The site on which this cathedral stands has been devoted from very
ancient times to religious uses. It is associated with the name of St.
Ninian, who is reported to have founded a church here in the beginning
of the fifth century. This site was also the scene of the labours of St.
Kentigern, or Mungo, who revived religion in the locality in the sixth
century, and is said to have established an episcopal see. Here the
meeting took place between him and St. Columba, on which occasion, as a
sign of friendship, they exchanged their pastoral staves. The place was
further sanctified by becoming the last resting-place of St. Mungo’s
remains.
During the political changes which occurred in Strathclyde in the
following centuries Christianity seems to have been almost obliterated.
But in the twelfth century the revival of religion begun by Queen
Margaret had penetrated into this region, and was fostered by her son
David, Prince of Cumbria. In 1115 he restored the see of Glasgow, and
appointed his tutor John (called Achaius) to the bishopric. In order to
provide it with suitable means, an inquisition was made, in 1120,
concerning the lands which had formerly belonged to the church of
Glasgow. In 1124, John, the first of the new line of bishops, began to
replace the ancient church which had previously existed with a new
structure, which was doubtless raised on the site of the old one. This
church was consecrated in 1136, in presence of the king and his retinue.
Bishop Joceline, previously abbot of Melrose, was consecrated in 1175.
Under him, and by his influence, the burgh received many privileges, and
advanced in prosperity. Between 1189 and 1192 he was engaged in
restoring or adding to the building.
The original church of Bishop John, “built, perhaps, chiefly of wood,”
had been recently destroyed by fire. Through the exertions of Bishop
Joceline a society was founded to collect funds for its restoration, and
the work was sufficiently advanced for consecration on 6th July
1197.[60]
It was generally believed, at one time, that the existing choir and
lower church were erected by Bishop Joceline; but it has been shown by
Mr. John Honeyman, architect, in various papers on the subject,
published at various times during the last forty years, that only a
small part of the structure which now exists may possibly be of the
time of that bishop.
According to Mr. Honeyman, a portion of the lower church, situated at
its south-west angle, and extending from the transept eastwards to the
third buttress of the choir, and including one bay and a half, shows
some differences in its style of architecture from the remainder, and
may be regarded as of the transition style, and may thus be of the date
of Bishop Joceline; while the remainder of the lower church and the
whole of the choir are built in the first pointed style, and cannot be
earlier than the second quarter of the thirteenth century. The actual
builder of the lower church and the choir above, as they now exist, was
Bishop William de Bondington (1233-1258). A large part of the structure
was completed before his death in the latter year, and the style of the
work thoroughly corresponds with his period. In 1242 an ordinance was
made for a national collection annually during Lent in aid of the
building.[61]
According to Mr. Honeyman, the foundations of the nave were laid, and
part of the walls was carried up, before the building of the choir was
begun.
Most of the nave appears, from the style of its architecture, to have
been chiefly erected at the end of the thirteenth or the beginning of
the fourteenth century, but there is no record of its construction. It
forms one of the finest examples of the late first pointed or early
decorated style in Scotland.
Bishop Wishart occupied the see during the greater part of the War of
Independence, and supported the Scottish party on all occasions. He
obtained permission from Edward I. to cut timber in the forest of Luss
for the purpose of erecting the spire of the cathedral; and it was one
of the causes of accusation against him which led to his imprisonment in
England that he had used the timber so obtained, not for building the
spire, but for making engines of war with which to attack Edward’s
forces.
The wooden spire of the cathedral, which was erected during the
fourteenth century, was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1400. A new
tower of masonry was erected over the crossing by Bishop Lauder
(1408-25), who carried the work as high as the main parapet. This bishop
appears also to have begun the completion of the chapter house, a
detached structure lying to the north-east of the choir. The walls of
this building were partly erected about the time of the construction of
the choir, but were afterwards raised to two stories in height and
vaulted by Bishop Cameron.
Bishop Lauder was succeeded, in 1425, by Bishop Cameron, called “The
Magnificent,” from his lavish expenditure and the splendour of his
Court. He erected the stone spire above the tower of Bishop Lauder, and
also completed the chapter house wing containing the sacristy on the
upper floor and the chapter house on the ground floor. His arms are
still to be seen on the portions of the structure erected by him. The
beautiful rood screen was also probably constructed by him.
During Bishop Cameron’s reign the episcopal see was at the highest point
of its power and splendour. The prebendaries, who were originally seven
in number, were now increased to thirty-two, and the bishop required
that they should all have manses,[62] and reside near the cathedral. The
Episcopal Court thus became of great extent and importance, and was said
to rival that of the king. Bishop Cameron died in 1446. He was succeeded
by Bishop William Turnbull, the founder of Glasgow University. His arms
appear on the upper part of the chapter house wing.
Bishop Robert Blackadder was consecrated in 1484. We have already met
with this prelate in connection with Jedburgh Abbey and Edrom Church. In
his time the see was erected into an archbishopric. A building in
continuation of the south transept, called Blackadder’s Aisle, was
partly erected by him, but was never carried higher than the ground
story or crypt. This archbishop was the last occupant of the see who
added much to the adornments of the cathedral. He founded altarages, and
erected two altars, on which his arms and initials are carved, in front
of the rood screen.
