Portal:Scotland/Selected article/Week 19, 2008



Elgin Cathedral, sometimes referred to as ‘The Lantern of the North’, is an historic ruin in Elgin in Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 but only reached completion near the end of the 13th century. The cathedral's chapter house — a unique feature in Scottish secular cathedrals but not uncommon in England — is still mostly intact. The vaulted tombs of some of the Bishops of Moray containing their effigies can still be seen. Glimpses of its former splendour can yet be discerned.

In 1390 it was burned by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, known as the Wolf of Badenoch. It was once again attacked in 1402 by the Lord of the Isles’ followers and yet again repaired in the 15th and 16th centuries only to fall into disuse and ruination due to neglect following the Scottish Reformation. Preservation of the building began slowly in the 19th century and gradually took pace during the 20th century and is now fully stabilised.

It is possible that the mormaers of Moray may have appointed bishops as early as the 11th century. Bishop Gregoir of Moray appears in the foundation charter of Scone Priory, issued by King Alexander I of Scotland (Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim) at some point between 1114 and 1123, and again in a charter defining the legal rights of the monastery. After the suppression in 1130 of Óengus of Moray, who was aiding the claimant for the Scottish throne Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair, the victorious King David I regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essential to the well-being of the province.