later Middle Ages, the standard of pastoral care outside the main burghs had significantly declined.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 83Bishop John Innes (1407â€“14) made significant contributions to the cathedral's rebuilding efforts, as evidenced by the inscription on his tomb praising his work. Upon his death, the chapter met secretlyâ€”"in quadam camera secreta in campanili ecclesie Moraviensis" ("in the same secret chamber in the bell tower of Moray church")â€”and agreed that if one of its members was elected bishop, they would provide one-third of the bishopric income annually until the reconstruction was completed.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, pp. 97â€“8 The major alterations to the west front were completed before 1435 and bear the coat of arms of Bishop Columba de Dunbar (1422â€“35). The north and south aisles of the choir were likely completed before 1460, with the south aisle containing the tomb of John de Winchester (1435â€“60).Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 91 The final significant feature to be rebuilt was the chapter house between 1482 and 1501, which displays the arms of Bishop Andrew Stewart.MacDonald, W. Rae: Notes on the Heraldry of Elgin and its Surrounding District, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 1899 Vol. 34 pp. 344â€“429

Diocesan organisation

{{Further|Dean of Moray}}{{sidebar with collapsible lists| above = McNeil, MacQueen, Atlas of Scottish History, p. 355| width = | pretitle =| title = Deaneries of Moray and parishes

225px)

The deaneries of Moray}}| class = hlist| bodystyle = | list1title = Elgin| titlestyle = background-color:#FFCC99| heading1 = | content1 =| list1 =

Altyre
Alves
Auldearn
Birnie
Dallas
Dipple
Duffus
Dundurkas
Dyke
Elgin
Elchies
Essil
Forres
Fothervaysâ€”now Edinkillie
Kinneddar
Lhanbryde
Logie Fythenachâ€”now Ardclach
Moy
Ogstoun
Rafford
Rothes
Spynie
Urquhart| heading2 = | content2 = | list2title =Inverness| list2 =
Abertarff
Abriachan
Brackleyâ€”now Brackla
Convinth
Croy
Dalarossie
Dalcross
Daviot
Dores
Ewan or Barevanâ€”now Cawdor
Ferneway
Inverness
Kintallirgyâ€”now Kiltarlity
Lunninâ€”now Moy
Lundechtyâ€”now Dunlichity
Petty
Urquhart
Wardlawâ€”now Kirkhill

| heading3 = | content3 = | list3title = Strathspey| list3 =

Abernethy
Advie
Alvie
Cromdale
Duthil
Insh
Inverallan
Inveravon
Kincardine
Kingussie
Logie Kennyâ€”now Laggan
Rothiemurcus| heading4 = | content4 = |list4title = Strathbogie|list4 =
Aberchirderâ€”now Marnoch
Aberlour
Arndillyâ€”now Boharm
Botary
Botriphnie
Drumdelgie
Dunbennan
Edendiack
Essie
Grantullyâ€”now Gartly
Glass
Inverkethney
Keith
Kinnoir
Rothiemay
Ruthven
Rhynie|below =

}}The chapter was the sum total of dignitaries and canons and had the primary role of aiding the bishop in governing the diocese.Fanning, Catholic Encyclopedia, article: Chapter As Moray adopted the constitution of Lincoln diocese, the bishop's involvement in the chapter was restricted to being an ordinary canon, while the dean took on the leadership role.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 22 This arrangement was also true for the bishops of Aberdeen, Brechin, Caithness, Orkney and Ross.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 80 Every morning, the canons met in the chapter house to listen to a reading from St Benedict's rulebook before the day's business was discussed.Historic Scotland, Investigating Elgin Cathedral, p. 10 Bishop Brice presided over a small chapter comprising eight clerics, including the dean, precentor, treasurer, chancellor, archdeacon, and three canons. His successor, Bishop Andrew de Moravia expanded the chapter significantly by appointing two additional senior positions (succentor and subdean) and 16 more canons with prebends.Cowan & Easson, Medieval Religious Houses, pp. 206â€“7 By the time Andrew died, there were 23 prebendary canons, and two more were created before the Reformation. Churches that were either located in ecclesiastic lands or granted to the diocese by landowners were subject to assignment to canons as prebends.Cowan, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 20 The de Moravia family, to which Bishop Andrew belonged, contributed greatly to these endowments.Cowan, Medieval Church in Scotland, pp. 20â€“1Deans of Christianity oversaw the priests within the deaneries and carried out the bishop's directives. The Moray diocese was divided into four deaneriesâ€”Elgin, Inverness, Strathspey and Strathbogie. The parish churches within these deaneries provided the income not only for the cathedral and chapter but also for other religious houses within and outside the diocese.Watt, Fasti, pp. 316, 317 Many churches were allocated to support designated canons and a smaller number were held in common. The bishop received mensal and prebendary income from the parish churches in his separate capacities as prelate and canon.Cowan, Parishes, Medieval Scotland, pp. 217â€“8The government of the diocese affecting both clergy and laity was vested entirely in the bishop, who appointed officers to the ecclesiastical, criminal and civil courts. The bishop, assisted by his chapter, produced the church laws and regulations for the bishopric and these were enforced at occasional diocesan synods by the bishop or, in his absence, by the dean.Shaw, History of Moray, pp. 331â€“2 Appointed officials adjudicated at consistory courts looking at matters affecting tithes, marriages, divorces, widows, orphans, wills and other related legal matters. In Moray, these courts were held in Elgin and Inverness. By 1452 the Bishop of Moray held all his lands in one regality and had Courts of Regality presided over by Bailiffs and Deputies to ensure the payment of revenues from his estates.{{Clear|left}}

Cathedral offices

{{sidebar with collapsible lists| above = Innes, Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis pp. XVIIâ€“XXIII| width = | pretitle =| title = Chapter and prebendary churches in 1242

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Elgin Cathedral before the Reformation}})| caption =| class = hlist| bodystyle = | list1title = Bishop| titlestyle = background-color:#FFCC99| heading1 = | content1 =| list1 =Prebends as a canon of chapter:

Ferness
Lethen
Dunlichity
Tulldivie
Logy

Mensal prebends:

