This is the latest in my series on our trip to Scotland in September.
A long but fascinating day of seeing the sites around Inverness ended with our last stop: the town of Elgin.
Elgin, the capital of Moray, has a long and fascinating history, which began even before it was established by the Scottish King David in 1136. Our brief visit late that afternoon gave me the impression—whether true or not—that Elgin is known nowadays for three things: whiskey, cashmere, and the cathedral.
Although we didn’t sample the whiskey, we did spend a little time shopping at the world-famous Johnstons of Elgin, maker of fine cashmere and wool clothing for men, women, and children as well as luxury home goods, accessories, and gifts. Their products are made in Scotland, with a long-standing commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and comfort.
Johnstons of Elgin is celebrating their 225th anniversary this year. Yes, that’s 225 years. (Check out their website to see their beautiful products and read more of their story.)
So, in the spirit of goodwill, we helped them celebrate their anniversary by buying a few items (ha), including a purple scarf for me (to match the purple plaid gloves I bought in Edinburgh) and a scarf for our sister-in-law.
Lately, with the plunging temperatures here at home, I wouldn’t mind having one of those gorgeous sweaters I sighed over that afternoon…
Elgin Cathedral
After Johnstons, we headed to the other site we wanted to visit: Elgin Cathedral. This majestic medieval structure once dubbed the “Lantern of the North” now lies in ruin.
Founded in 1224, the impressive Elgin Cathedral endured multiple fires and attacks in its first few centuries. After these incidents, the Church renovated and enlarged it.
Then, with the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the cathedral was abandoned; services moved to the parish church.
A few years later, the lead that waterproofed the roof of the cathedral was removed, which led to its inevitable structural decay and final defeat.
On Easter Sunday 1711, the main tower of this magnificent historic cathedral collapsed.
The government then took over the preservation of the site, and today, restoration work on the structure continues.
As we walked up to the cathedral, we could see through the huge, empty window to the dark clouds just beyond. No ceiling, of course, blocked our view of the sky, which was dark and cloudy at that moment.
And I was surprised to see that, instead of a floor, there was a large expanse of green grass running almost the entire length and width of the original structure. In the grassy area, we saw crypts, a Celtic cross, and various memorials that had been laid into the stone floor at one time.
After wandering through the grass and taking photos, we walked up into one of the remaining towers and looked down upon this.
It was extraordinary. I’ve never seen anything like it. I was stunned by the architecture that hinted at the glorious structure it used to be and saddened that a house of God had fallen into such a state.
But now a natural beauty reins in this ruin: its ceiling is a bright or brooding sky, its floor a lawn of grass, and its inhabitants both human and animal. God can still be worshipped here: it’s just a different type of sanctuary now.
Biblical Garden
Tucked away across the street from the Cathedral ruins is the Biblical Garden, a quiet oasis of plants and flowers that brings biblical scenes and passages to life. Created in 1996, the garden was made possible by donations from the community: from local businesses, churches, organizations, schools, and more.
Considered a ‘people’s garden,’ this space offers beauty, color, and Life to the community and everyone who enters. It was one of several delightful little surprises that we had during our trip to Scotland.
More sites and surprises in Scotland to come!
In the meantime, if you missed my other posts on Scotland, you can read them here, here, here, here, and here.
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Here at Glimsen, I share glimpses of the beauty around us in nature, the arts, and the unexpected. If you like what you see, click the green button below to receive my posts and updates by email, and you'll also get a free gift of beauty in your inbox (see below). I look forward to connecting with you!
