The Pictorial History of St. Giles' Cathedral [antikvár]

ST. GILES' CATHEDRALTHE HIGH KIRK OF EDINBURGHBY THE REV. H. C. WHITLEY Ph.D.,D.D.ST. GILES' is the very heart ofScotland. Its stones speak our strenuous history.In 854 there was a church of some kind on this site on the spiny ridge of Edinburgh. It belonged to Lindis-farne (Holy Isle), where Columba's monKs had first Brought the Gospel from Iona. In 1150, the monks of St. Giles' were farming lands round about, and a bigger church was built in that century. That this first parish church of Edinburgh was dedicated to St. Giles', a saint popular in France, was probably due to the Auld Alliance of Scotland and France against the common enemy of England.In 1243, because Cardinal Otto from Rome found many Scottish churches in use without proper dedication, David de Bernham, Bishop of St. Andrews, duly dedicated St. Giles'. The Bishop's book of Devotions, with his note on the fly-leaf, is in a library in Paris.Froissart tells that French chevaliers and Scots lords met secretly in St. Giles' to plan a raid into England. The following year, 1385, the English King Richard II led one in return into Scotland and burnt the abbeys of Melrose, Dryburgh and the church of St. Giles'. All that is certainly left of the ancient church are the four massive central pillars. During the nineteenth - century restoration the scarring of fire was found on these.Almost at once, the King and townsfolk gave grants of land towards the rebuilding of the church, which was now to be 'thatched with stone'. A contract was given out for five chapels to be built in 'masonlike' manner: the remains of three of these are incorporated in what is now called the Moray Aisle Chapel. In 1409 was built what is now the best preserved corner of St. Giles', the Albany Aisle. It was originally two chapels, presented by the Duke of AlbanyFACING PAGE : The Nave, looking EastMinister oj St. Giles'The Statue of John Knox. This great Scottish Reformer's influence extended far beyond the bounds of Edinburgh.and his associate, the Earl of Douglas; it is said, either in expiation for the murder of the Duke's nephew, heir to the throne, or in thanksgiving for their acquittal of the charge.In 1416, during a lull in the rebuilding, storks nested on St. Giles'.In 1436 there was a solemn mass for the soul of the murdered King, James I, with 50s. worth of white wax candles.During the following years the "Vicars of St. Giles' " were often sent abroad to the English and French courts. In 1448 the Vicar was sent to choose a French bride for the young Scottish King, James II. He brought back Mary of Gueldres; and next year he was sent again 'to seek, exact and receive' her dowry, 'or part thereof'.The ambition of every medieval church was realised for St. Giles' in 1454, when Preston of Gorton made a free gift of a precious relic. This was the arm-bone of St. Giles, which he had secured at much trouble and expense in France. It was mounted in gold, with a diamond ring on its finger; and an aisle was built in Preston's memory by the Town Council. It is now the Preston Aisle, and a carving of his arms three unicorn headsis still visible on a boss of the roof.In 1460, after the death of James II due to a bursting cannon, his widowed Queen took to building. To this period is due the lengthening of the Choir to the East, forming the Chancel; the heightening of the roof, and the clerestory windows. Also the graceful 'King's Pillar' on the North side of the church, which bears her arms, the King's, a prince's shield and the fieur-de-lys of France. In the first two shields the tressure is incomplete, to show the King's death and her widowhood.St. Giles' was growing in importance as well as in size, and in 1467 a Papal Bull confirmed James Ill's proposal that it should become a Collegiate Church. The enlarging and enriching of the building continued. Guild money, ship-dues and fines all went 'to the kirk werk'. The Merchants of Edinburgh had their own Chapel of the Holy Blude, of which they formed a Confraternity. The wine merchants shipping between France and Leith (and still using today the old monastic vaults) had their own chapel to St. AnthonyPage 3