Elgin
St Andrews
Dyke
Ogston
Rothiemay
Keith
Grantully
Dulbatelouch
Rothiemurchaus
Davit
Talleralie
Innerallian

| heading2 = | content2 = | list2title =Dean| list2 =

Auldearn

| heading3 = | content3 = | list3title = Precentor| list3 =

Lhanbryde
Alves
Raffordâ€”Rafford removed in 1226| heading4 = | content4 = |list4title = Chancellor|list4 =
Inveravon
Urquhartâ€”Urquhart south of Inverness, not Urquhart east of Elgin

| heading5 = | content5 = | list5title = Treasurer| list5 =

Kinneddar
Essle| heading6 = | content6 = | list6title = Subdean| list6 =
Dallas
altarage of Auldearn
chapel of Nairn

| heading7 = | content7 = | list7title = Succentor| list7 =

Rafford
Fothervais

| heading8 = | content8 = | list8title = Archdeacon| list8 =

Forres
Logyn Fythenach

| heading9 = | content9 = | list9title = Canons| list9 =

Advie and Cromdale
Aberlour and Boharm
Botarry and Elchies
Croy
Dipple and Ruthven
Duffus
Duthil
Elgin
Innerkethney
Kingussie and Insh
Kynnoir and Dumbannan
Moy
Rhynie
Petty and Brackla
Spynie

| heading10 = | content10 = | list10title = Churches held in common| list10 =

Artendol
Ferneway
Abriachan
Logykenny
Kyncardin
Abirnethy
Altyre
Ewain
Birnie
Lochalveth

â€”Altyre, Birnie and, later, Lochalveth were reallocated to provide support for the various chaplaincies in the cathedral|below =}}Large cathedrals such as Elgin had many chapel altars requiring canons, assisted by many chaplains and vicars, to conduct daily services. Bishop Andrew allowed for the canons to be aided by seventeen vicars consisting of seven priests, five deacons and five sub-deacons. Later the number of vicars was increased to twenty-five. In 1350, the stipends of the vicars at Elgin were not sufficient for their livelihoods, so Bishop John of Pilmuir provided them with the income from two churches and the patronage of another from Thomas Randolph, second Earl of Moray.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 73 By 1489, the stipends varied among the vicars, with one receiving 12 marks, six receiving 10 marks, one receiving eight marks, three receiving seven marks, and six receiving five marks. Each vicar was directly employed by a canon, who was obligated to provide four months' notice in the event of termination of his service.[Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland p. 69 The vicars were of two kinds: the vicars-choral who primarily worked in the choir for the main services, and the chantry chaplains who conducted services at individual foundation altars though there was some overlap in their duties.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, pp. 30â€“1 While the chapter followed the constitution of Lincoln, the form of divine service replicated that of Salisbury Cathedral.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, pp. 65â€“6Records indicate that disciplinary measures, including fines and even corporal punishment, were imposed on Elgin's vicars-choral for shortcomings in the performance of services. Such punishments were administered in the chapter house by the sub-dean and witnessed by the chapter.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 84 King Alexander II founded a chaplaincy for the soul of King Duncan I who died in battle with Macbeth near Elgin. The chapel most frequently mentioned in records was St Thomas the Martyr, located in the north transept and supported by five chaplains.Fawcett,Elgin Cathedral, pp. 6â€“7 Other chaplaincies documented are those of the Holy Rood, St Catherine, St Duthac, St Lawrence, St Mary Magdalene, St Mary the Virgin and St Michael.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 7 By the time of Bishop Bur's episcopate (1362â€“1397), the cathedral had 15 canons (excluding dignitaries), 22 vicars-choral and a similar number of chaplains.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, p. 42Despite these numbers, not all clergy were regularly present in Elgin Cathedral. Absences were a common occurrence in all cathedrals during a period when ambitious clerics would accept positions in other cathedrals. Time spent away from the chanonry was not without permission, as some canons were appointed to be always present while others were allowed to attend on a part-time basis.Dalyell, Records of Bishopric of Moray pp. 13â€“4 The dean of Elgin was permanently in attendance; the precentor, chancellor, and treasurer were available for half the year. The non-permanent canons had to attend continuously for three months. However, in 1240, the chapter decided to penalise canons who persistently absented themselves, breaching the terms of their attendance, by deducting one-seventh of their income. In the Diocese of Aberdeen, and likely in other bishoprics as well, when important decisions needed to be made by the chapter, an absentee canon had to appoint a procurator to act on their behalf. This task usually fell to one of the dignitaries who had a higher probability of being present.[Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland p. 83 In 1488, at Elgin, many canons failed to adhere to the terms of their approved leave of absence, resulting in each of them receiving a formal warning and summons. Despite this, ten canons refused to attend, leading to a deduction of one-seventh of their prebendary income.Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland p. 79Much of the workload fell on the vicars and a smaller number of permanent canons being responsible for celebrating high mass, delivering sermons, and organising feast day processions. Seven services were held daily, mostly for the clergy and took place behind the rood screen, separating the high altar and choir from lay worshipers. Only cathedrals, collegiate churches and large burgh churches were resourced to perform the more elaborate services while services in the humbler parish churches were more basic.Cowan, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 171The bishops were careful to uphold high standards within the cathedral ensuring that a significant number of graduate clerics who, as choir vicars, could act as proxies for absentee canons, alongside an unknown number of resident chaplains.Hall, MacDonald, Perry & Terry, The Archaeology of Elgin, p. 813 In addition to those in holy orders, clerks and lawyers were needed to record and execute the requirements of the chapter. Of necessity, there were needs for artisans and craftsmen such as masons, carpenters, and glaziers, all engaged in maintaining the fabric of the buildings with housekeepers, cooks, land workers and gardeners needed to sustain the precinct population. At the bishop's residence at Spynie, the household numbers would also have been significant with officials handling records of the bishop's estate, and servants working in the service buildings such as the kitchen, bakehouse, brewhouse, granary and stables.Cant,Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 31Lewis & Pringle, Spynie Palace, p. 2

Chanonry and burgh

(File:Chanonry of Moray.png|450px|left|thumb|{{center|The College of the Chanonry of Elgin}})

