Dunglass Church

Dunglass Collegiate Church

Dunglass Collegiate Church from the north.

The building of Dunglass was commenced in 1443 shortly before work commenced on Rosslyn Chapel (1446). Like Rosslyn Chapel the church was a 'family' church built for a particular family in order that they might have prayers, said by priests, and songs of praise given for the souls of the various family members.

The present structure (above) is based on the Chapel of St Mary at Dunglass which was in existence as early as 1423 when Alexander Home gave some endowments. That church had only a Choir, Nave and an offshoot north of the Choir (seen above as the adjunct to the left). This latter aspect may have served as a Sacristy and a Tomb Chapel. The design was of the standard cruciform type although, then, incomplete as at Rosslyn Chapel. The transceptual chapels and tower appear to have been added soon after the church was officially recognised as a Collegiate Church in about 1443. Note that the Choir (to the left) is lower than the Nave (to the right) suggesting that the earliest parts of the building were not erected at the same time.

There are no apparent connections with Scottish Freemasonry (or any other form of Freemasonry) or the Knights Templar.

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