Towards the middle of the sixteenth century, it became apparent that the
end of the episcopal reign was approaching. Archbishop James Beaton
first withdrew all the treasures and valuables from the cathedral into
the bishop’s castle; but, finding himself and them insecure there, he
retired to France, taking with him what valuables he could, and also the
records of the see from the earliest period. The latter were deposited
in the Scots College in Paris, and at the time of the French Revolution
they were partially saved by the Abbé Macpherson, and sent back to
Scotland.
These records have now been published by the Maitland Club under the
title of _Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis_, with a valuable
introduction by the editor, Professor Cosmo Innes.
The cathedral is situated on steep ground sloping eastwards towards the
Molindinar Burn, which here runs through a narrow valley on its way
southward to the Clyde, which is only a short distance off. Opposite the
cathedral, on the eastern bank of the burn, there rises a steep conical
hill, now a many-monumented cemetery, from which fine bird’s-eye views
of the building may be obtained. The surroundings of the edifice have
changed many times since it was built. Till after the Reformation there
stood at the west end of the cathedral the Bishop’s Palace, a great
fortress covering some acres of ground; but of its many buildings,
walls, and towers not a shadow is left. The manses of the prebends have
likewise disappeared, and even the Molindinar Burn is buried as a sewer
deep below the present surface of the valley. The cathedral is
surrounded by the old churchyard, a large open space free from houses,
and the structure can thus be well seen on all sides.
[Illustration: FIG. 567.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. View from West, showing
Western Adjuncts, now removed.[63]]
Although built at different dates, the edifice has a very homogeneous
appearance, and might easily be mistaken at first sight for a building
of one period. The structure has a gaunt and stern aspect, and greatly
wants some salient features to break its rigid outline. Such features
existed till about the middle of this century in the shape of two
projecting adjuncts at the west end (Fig. 567), the one on the north
side being a tower crowned with a pointed roof, and the other, called
the consistory house, being a lower building, which finished like a pele
tower with a crow-stepped roof and a cape house. These structures have
now been removed.
[Illustration: FIG. 568.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. View from South-East.]
In the external length of the church, a distance of about 330 feet, the
ground falls from west to east about 15 feet. This fall required the
walls of the eastern part to be raised so as to bring them up to the
level of the western part, and this under-building was made available as
a lower church. This lower church forms one of the finest and most
characteristic features of the edifice. It extends the whole length from
the transept to the east end, and is entirely above ground. It is
supposed that the building has been placed on this sloping ground, and
not on the higher and leveller site a little to the westwards, in order
that the most sacred part, containing the high altar, might be situated
immediately over the supposed site of the original tomb of St. Mungo,
which would, doubtless, be beneath the east end of the primitive church.
The cathedral, as seen from the east end, with the lower church and the
choir towering above it, is very lofty and imposing (Fig. 568), and
surpasses the view obtained from the west end (Fig. 569) on emerging
from the streets of the city.
The edifice consists (Fig. 570) of a nave of eight bays, with side
aisles measuring about 122 feet in length by 61 feet 9 inches in breadth
within the walls (the whole length of the edifice being of this width);
transepts, which do not project beyond the aisles; a choir of five bays,
with side aisles and an aisle at the east end of the same height as the
north and south aisles, with chapels beyond it. Entering from one of the
eastern chapels is the sacristy or vestiarium at the north-east corner
of the choir. A wide staircase leads down from the crossing on each side
to the lower church, or crypt, as it is usually called (Fig. 571), and
from the lower church is the entrance to the chapter house, immediately
below the sacristy. On the south side of the church, and in continuation
of the south transept, is situated another low church or crypt, called
“Blackadder’s Aisle;” and on the north side, opposite the west bay of
the choir, are the foundations of what has apparently been intended to
be a large chapel. Over the crossing rise the tower and spire to the
height of 217 feet. The church measures about 283 feet in length by 61
feet 9 inches in breadth within the walls, and the central alley of the
nave and choir measures between the pillars about 25 feet 3 inches.
As already mentioned, the most ancient part of the structure, according
to Mr. Honeyman, is the portion of the lower church at the south-west
angle. Mr. Honeyman’s theory is that the church built by Bishop John
(Achaius) was restored by Bishop Joceline at the end of the twelfth
century, and that the above portion at the south-west angle formed a
chapel, and was part of that restoration.[64] He supposes that this
chapel, situated in a corner of the old building least likely to be
interfered with by the proposed operations, had been preserved as a
receptacle for relics while the choir and lower church were being
rebuilt by Bishop Bondington in the thirteenth century. Mr. Honeyman
points out that one shaft and cap in the east wall of the above chapel
and part of the wall adjoining, into which the shaft-stones are bonded,
are of the transition style, and correspond with some other fragments of
the same style which have been discovered lying loose, and which all
appear to have been part of the work carried out in Bishop Joceline’s
time. The vaulting of this south-west chapel is also of transition
character; but from other indications it is thought that this vault has
probably been rebuilt with old materials. These indications are that the
shafts, with
[Illustration: FIG. 569.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. View from West.]