Map interpretation

The description of the relative positions of the chanonry manses given by the late 19th, and early 20th century antiquarian, the Rev. Stephen Ree has been reproduced in David Firth's article for The Innes Review and forms the basis for this map.Firth, New map of Elgin chanonry, pp. 68-100 It is constructed from a 19th century Ordnance Survey (OS) town map of Elgin as its base layer and preserves the road layout which has changed little since medieval times.Cant, Historical Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 28 Extraneous detail has been removed but in all other respects, it retains standard mapping proportions and accuracy. The college boundary walls and Ree's data are applied.Although modified over time, three manses still exist—those of Inverkeithny, the Precentor, and the Archdeacon (positions 4, 9 and 13 respectively). However, two further manses, Duffus and Unthank (positions 18 and 19) can be accurately located by juxtaposing the pre-Reformation and post-Reformation chanonry layout. To do this, the much later King Street (established in 1830), is shown as a transparent overlay to preserve detail.Young, Annals of Elgin, p. 402 King Street divided those manses from each other leaving them on opposite corners of King Street where it joined North College Street (shown on the map as Derne Road) and were not set back into their respective gardens, but formed part of their respective property boundaries.Young, Annals of Elgin, p. 394 {{refn|group=note|name=|See Young,Young, Annals of the Parish of Elgin, p. 394 who described the positions of Duffus and Unthank manses as being at the north corners of King Street, so does Watson,Watson, Morayshire Described, p. 175 and Mackintosh.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, pp. 111-114 Mackintosh also includes two images that show both of these manses, but before King Street was established. In it, Unthank is shown in detail with Duffus partly hidden behind it and with North College Street curving into the Cathedral perimeter road.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, p. 112 In turn, The Duffus Manse is shown equally detailed and with Unthank, partly obscured, behind it. Again, the curvature of the road shows Unthank rotated away to view almost as side-on.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, p. 113 The images also show that both manses were not set back from the road but their frontages actually formed part of the property boundaries.}} These five manses provide precise reference points that assist in placing the others. While the exact positioning, alignment and other characteristics of the remaining manses, along with their relative boundaries are speculative, they do correlate with Stephen Ree's description. Similarly, aside from the two existing sections, the precise positioning of the chanonry wall is unclear, however, a notable indicator of the wall's position was a six-foot thick segment integrated into a house on Collie Street.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, p. 127Hall, Et al., Archaeology of Elgin, p. 813

The College of Elgin and associated locations

|image2 = Unthank Manse.png|caption2 = {{center|Unthank Manse}} }} The chanonry, referred to in the cathedral's records as the college of the chanonry (collegio canonicatus), or simply as the college (collegium), comprised the cathedral and the residences of canons, vicars, and chaplains grouped around it.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 28â€“9 This precinct was surrounded by a substantial wall, measuring over {{convert|3.5|m}} in height, approximately {{convert|2|m}} in thickness, and said to have measured about 820 meters (2,690 ft) in length.Byatt, Elgin: A history, p. 19 The wall had four gatehouses: the west gate that allowed travel to and from the burgh, the south gate facing the lands of the hospital of Maison Dieu and joining with the King's Highway, the extant east gate, or Panns Port, accessing the meadowland called Le Pannis—this gate illustrates the portcullis defences of the gatehouses (Fig. 1)—and the north gate providing a more convenient route towards the bishop's mill and his Spynie Palace.Although manses were normally located within the precinct walls this was not always the case. Bishop John Pilmuir (1326-1362), on 14 December 1360, gifted a portion of land that he had secured from a secular clerk specifically for the building of four manses for chaplains. The land, feued from the Brothers of St Lazarus, was situated outside the west wall, on the road to the burgh of Elgin and between two lanes—one of which may have been the proto-Lazarus Wynd (position 26). With his death approaching, Pilmuir's conditions were that the chaplains should pray for the redemption of his soul and those of his parents.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, p. 35 Again, but by whose authority is unknown, the manse of Rhynie adjacent to the manses of five or more chaplains stood outside of the west wall but to the north (positions 1 and 2).Firth, New map of Elgin chanonry, pp. 83-4, 95Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, pp. 29-30Bishop Andrew Stewart (1482-1501), the youngest son of James Stewart of Lorne, and Joan Beaufort, the widow of James I of Scotland, was a significant figure during the reign of his nephew, James III.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, p. 43 Following the death of James in 1488, Bishop Andrew found himself out of favour at James IV's court allowing him to spend more time in his diocese.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 44-5 In May 1489 Andrew called a general convocation of his canons to make long overdue changes to the college and its environs. Midst his slew of legislation was authorising essential repairs to two of the gatehouses, the Panns Port and the west gate to the burgh. Another major improvement involved inserting a new gateway (the North Gate) into the precinct wall beside the manse of Botarie (position 3).Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, p. 137 Andrew also instructed thirteen prebendaries, which included the archdeacon and the succentor, to immediately "erect, construct, build, and duly repair their manses, and the enclosures of their gardens within the college of Moray".Dowden, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 94Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 137-8 {{refn|group=note|name=|Bishop Andrew Stewart in his convocation of 1489, was annoyed at the dilapidation of the precinct and that both the Panns Port and the West Gate to the Burgh were non-functional and had to be repaired. That left the South Gate as the only fully working access and egress point for the chanonry. This was obviously unacceptable and may have been the reason for ordering that a new gate be constructed adjacent to the manse of Botarie. He was also unhappy that some manses—probably lacking since the burnings of 1390 and 1402—had still not been replaced. He placed the potential of large fines on 13 canons including some dignitaries, if rectification was delayed. The nearness of the new gate would obviously have been a benefit for the manse of Rhynie and may account for its externality of the precinct following Bishop Andrew's warnings.}}The manse of Duffus (in its earlier wooden form) had hosted two kings. The first was Edward I of England on 10 and 11 September 1303 after the castle became unusable and then to the Scottish king James II in 1455.Taylor, Edward I in North Scotland pp. 213â€“4 As already stated, the manse of the precentor, mistakenly called the Bishop's House,The Precentor's manse was granted to Alexander Seton simultaneously with his appointment as lay commendator of Pluscarden Priory. In 1604 he became Chancellor of Scotland and then 1st Earl of Dunfermline in 1606. He renamed the manse to Dunfermline House and became Provost of Elgin (1591â€“1607) and then Provost of Edinburgh (1598â€“1608). He died in 1622. See Byatt, Elgin: A History, p. 21 is partly ruined and is dated 1557 (Fig. 2). Vestiges of the prebendary of Inverkeithny's manse and the Archdeacon's manse (Fig. 3) are now part of private buildings.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 92There were two friaries in the burgh. The Dominican Black Friars friary was founded in the western part of the town below the castle, around 1233. The friary of the Franciscan (Friars Minor Conventual) Grey Friars was later founded in the eastern part of the burgh sometime before 1281.Cowan, Medieval Religious Houses, pp. 118, 127 It is thought that this foundation didn't last long but was followed between 1479 and 1513 by a house of Observantine Grey Friars. The building was transferred into the ownership of the burgh around 1559 and later became the Court of Justice in 1563.Cowan, Medieval Religious Houses, p. 131 In 1489, the chapter founded a school that served not only as a song school for the cathedral but also to provide an education in music and reading for some children of Elgin.Cowan, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 181The hospital of Maison Dieu, dedicated to St Mary, was situated near the cathedral precinct and was established by Bishop Andrew de Moravia before 1237 for the aid of the poor.Cowan, Medieval Religious Houses, p. 179 It suffered fire damage in 1390 and again in 1445. Initially, the cathedral clerks received it as a benefice but gradually fell into disrepair due to a lack of support. Bishop James Hepburn granted it to the Blackfriars of Elgin on 17 November 1520, possibly to try and ensure its survival.Cowan, Medieval Church in Scotland, p. 153 After the Reformation, the Crown took ownership of the property, and in 1595, James VI granted it to the burgh for educational and charitable purposes. In 1624, it was replaced by an almshouse but in 1750 it was substantially damaged during a storm and lay in ruins until its demolition during a 19th century redevelopment of the area.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 95Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 14

