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St Machar's Cathedral

St Machar's Cathedral

Photo: Blu ranger · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
Client / Owner
Bishops of Aberdeen
Year
Completed 1131
Access
Public
Typology
Spiritual
Style
—

St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen was legendarily founded by St Machar around 580, though the article says this is not verified. David I transferred the see from Mortlach to Aberdeen, and a Norman cathedral was built in 1131. In the late fourteenth century Bishop Alexander Kininmund II demolished it and began the nave and western towers. Bishop Henry Lichtoun completed the nave, west front and north transept in the later fifteenth century.

The article describes a fortified kirk with twin towers, built mainly of granite. The heraldic nave ceiling has 48 coats of arms in three rows of sixteen. In 1560 the chancel was demolished during the Reformation. A storm collapsed the central tower and spire in 1688, destroying the choir and transepts.

It is a Church of Scotland parish church, and the nave and aisles are Category A listed.

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