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Publication Account
Date 1985
Event ID 1016222
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1016222
Situated on rising ground and dedicated to St Cuthbert, the church may have been commissioned by one of the wealthy lords of Dalmeny, either Gospatrick (died 1147) or his successor of the same name (died 1166). Quite simply it is the most complete Norman church in Scotland and the numerous masons' marks on the greyish-white sandstone inside link it with Dunfermline Abbey and Leuchars Church in Fife.
Like Leuchars (and the impressive ruins at Tyninghame, no. 17) it is well-finished and richly decorated; like those in Fife it is a three-cell structure of nave, chancel and sanctuary apse with a roofline (forgiving the ugly, squat tower of1937) stepped from west to east The only extension, the Rosebery Aisle, was built in 1671.
The south entrance is a superb combination of doorway and intersecting arcade above, surmounted by corbels. Its closest Scottish parallel at Dunfermline betrays influence from Durham, and a tympanum presumably once filled the half-circle below the twoorder arch. Far from being decorated with simple chevrons, however, the arch is festooned with carvings. The inner arch appears to include zodiacal signs, fabulous Bestiary figures, and an Agnus Dei; the outer arch projects eight grotesque heads. And either side is a sculptured figure-that to the east a male, with a garment reaching to mid-leg, a sword, spear and triangular sword.
Inside, chancel and apse are equally splendid, and roofed with rib vaults-similar, once again, to examples at Dunfermline. The supporting corbels are carved as heads, grotesque or human according to taste; and on the south side of the chancel, a muzzled bear. The nave has only one window in the north wall to three in the south wall-a local pecularity found also at St Martin's, Haddington (no. 59).
Behind the tapestry on the north chancel wall is a very imperfect painted inscription, the remains perhaps of painted scriptures or lives of the saints. Inset in the apse and chancel floors are several medieval graveslabs; outdoors there are some good 17th- 18th century gravestones, but also a massive stone coffin with head-cavity and decorated on three sides-winged beast at the foot, Christ and the Apostles in thirteen arches along the side. Was this the coffin of the church's builder?
Information from 'Exploring Scotland's Heritage: Lothian and Borders', (1985).