Postâ€“Reformation

(File:Elgin Almshouse.jpg|thumb|160px|right|{{center|The almshouse date stone}})In August 1560, parliament gathered in Edinburgh and enacted legislation declaring the Scottish church to be Protestant, removing papal authority, and making the Catholic mass illegal.Records of the Parliament of Scotland Consequently, cathedral buildings now survived only if they were used as parish churches and as Elgin had been fully served by the Kirk of St Giles, its cathedral was abandoned.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 93 On 14 February 1567, an act of parliament authorised Regent Lord James Stewart's Privy Council to order the removal of the lead from the roofs of both Elgin and Aberdeen cathedrals, to be sold to support the army, but the overladen ship commissioned to take the cargo to Holland capsized and sank in Aberdeen harbour.Shaw, History of Moray, pp. 284â€“5 Regent Moray and Patrick Hepburn, Bishop of Moray ordered repairs to the roof in July 1569, appointing Hew Craigy, Parson of Inverkeithing, as master of the work and was to collect contributions from the canons of the diocese—this clearly didn't happen.John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1545â€“1569, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), p. 677.In 1615, John Taylor, known as the 'Water Poet,' described Elgin Cathedral as a "fair and beautiful church with three steeples." However, he noted that the roofs, windows, and many marble monuments and tombs were broken and defaced.Brown, Early Travellers in Scotland, p. 124Decay began and the roof of the eastern limb collapsed during a storm on 4 December 1637.Shaw, History of Moray p. 285 In 1640 the General Assembly ordered Gilbert Ross, the minister of St Giles kirk, to remove the rood screen partitioning the choir and presbytery from the nave. The screen was chopped up for firewood by Ross and the Lairds of Innes and Brodie.Shaw, History of Moray, pp. 290â€“1MacGibbon, Ecclesiastical Architecture, p. 123 It is believed that the destruction of the great west window was caused by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers sometime between 1650 and 1660.At some point, the cathedral grounds became the burial ground for Elgin. In 1685, the town council repaired the boundary wall but specifically ordered that stones from the cathedral not be used.Cramond, Records of Elgin, p. 337 Despite the building's increasing instability, the chapter house continued to be used for meetings of the Incorporated Trades from 1671 to 1676 and then again from 1701 to around 1731.Mackintosh, Elgin Past and Present, p.68 No attempt was made to stabilise the structure and on Easter Sunday 1711, the central tower collapsed demolishing the nave. Subsequently, the cathedral's stonework was quarried for local projects. Many artists visited Elgin to sketch the ruins, and it is from their work that the slow but continuing ruination can be observed.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 11 By the closing years of the 18th century, travellers to Elgin began to visit the ruin, and pamphlets giving the history of the cathedral were prepared for those early tourists. In 1773 Samuel Johnson recorded, "a paper was put into our hands, which deduced from sufficient authorities the history of this venerable ruin."Johnson, Journey to Western Isles p. 19(File:John Shanks.png|thumb|left|175px|{{center|John Shanks}})Since the abolition of bishops within the Scottish Church in 1689, ownership of the abandoned cathedral fell to the crown, but no attempts were taken to halt the building's decline. Acknowledging the necessity to stabilise the structure, the Elgin Town Council initiated the reconstruction of the perimeter wall in 1809 and cleared debris from the surrounding area in about 1815.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 9, 11 The Lord Provost of Elgin petitioned the King's Remembrancer for assistance to build a new roof for the chapter house and in 1824, Â£121 was provided to the architect Robert Reid for its construction. Reid was significant in the development of a conservation policy for historical buildings in Scotland and was to become the first Head of the Scottish Office of Works (SOW) in 1827. It was probably during his tenure at the SOW that the supporting buttresses to the choir and transept walls were built.In 1824, John Shanks, an Elgin shoemaker and an important figure in the conservation of the cathedral started his work. Sponsored by local gentleman Isaac Forsyth, Shanks cleared the grounds of centuries of rubbish dumping and rubble.Shaw, History of Moray, p. 290 Shanks was officially appointed the site's Keeper and Watchman in 1826. Although his work was highly valued at the time and brought the cathedral back into public focus, his unscientific clearance methods may have resulted in much valuable evidence of the cathedral's history being lost. He died on 14 April 1841, aged 82. A fortnight later, the Inverness Courier published a commemorative piece on Shanks, calling him the "beadle or cicerone of Elgin Cathedral", and writing:WEB,weblink Inverness Courier Extract, The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century, 28 April 1841, 9 August 2013, {{cquote|His unwearied enthusiasm in clearing away the rubbish which encumbered the area of the Cathedral and obscured its architectural beauties, may be gathered from the fact that he removed, with his pick-axe and shovel, 2866 barrowfuls of earth, besides disclosing a flight of steps that led to the grand gateway of the edifice. Tombs and figures, which had long lain hid in obscurity, were unearthed and every monumental fragment of saints and holy men was carefully preserved, and placed in some appropriate situation ... So faithfully did he discharge his duty as keeper of the ruins, that little now remains but to preserve what he accomplished.}}Some minor works took place during the remainder of the 19th century and continued into the early 20th century. During the 1930s further maintenance work followed including the addition of a protective roof for the vaulted ceiling of the south choir aisle. From 1960 onwards the crumbling sandstone blocks were replaced and new windows were fitted in the chapter house, which was re-roofed to preserve its vaulted ceiling. From 1988 to 2000, significant renovations were carried out on the two western towers, including the addition of a viewing platform at the top of the north tower.{{clear}}