[Illustration: FIG. 570.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Plan of Nave and
Choir.]
[Illustration: FIG. 571.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Plan of Lower Church.]
their caps and bases, both of the north and south sides of the chapel,
are of later character, those of the south side being similar to the
corresponding features of the nave and those of the north side
resembling the same features in the lower church, and having been,
doubtless, renewed when the lower church was re-erected. The floor of
this south-west chapel is 15 inches above the level of that of the lower
church. The exterior base differs in design from that of the rest of the
lower church, and indicates an earlier date. Mr. Honeyman is of opinion
that when the south staircase to the lower church was erected this small
chapel stood in the way, and prevented the stair from being carried out
in the same manner as that on the north side, which was executed
according to the architect’s design. The eastern wall of the chapel was
afterwards cut through so as to provide access from the south stair to
the lower church. The north staircase to the lower church was not
impeded, as the south one was, by the above chapel, but was carried out
according to the architect’s design, and possesses a handsome early
pointed doorway, where it enters the lower church.
Mr. Honeyman then goes on to show that the same base as existed on the
outside of the ancient south-west chapel is continued round the nave,
which fact supports his view that the nave was founded and the walls
partly erected before the choir was built by Bishop Bondington. As
pointed out by Mr. Honeyman, the bases of the vaulting shafts and part
of the side walls of the nave aisles (more on the north side than the
south side) were apparently executed at an earlier date than the choir.
“The bases of the shafts on the bench-table of the aisles, with their
delicate mouldings and square plinths, belong to an earlier period than
anything to be seen in the choir.” But when Bishop Bondington came on
the scene and resolved to reconstruct the whole choir, the work at the
nave was stopped, not to be resumed for about a century.
[Illustration: FIG. 572.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Plan and Section of
Respond and Base of Nave Aisles.]
With reference to Mr. Honeyman’s views, as explained above, there is,
undoubtedly, considerable difficulty in accounting for the numerous
peculiarities of the small chamber or chapel at the south-west angle of
the lower church; and it is quite likely, as Mr. Honeyman suggests, that
this may have been part of an earlier building preserved when Bishop
Bondington carried out the work at the choir and lower church. That
there was a good deal of early thirteenth century work done in the nave
there can scarcely be any doubt. Indeed, it is owing to the nave having
been commenced with this early work that it has retained, in its later
portions, which form the completion of the work formerly begun, so much
of a first pointed character. The annexed sketch (Fig. 572) shows the
plan and section of the lower part of the responds of the nave aisles
which Mr. Honeyman relies on for proving their early character as
compared with the work in the choir; and this will be at once
recognised in the keel-shaped shaft and the square plinths and delicate
mouldings of the bases. The junction of the external base of the
south-west angle or chapel with that of the lower church and the
sections of the bases are also shown (Fig. 573). The earlier and simpler
character of the base of the south-west angle is apparent. This early
base is continued round the whole of the nave (passing through
Blackadder’s Aisle), and corresponds in style with the early design of
the bases of the interior wall shafts of the nave shown above.
[Illustration: FIG. 573.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Buttresses at
South-West Chapel, and Sections of Bases of Nave, Choir, and
Blackadder’s Aisle.]
In the south wall of the south-west angle or chapel there is a shaft
with the same plan as the responds in the nave aisles, having, like
them, the keel edge and cap with first pointed mouldings (Fig. 574);
while in the lower church and choir the angle shafts have all the fillet
on edge and first pointed caps, as shown in the same Figure.
[Illustration: FIG. 574.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Details.]
That there has been transition work in connection with the building is
evident from the fragments preserved in the chapter house, of which
specimens are shown (Fig. 575). Some pieces of groin ribs (Fig. 576) are
also preserved, which have a similar section to those of the south-west
angle or chapel, and a transition base with square plinth and spurs at
the angles. These transition fragments confirm Mr. Honeyman’s view as to
the vault of the south-west chapel having been constructed with old
materials when the north wall of the chapel (the details of which
correspond with those of the lower church) was rebuilt and the chapel
converted into a passage to the lower church.
[Illustration: FIG. 575.--St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Fragments in Chapter
House.]
It is most difficult, owing to the darkness of the place, to obtain
accurate sketches, but the annexed diagram (Fig. 577) gives an idea of
the shaft in the east wall of the south-west chapel and its cap, on
which Mr. Honeyman lays stress as proving their transition character.
The abacus is transitional in section, but the carving is undoubtedly
first pointed. Mr. Honeyman thinks that the cap may have been left rough
at first, and the carving executed in first pointed times.
Whether this shaft and cap and the vaulting of the south-west chapel are
transitional, or of the early first pointed date of the lower part of
the nave walls, there can be no doubt that Mr. Honeyman’s main
contention is correct--viz., that part of the south-west chapel and the
lower part of the walls of the nave were constructed before the
rebuilding of the lower church and choir was carried out by Bishop
Bondington about the middle of the thirteenth century.
[Illustration: FIG. 576.
St. Mungo’s Cathedral.