Building record MAB37041 - BRECHIN CATHEDRAL

Former Cathedral still in use as a Church, on a site which was originally monastic The cathedral of the See of Brechin, created circa 1150 AD, altered to serve as a post Reformation parish church, with a circa 1000 AD Irish-type round tower attached to the south west corner of the nave.

Former Cathedral still in use as a Church, on a site which was originally monastic The cathedral of the See of Brechin, created circa 1150 AD, altered to serve as a post Reformation parish church, with a circa 1000 AD Irish-type round tower attached to the south west corner of the nave. The original cruciform cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity appears to have remained intact until 1806 when major structural alterations were carried out. The north and south transepts were removed, new and wider aisles were built on each side of the nave and the outer walls were carried to such a height that the whole nave could be covered with a roof of one span. Some 13th century work survives in the west doorway, two of the nave piers and in portions of the ruined side walls. A 15th century square tower flanks the doorway on the north. The choir represents a shortened restoration of the 13th century building. Within the church is a World War II memorial comprising three plaques under a stained glass window. A World War I roll of honour was relocated to Brechin Cathedral from Maison Dieu Church (NO65NW0087) in the 1980s when the church closed. The round tower, originally free standing is 26 m (86'9 inches) high with projecting base, and tapers upwards from a base about 5 m in diameter to the conical roof added in the 14th century. It is built of large sandstone blocks with internal string courses which indicate division into seven storeys, with a large window facing each of the cardinal points at the top. The arched doorway is raised above ground level and displays typically Irish features such as inclined jambs. Its chief original feature is the carved doorway, 2.1m above ground level, which has a crucifixion at its apex, unidentified saints on the jambs and crouching beasts flanking the threshold. The tower is now embodied in the south west corner of the cathedral nave, and a doorway (now blocked) has been cut through its wall to give access from the cathedral. The graveyard probably dates from 1806. It has walls and enclosure rails with pyramid-capped gatepiers. The churchyard was levelled and the stones reset in the 19th century. A number of Pictish stones are said to have been moved from Aldbar Chapel (NO55NE0008) to here. A total of 393 masons' marks, of 55 different masons, have been recorded on the cathedral by the Masons' Marks Project.

A/33082, A/33082 (Photograph). SAB26604.

A/33082/S, A/33082/S (Photograph). SAB26908.

A/33083/CS, A/33083/CS (Photograph). SAB26605.

A/33083/CT, A/33083/CT (Photograph). SAB26606.

A/33084/CT, A/33084/CT (Photograph). SAB26607.

AN/5939/CS, AN/5939/CS (Photograph). SAB26909.

AN/5940/CS, AN/5940/CS (Photograph). SAB26608.

AN/5941/CS, AN/5941/CS (Photograph). SAB26609.

AN/5942/CS, AN/5942/CS (Photograph). SAB26610.

AN/5943/CS, AN/5943/CS (Photograph). SAB26611.

AN/5944/CS, AN/5944/CS (Photograph). SAB26910.

AN/5945/CS, AN/5945/CS (Photograph). SAB26612.

AN/5946/CS, AN/5946/CS (Photograph). SAB26613.

AN/5947/CS, AN/5947/CS (Photograph). SAB26614.

AN/5948/CS, AN/5948/CS (Photograph). SAB26615.

AN/5949/CS, AN/5949/CS (Photograph). SAB26911.

AN/5950/CS, AN/5950/CS (Photograph). SAB26616.

AND/11/4/S, AND/11/4/S (Photograph). SAB26800.

B/75546, B/75546 (Photograph). SAB26617.

C/51863, C/51863 (Photograph). SAB26618.

C/51864, C/51864 (Photograph). SAB26620.

C/51865, C/51865 (Photograph). SAB26622.

C/51866, C/51866 (Photograph). SAB26621.

C/51898, C/51898 (Photograph). SAB26619.

MS/329, MS/329 (Photograph). SAB27064.

JERVISE, A, 1862, REMARKS ON THE ROUND TOWER OF BRECHIN, IN PSAS 3 (1857-9), 28-35, 28-35 (Bibliographic reference). SAB931.

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T, 1896-7, [Untitled], Vol.2, 203-15 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6079.

Childe and Simpson, V G and, 1954, [Untitled], 73 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7205.

Easson, D E, 1957, [Untitled], 190 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9536.

EASSON, D, 1957, MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES: SCOTLAND, 167 (Bibliographic reference). SAB440.

Thoms, D B, 1975, [Untitled] (Bibliographic reference). SAB10901.

Cowan and Easson, I B and, 1976, [Untitled], 201, 203 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11679.

GOURLAY, R, 1977c, HISTORIC BRECHIN, 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2586.

Adams, D G, 1984, [Untitled], 22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5725.

FERNIE, E, 1986, EARLY CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 116, 393-411 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4208.

Fernie, E, 1987, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 116, 394 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11768.

Cameron, N [M], 1994, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 124, 375 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11479.

POTTER, J F, 2007, STONE EMPLACEMENT IN EARLY SCOTTISH CHURCHES: EVIDENCE OF EARLY CHRISTIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP IN PSAS 135, 227-236 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5438.

Aug 4 2014 , AAS/GR/14/08/008-184, AAS/GR/14/08/008-184 (Ground Photograph). SAB33956.

Aug 12 2010 , DG2267-72, DG2267-72 (Ground Photograph). SAB21668.

Feb 12 2008 , AA/08/1/DG8587-92, AA/08/1/DG8587-92 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21296.

Feb 12 2008 , AAS/08/1/DG8569, 72,74, AAS/08/1/DG8569, 72,74 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21293.

Feb 12 2008 , AAS/08/1/DG8576-9, AAS/08/1/DG8576-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21294.

Feb 12 2008 , AAS/08/1/DG8581,84-5, AAS/08/1/DG8581,84-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21295.

Feb 12 2008 , AAS/08/1/DG8594-5, AAS/08/1/DG8594-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21381.

Feb 12 2008 , DG8569-94, DG8569-94 (Ground Photograph). SAB21667.

Jan 1 1998 , AAS/GR/98/CT443-44,460-65, AAS/GR/98/CT443-44,460-65 (Ground Photograph). SAB33130.

Jun 23 2005 , AAS/05/3/CT45, AAS/05/3/CT45 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB25846.

Mar 29 2011 , DG3521-33, DG3521-33 (Ground Photograph). SAB25866.

Author unknown, n.d., DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER, 09/08/2018 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2428.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/CT35-42, AAS/00/13/CT35-42 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29362.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/G31/17, AAS/00/13/G31/17 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29363.

Record last edited

Sep 10 2025 3:07PM