Diocesan possessions

As well as being the ecclesiastical head of the diocese, the bishops of Moray also possessed significant secular powers as prominent feudal lords. Their landed estates were extensive in significant areas of the Highlands and along the southern reaches of the Moray Firth. The bishops, representing religious and secular authority, played an important role in solidifying royal governance and stability in a historically volatile region. The importance of this relationship was recognised on 8 November 1451 when James II provided Bishop John Winchester with the Barony of Spynie enabling the consolidation of the disparate church lands and other properties into a single entity. On 15 August 1452, the king elevated the barony into a regality. This provided the bishop with wide-ranging powers including the convening of courts of law capable of adjudicating crimes that had previously fallen solely under the jurisdiction of the king's legal officer, the Sheriff. While the 1390 fire destroyed many charters that likely contained significant details regarding the attainment of land grants from royalty and the aristocracy, the surviving documents offer valuable insights into this process. However, the Barony of Spynie charter of 1451 named and defined much, but not all, of the diocesan lands.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, p. 141Some of the unspecified lands only became apparent during their transference into tenancies or, in some cases, litigation against transgressors. Additional records provide information regarding diocesan lands held by notable leaseholders obliged to pay the bishop homage. These actions typically occurred following events such as the appointment of a new bishop or the emergence of a new heir to relevant lands. Although these occasions were largely symbolic as the lands had normally been granted in perpetuity, they did demonstrate the lengths the bishops went to retain their privileges as secular overlords. The records also provide details of the lands that once were held exclusively by the church but had then been transformed into lease holdings. Land transfer had mainly arisen in the turbulent period from the mid-14th to the early 15th centuries. But even during this time, the bishops strongly defended their rights when secular lords tried encroaching on church lands.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 142-3The bishops retained properties that were important to their needs and those of their households. These included elevated areas immediately north of Elgin, considered part of the bishops' demesne, and comprised the lands of Spynie, where the bishop's palace was, and the adjoining barony of Kinneddar. Outside of these areas, church lands were widely dispersed. The lengthy River Spey entered the Moray Firth some {{convert|14|km|0}} to the east of Elgin. On its east side lay church lands within the upland territories in the Strathbogie including the bishops' mensal barony of Keith (Strathysla). The lands extended southwards into the highland territories on the river's upper reaches of Strathspey and in its catchment area spreading as far south as Logynkenny near the diocesan border with the lordship of Lochaber. West of the Spey, churchlands were present in areas along the fertile coastal plane between Elgin and Inverness and then down both sides of the Great Glen. The highland hinterland also contained church holdings in Glenfiddich, Strathavon, the Findhorn Valley, Strathnairn, and Badenoch.Fawcett & Oram, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 141-2

Barony and Regality of Spynie

Charter of the Barony of Spynie—granted to Bishop John Winchester (1451)Fraser-Mackintosh, Invernessiana, pp. 121-3

{{smalldiv|James by the grace of God King of Scots, to all good men of his whole realm, cleric and laic; Greeting: Know that we to the praise and glory of the Holy Trinity, and because of thankful services by the reverend father in Christ, John Bishop of Moray, our beloved Chancellor, frequently paid in his time to our progenitor of happy memory and to be continued by him faithfully to us, gave, granted, and by this our present charter confirmed to the said reverend father in Christ, John Bishop of Moray and his successors, bishops of the Church of Moray, all and sundry the lands of the Barony of Spiny with their pertinents, dependencies and annexes, also all and whole the baronies and lands within written, viz:â€” the baronies of Kynnedor, Byrneth, Rothenet or Roffert, Fotherues, and Keyth, and all and whole the lands and tenements, glebes, acres, and crofts belonging to said Church of Moray, canonics, and chaplains thereof and rectors and the vicars of said diocese lying within the Sheriffdoms of Inverness and Banff, viz:â€” the lands of the two Kinmylies, the two Abriachans, Abertarf, Boleskin, Forthir, and the lands of the Marsh of Strathspey, the lands of Rothymurchus, the davoch of Ynche, the davoch of Lagankenzee, with the lakes and fishings of said lands, with the tower of said lake of Lagankenzee, the half davoch of Colnakewill, the lands of Auchmony and Kirkmichel, the lands of Kyncardy and Kyncardin, the town of the Church of Dolesmichel, the towns of the churches of Eskyll and Duppill, Rothes, Altyre with the Ord thereof now commonly called the Bishop's Ord, the town of the Church of Kynnore, and the crofts and acres of the churches of Kingussie and Inuerelzem, Warlaw, Dyik, Dultargusy and Chapel of Rait, and the port and fishing of the water of Lossie, and the tenandries and town of the Church of Deveth, Artralze, Croy, Moy, Duldawauch, Ewan, Undist, Lochlin or Innerin now of Abbirlour, Butruthyn, Arthilldoill, and of Core of Kynnermouth, Avachy, Kyntallargyne with ly Esse and fishing on the water of Forne, Dunbennan, Ruthven, Botary, Drumdelgie, Ryne, Innerkeithny, and the lands of Rothymay, and the lands of Domus Dei, near Elgin, the tenandry of Drumreoch, with all and sundry pertinents thereof, into one pure, entire, and free barony, to be called henceforth the Barony of Spiny, which we will to be called and be, in time to come for ever the head of said Church, which all and sundry baronies and lands foresaid, with all and sundry the pertinents and annexes, we attach to, incorporate and for ever unite to said Barony of Spiny by the tenor of the present charter: To be held and had, all and sundry the foresaid lands with the pertinents, in one pure and entire barony, to be called that of Spiny for ever in time to come, by the foresaid John Bishop of Moray, and his successors Bishops of Moray, in feu and heritage for ever, by all their right marches and divisions, in woods, plains, moors, marshes, ways, byways, waters, pools, rivulets, meadows, pastures, and pasturages, with mills, multures and their sequels, with hawkings, huntings, fishings, rights of casting peats, turfs, collieries, stone-quarries, stone and lime, smithies, breweries, heaths, brooms, with courts and their exits, herzelds, bludwitis and merchet of women, with tenandries and services of free tenants, with doves and dovecots, with ancient customs, with pit and gallows, sok, sak, tholl, theme, infangtheif, outfangtheif, and with all other and sundry liberties, commodities, and easements, and their just pertinents whatsoever, as well not named as named, which belong to foresaid lands with the pertinents, or which may in future in any way just belong, as freely, quietly, fully, completely, honourably, well, and in peace, as any barony within our kingdom, is freely granted or bestowed by us or our predecessors in times past, whatsoever: Doing therefor to us and our heirs, the said John and his successors. Bishops of Moray, one suit at Inverness yearly in the chief court thereof, held there next after the Feast of Pasche (Easter), only, in lieu of every other burden, exaction, question, demand or secular service, which of said barony with the pertinents shall justly be exacted by whomsoever, or required in whatsoever manner: In testimony of which matter we have commanded our seal to be appended to our present charter; the witnesses being the reverend fathers in Christ, William and Thomas, Bishops of the Churches of Glasgow and Galloway, our dearest cousin, William Earl of Douglas and Avondale, Lord Galloway, William Lord of Crichtoun, our chancellor and very beloved cousin; our beloved cousins, William Lord Sommerville, Patrick Lord Glamis, Master John Arrous, Archdeacon of Glasgow, and George de Schoriswode, rector of Cultre. At Stirling the 8th day of the month of November, in the year of the Lord 1451, and of our reign the 15th.}}

