Page 13 - 2024-12-OrdScotReview

News from The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in Scotland Page 13

Scotland’s hidden gems: Grandtully

S ROBERT MACNEIL keeps At the same time the painted
A Adiscovering, Scotland has many ceiling was created in the eastern
hidden gems amongst its many half of the church, possibly over
churches and in this series he will the sanctuary where the altar
be visiting a different church each would have been. Sir William
quarter to reveal the secrets of many was a supporter of King Charles I,
of these almost unknown locations, a high church Anglican, married
starting with St Mary’s Chapel, Grandtully to a Catholic wife, Henrietta Maria of France.
Charles was seeking to make the Scottish church
To reach St Mary’s, take the A827 going north
west out of Aberfeldy and then turn right along a more like the Church of England at this time,
minor single track road to a small car park with a which is possibly why the painting of the rightly
marker pointing through decorated ceiling was commissioned.
a gate to ‘St Mary’s It is not known who painted the ceiling, but
Church’. As you follow it covers 29 panels and includes a number of
the path you might begin different themes, parts of which show the coats
to ask yourself, “where is of arms of families associated with the Stewart’s
this church?” If it were not for the grave stones of Grandtully. There are also depictions of the
scattered around the innocuous looking building, apostles but the main focal point for the whole
which looks more like a long cottage than a ceiling is a large panel. Framed by a classical
church, you would begin to doubt, but fear not, doorway, it shows a dying man lying on his
you are about to be pleasantly surprised. canopied bed with his grieving wife standing
beside him. Nearby is the
Enter by a small door and
step down into a long stone skeleton figure of Death
floored building and look up. aiming his dart at the dying
There are almost no windows man. On clouds above are
but the eastern part of the two Angels blowing their
church has a magnificent trumpets calling the dead
wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling to Resurrection. They are
that is completely covered seen on the right hand side
with the most amazing of the panel as they rise
painted panels. from the dead into heaven.
There are records of a All in all it is a most
church here in about 1250, unexpected sight in
although the existing St an equally unexpected
Mary’s Church probably location and well worth
dates from about 1533. After a visit if you are passing
the Reformation of 1560, the near Aberfeldy. The
church was modified to make chapel is now in the care
it fit for reformed worship. of Historic Environment
It was probably built round Scotland and is free to
1533 by Alexander Stewart, visit and open year-round.
Laird of Grandtully of the Opening times are October
nearby Grandtully Castle. to March, 10am to 4pm
In 1636, the then laird, Sir and April to September,
William Stewart, refurbished 9.30am to 5.30pm. The
the chapel and built an door may require a firm
extension on its western push! To find it’s location,
end, possibly to provide use What3Words and go
living accommodation for a to www.what3words.com
resident priest. and enter the three words:
gazed.fuses.parties