Building record MAB8705 - GORDON CHAPEL AND GORDEN CHAPEL HOUSE, CASTLE STREET, FOCHABERS

Episcopal chapel, still in ecclesiastical use.

Episcopal chapel, still in ecclesiastical use. The first chapel had a thatched roof and the present building was built in 1832-4 to a design by architect Archibald Simpson. Later additions and alterations by Alexander Ross in 1874. It is a 2-tier Gothic church that has a slated roof with the parsonage (formerly a school) on the ground floor and the chapel on the first floor. It is orientated north-south, with its south entrance gable to Castle Street. Tooled ashlar entrance gable with harled flanks, and tooled and polished ashlar dressings. Its austere south gable has a round headed entrance in the centre, with a triple light pointed headed window above linked by a sill course and continuous hoodmould. It is flanked by square clasping buttresses with blind slits and terminating as octagonal gablet detailed pinnacles with stiff leaf finials. There is a projecting 2-storey stair wing on the west side and a triple light window in the first floor at the north gable with a rose window above it from 1874. Stained glass by Morris and Co. The east window depicting crucifixion (and probably dating from 1874), two windows on the west wall and three in the east wall depicting variously St Cecilia (1879), St Ursula (1887), Archangel Raphael (1902), Christ the Good Shepherd (1903) and St Michael (1914) were all designed by Sir Edward Burne Jones. The window depicting Archangel Michael and Dragon stained glass window was erected in memory of Major Lord Bernard Gordon-Lennox who died in action at Ypres in 1914. The chapel and school was given by Elizabeth, wife of 5th Duke of Gordon. The Episcopal Church became owners in 1950 and it was renovated in 1953. The entrance to Gordon Chapel House is in the west elevation, and has varied glazing to windows. The single story wing at the northeast has a piended roof.

Period Notes
Original chapel built 1784; present chapel opened 12 August 1834 with a school built below it opened 20 June 1834; later 19th century decorative brass wall light brackets; Episcopal Church became owners in 1950; renovated in 1953. Stained glass by Morris and Co. The E window depicting crucifixion (and probably dating from 1874), 2 windows on W wall and 3 in E wall depicting variously St Cecilia (1879), St Ursula (1887), Archangel Raphael (1902), Christ the Good Shepherd (1903) and St Michael (1914) were all designed by Sir Edward Burne Jones. Designated 24/03/1988

Img 342-344, Img 342-344 (Ground Photograph). SAB36054.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 05/09/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

HOWAT, AJ, 1901, CHURCHES IN MORAY, 26 (Bibliographic reference). SAB729.

SCOTT, JG, 1984, 400 YEARS OF UPS & DOWNS (Bibliographic reference). SAB1622.

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, P.118 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

Aug 5 2003 , AAS-GR-03-08-001 , AAS-GR-03-08-001 (Ground Photograph). SAB36081.

Jun 7 2013 , AAS-GR-13-06-017 to 064, AAS-GR-13-06-017 to 064 (Ground Photograph). SAB34806.

Record last edited

Dec 9 2022 3:49PM