Charter of the Regality of Spynie—granted to Bishop John Winchester (1452)Young, The Parish of Spynie, pp. 328-9

{{smalldiv|James, by the grace of God, King of Scots, to all good men of our whole land, clergy, and laity, greetings. Know that to the praise and glory of the Blessed Trinity and for the exaltation of the Cathedral Church of Moray, and for the gracious services rendered by the reverend father in Christ, John, Bishop of Moray, to our late father, whose memory is to be revered, and also continued faithfully to us; and also for the welfare of our soul, and that of Mary, Queen, our consort, and the souls of our ancestors and successors, we have granted, and by this present charter we grant to the said reverend father in Christ, John, Bishop of Moray, and his successors, Bishops of the Church of Moray, his barony of Spynie, and the burgh of Spynie, with all and singular their belongings, dependencies, and annexes in pure and free regal or royal power. To be held and possessed by the said John, Bishop of Moray, and his successors, Bishops of the Church of Moray, from us and our successors, in perpetual fee and heredity, with all the conveniences and profits belonging to the said barony and burgh, with the free forest and contents, fees and forfeitures, custom dues, and church advowsons, with the ways and courts of justice, the chamber, sheriffdom, and the boundaries of the said ways and courts, amercements, exits, and escheats; with harbours and passages, and with all other and singular liberties, conveniences, and amenities, and just belongings, whatsoever, as well as those not named as those named, appertaining to the regal power, or that may legitimately pertain in the future, and as freely, quietly, fully, honourably, well, and peacefully, in all things and in all ways, as any regal power granted or donated more freely, quietly, or honourably to any church or ecclesiastical persons whatsoever in our kingdom. The said John, Bishop of Moray, and his successors, Bishops of the Church of Moray, shall render us, our heirs, and successors annually, one red rose on the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, at our Burgh of Inverness, if demanded, and the supplications of devotions only for the suits of court and for any other burden, exaction, question, demand, or secular service that may be required or demanded from the said barony and burgh. In witness whereof, we have commanded our great seal to be affixed to this present charter. Witnessed by the reverend Fathers in Christ - James and William, Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow; our dearest cousin George, Earl of Angus; William Lord Crichton, our chancellor and beloved cousin; our beloved cousins William Lord Somerville, Patrick Lord Glamis, Andrew Lord Gray; Masters John Arrous, Archdeacon of Glasgow, and George of Schoriswod, Rector of Cultyr, our clerk. At Edinburgh, on the fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and fifty-two, and of our reign the sixteenth.}}

(File:Moray diocese holdings.png|550px|center|thumb|{{center|The lands and properties of the Barony of Spynie}})The lands detailed in the charter of the Barony of Spynie, including all diocesan clergy utilised property, in the order that they appear in the charter:Innes,Registry of Moray, No 193, p. 223{{smalldiv|{{center|{{highlight round|{{large|Lesser baronies}}|bc=#FF96A2}} }}{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

Kinneddar — (map ref. 1)
Birnie — (map ref. 2)
Rothernot (Rafford) — (map ref. 3)
Ferness — (map ref. 4)
Keith — (map ref. 5)

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The two Kinmylies west of Inverness — (map ref. 6)
The two Abriachins on west Loch Ness side — (map ref. 7)
Boleskine on the east Loch ness side — (map ref. 8)
Farr (Forthir) in upper Strathnairn — (map ref. 9)

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Lands of the marsh of Strathspey — (map ref. 10)
Lands of Rothiemurchas — (map ref. 11)
Davoch of the Inch — (map ref. 12)
Davoch of Logy Kenny — (map ref. 13) (included the lochs and fishings, the lands spread around Loch Laggan â€“ near the Lordship of Lochaber border)

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Half-davoch centered on Coulnakyle — (map ref. 14) (Nethy Bridge)
Achmony — (map ref. 15) (This is listed out of place as it is in Glenurquhart, west of Loch Ness)
Kirkmichael — (map ref. 16)
Kinchurdy — (map ref. 17)
Kincardin — (map ref. 18) (Kincardy)

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Dallas — (map ref. 19)
Essil — (map ref. 20)
Dipple — (map ref. 21)
Rothes — (map ref. 22)

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Altre — (map ref. 23) (Kilmorack in Strathconon)
Ord of Altre — (map ref. 24) (also known as Bishop's Ord)
Kinnoir – unidentified, (possibly Kinnerras, Eskdale — but not the Kinnoir that is in Strathbogie)

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Kingussie — (map ref. 25)
Inverallen — (map ref. 26) (Inuerelzem)
Wardlaw — (map ref. 27) (Warlaw)
Dyke — (map ref. 28) (Dyik)
Dalarossie — (map ref. 29) (Dultargusy)
Chapel of Rait — (map ref. 30)
Port and fishing of the water of Lossie — (map ref. 31) (R. Lossy)
Daviot — (map ref. 32) (Deveth)
Artralze — (map ref. 33) (Ardtrillan ie, Alturlie)
Croy — (map ref. 34)
Moy — (map ref. 35)
Duldavy — Unidentified (Duldawaugh, Duldauach – Innes suggests this may be Dunlichity )
Barevan — (map ref. 36) (Ewan)
Undist — unidentified
Aberlour — (map ref. 37) (Abbirlour, Lochlin or Innerin)
Botriphnie — (map ref. 38) (Butruthin)
Arndilly — (map ref. 39) (Arthilldoill)
Daugh of Kinermony — (map ref. 40) (Core of Kynnermonth â€“ also written Kynnermond, Kynnermunth)
Allachie — (map ref. 41) (Avochie, Avachy, Alachy – above Aberlour to the south)
Kiltarlity — (map ref. 42) (Kyntallargyne)
The Esse — (map ref. 43) (the falls of Kilmorack)
Fishing of the water of Beauly — (map ref. 44) (R. Forne)
Dunbennan — (map ref. 45) (Dumbannan)
Ruthven — (map ref. 46)
Botary — (map ref. 47)
Drumdelgie — (map ref. 48)
Rhynie — (map ref. 49) (Ryne)
Inverkeithny — (map ref. 50) (Innerkeithny, Innerkethnie)
Lands of Rothiemay — (map ref. 51) (Rothymay)
Lands of Domus Dei — (map ref. 52) (Hospital, near Elgin)
Drumreoch — (map ref. 53) (tenantry in the parish of Dyke)

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Building phases

Construction 1224â€“1270

(File:Elgin Cathedral phases 2.png|right|thumb|450px|{{center| Construction phases}})The first church was markedly cruciform in shape and smaller than the present floor plan. This early structure had a choir without aisles and more truncated, and a nave with only a single aisle on its north and south sides (Fig. 4). The central tower rose above the crossing between the north and south transepts and may have held bells in its upper storey.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral Guide, p. 4 The north wall of the choir is the earliest extant structure, dating to the years immediately after the church's 1224 foundation; the clerestory windows on top of it are from the later post-1270 reconstruction.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral p. 20 This wall has blocked up windows extending to a low level above ground, indicating that it was an external wall and proving that the eastern limb then had no aisle (Fig. 5).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral pp. 20â€“21The south transept's southern wall is nearly complete, displaying the fine workmanship of the first phase. It shows the Gothic pointed arch style in the windows that first appeared in France in the mid-12th century and was apparent in England around 1170, but hardly appeared in Scotland until the early 13th century. It also shows the round early Norman window design that continued to be used in Scotland during the entire Gothic period (Fig. 6).Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 90Butler, Scottish Cathedrals and Abbeys, pp. 24â€“25 The windows and the quoins are of finely cut ashlar sandstone.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral pp. 21â€“22 A doorway in the southwest portion of the wall has large mouldings and has a pointed oval window placed above it. Adjacent to the doorway are two lancet-arched windows that are topped at the clerestory level with three round-headed windows. The north transept has much less of its structure preserved, but much of what does remain, taken together with a study by John Slezer in 1693, shows that it was similar to the south transept, except that the north transept had no external door and featured a stone turret containing a staircase.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral p. 26The west front has two 13th century buttressed towers {{convert|27.4|m}} high that were originally topped with wooden spires covered in protective lead.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p.87 Although the difference between the construction of the base course and the transepts suggests that the towers were not part of the initial design, it is likely that the building process was not so far advanced that the masons could fully integrate the nave and towers into each other (Fig. 7).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral p. 15

Enlargement and reconstruction after 1270

After the fire of 1270, a programme of reconstruction was launched, with repairs and a major enlargement. Outer aisles were added to the nave, the eastern wing comprising the choir and presbytery was doubled in length and had aisles provided on its north and south sides, and the octagonal chapter house was built off the new north choir aisle (Figs. 8 & 9).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 16â€“17 The new northern and southern aisles ran the length of the choir, past the first bay of the presbytery, and contained recessed and chest tombs. The south aisle of the choir contained the tomb of bishop John of Winchester, suggesting a completion date for the reconstructed aisle between 1435 and 1460 (Fig. 10). Chapels were added to the new outer aisles of the nave and were partitioned from each other with wooden screens. The first bay at the west end of each of these aisles and adjacent to the western towers did not contain a chapel but instead had an access door for the laity.Oram, Moray & Badenoch, p. 89In June 1390, Alexander Stewart, Robert III's brother, burned the cathedral, manses and burgh of Elgin. This fire was very destructive, requiring the central tower to be completely rebuilt along with the principal arcades of the nave. The entire western gable between the towers was reconstructed and the main west doorway and chapter house were refashioned.Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 26 The internal stonework of the entrance is late 14th or early 15th century and is intricately carved with branches, vines, acorns and oak leaves. A large pointed arch opening in the gable immediately above the main door contained a series of windows, the uppermost of which was a circular or rose window dating from between 1422 and 1435. Just above it can be seen three coats of arms: on the right is that of the bishopric of Moray, in the middle are the Royal Arms of Scotland, and on the left is the armorial shield of Bishop Columba Dunbar (Fig. 11). The walls of the nave are now very low or even at foundation level, except one section in the south wall which is near its original height. This section has windows that appear to have been built in the 15th century to replace the 13th-century openings: they may have been constructed following the 1390 attack (Fig. 12).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral p. 60 Nothing of the elevated structure of the nave remains, but its appearance can be deduced from the scarring seen where it attached to the eastern walls of the towers. Nothing of the crossing now remains following the collapse of the central tower in 1711. Elgin Cathedral is unique in Scotland in having an English-style octagonal chapter house and French-influenced double aisles along each side of the nave; in England, only Chichester Cathedral has similar aisles.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral p. 18Cant, Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, p. 25 The chapter house, which had been attached to the choir through a short vaulted vestry, required substantial modifications and was now provided with a vaulted roof supported by a single pillar (Figs. 13 & 14). The chapter house measures {{convert|10.3|m}} high at its apex and {{convert|11.3|m}} from wall to opposite wall; it was substantially rebuilt by Bishop Andrew Stewart (1482â€“1501), whose coat of arms is placed on the central pillar. Bishop Andrew was the half-brother of King James II.Keith, Historical Catalogue of Scottish Bishops, p. 145 The delay in the completion of these repairs until this bishop's episcopacy demonstrates the extent of the damage from the 1390 attack.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 62

19th and 20th century stabilisation

In 1847â€“8 several of the old houses associated with the cathedral on the west side were demolished, and some minor changes were made to the boundary wall. Structural reinforcement of the ruin and some reconstruction work began in the early 20th century, including restoration of the east gable rose window in 1904 and the replacement of the missing form pieces, mullions, and decorative ribs in the window in the north-east wall of the chapter house (Fig. 15).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 86 By 1913, repointing the walls and additional waterproofing of the wall tops were completed. In 1924 the ground level was lowered and the 17th-century tomb of the Earl of Huntly was repositioned.Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, p. 71 Further repairs and restoration ensued during the 1930s, including the partial dismantling of some 19th century buttressing (Fig. 16), the reconstruction of sections of the nave piers using recovered pieces (Fig. 17), and the addition of external roofing to the vault in the south choir in 1939 (Fig. 18).Fawcett, Elgin Cathedral, pp. 12â€“13 From 1960 to 2000, masons restored the cathedral's crumbling stonework (Fig. 19) and between 1976 and 1988, the window tracery of the chapter house was gradually replaced, and its re-roofing was completed (Fig. 20). Floors, glazing, and a new roof were added to the southwest tower between 1988 and 1998 and comparable restoration work was completed on the northwest tower between 1998 and 2000 (Fig. 21).{{Clear|left}}

Burials

Andrew de Moravia â€“ buried in the south side of the choir under a large blue marble stone
David de Moravia â€“ buried in the choir
William de Spynie â€“ buried in the choir
Andrew Stewart (d. 1501)
Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly
Columba de Dunbar (c. 1386 â€“ 1435) was Bishop of Moray from 1422 until his death
George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon and his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard

Referenced figures

{| cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgrey;"

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The Pans Port >

The Precentor's manse>|The boundary wall of the Archdeacon's manse with rounded arch gate

{| cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgrey;" style="background:#E2E6E9;"|+Building 1224 â€“ 1270! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 4! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 5! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 6! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 7 border=0250px)250px)250px)175px) align=center style="background:#E2E6E9;"The 1224 establishment and then the enlargement after 1270 > North wall of choir showing traces of blocked-in windows> The south wall of the southern transept>|Integrated tower and nave construction{| cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgrey;" style="background:#E2E6E9;"|+Building 1270 â€“ Reformation! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 8! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 9! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 10! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 11! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 12! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 13! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 14 border=0225px)225px)175px)225px)225px)225px)225px) align=center style="background:#E2E6E9;"The octagonal chapter house on the left, and behind it indications of the now missing north choir aisle> The nave in the foreground, the transepts in the middle ground and the choir and choir aisles in the rear ground> Tomb and effigy of Bishop John Winchester (1435â€“1460) in the south aisle of the choir>West gable apex and arms of Bishopric of Moray (left), Royal arms of Scotland (centre) and Bishop Columba de Dunbar (right)>The 15th century replacement windows in the 13th century openings>Interior of the chapter house showing the central column supporting the vaulted ceiling>|The bench reserved for the dean and dignitaries within the chapter house{| cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgrey;" style="background:#E2E6E9;"|+19th and 20th century stabilisation! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 15! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 16! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 17! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 18! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 19! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 20! style="width:130px;"|Fig. 21 border=0250px)140px)140px)130px)250px)225px)250px) align=center style="background:#E2E6E9;"The replacement of the missing form pieces, mullions, and decorative ribs in the window in the north-east wall of the chapter house > Partial dismantling of some 19th-century buttressing in the 1930s> The rebuilt sections of the nave piers using recovered pieces>External roofing of the vault in the south choir in 1939>During the last forty years of the 20th century crumbling stonework was restored >Between 1976 and 1988, the chapter house window tracery was gradually replaced and its re-roofing completed >| Floors, glazing, and new roofs were added to the west towers between 1988 and 2000

Notes

References

Sources

BOOK, Barrow, G.W.S., Kingship and Unity, Edinburgh University Press, 1989, Edinburgh, 978-0-7486-0104-2,
BOOK, Bishop, Bruce, B, The Lands and People of Moray: Part 5, J & B Bishop, 2001, Elgin, 978-0-9539369-9-1,
BOOK, Boardman, Stephen I., The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III, 1371â€“1406, 1996, John Donald Publishers, 978-1-904607-68-7,
BOOK, Brown, Peter Hume, Early Travellers in Scotland, 1970, B. Franklin, 978-1-84567-744-2,
BOOK, Butler, Dugald, Scottish Cathedrals and Abbeys, 2007, BiblioLife, 978-1-110-89589-2,
BOOK, Byatt, Mary, Elgin: A History and Celebration of the Town, 2005, Ottakers, New York, 978-0-8337-0384-2,
BOOK, Cant, Ronald Gordon., Historic Elgin and its Cathedral, 1974, Elgin Society, Elgin, 978-0-9504028-0-2,
BOOK, Cowan, Ian Borthwick, Easson, David Edward, Medieval Religious Houses, Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man, 1976, Longman, London, 978-0-582-12069-3, registration,weblink
BOOK, Cowan, Ian Borthwick, Kirk, James, The Medieval Church in Scotland, 1995, Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh, 978-0-7073-0732-9,
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BOOK, Cramond, William, The Records of Elgin, 1908, New Spalding Club, Aberdeen,
BOOK, Dalyell, John G., Records of the Bishopric of Moray, 1826, Edinburgh,
BOOK, Dowden, John, Medieval Church in Scotland: its Constitution, Organisation and Law, 1910, J. MacLehose, Glasgow,
Fanning, W. (1908). Chapter. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 24 March 2010 from New Advent: CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Chapter
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BOOK, Grant, Alexander, The Wolf of Badenoch, Moray: Province and People, 1993, Scottish Society for Northern Studies, Edinburgh, 978-0-9505994-7-2, W.D.H.,
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External links

{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90142|desc=Elgin Cathedral}}
weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070928001045weblink">Photos of Elgin Cathedral
The Early Church in Northern Scotland (ECNS)
Latest map of the Chanonry of Elgin
Engraving of Elgin Cathedral in 1693 by John Slezer at National Library of Scotland

{{Former cathedrals in Scotland}}{{Authority control}}{{Coord|57|39|02|N|03|18|20|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

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Elgin Cathedral

Early church in Moray

Cathedral church at Elgin

Diocesan organisation

Cathedral offices

Chanonry and burgh

Map interpretation

The College of Elgin and associated locations

Postâ€“Reformation

Diocesan possessions

Barony and Regality of Spynie

Building phases

Construction 1224â€“1270

Enlargement and reconstruction after 1270

19th and 20th century stabilisation

Burials

Referenced figures

Notes

References

Sources

Further reading

External links