CHAPTER-HOUSE of the CATHEDRAL 
CHURCH of ELGIN, in MORAL. 
fertile province was the chofen feat of many eccleliaftical eftabliihments; 
^ and the environs of Elgin yielded many a pleafing refidence, which were early 
v oted to the preferments of the evangelical clergy. Here the Chriftian inftitution 
e a cohfiderable degree of importance in the thirteenth century. 
gyj 1 t ^ le year 12,24, the building of the Church now under confideration was be- 
ac Wn an ^ ^° r ^ evera ^ y ears am ple contributions were raifed, from every quarter, to 
a hdh -t ^ S teni P^ e * n a Sumptuous ftile of grandeur, fuited to the venerable Jfhrine 
f 0rm ® a ^ar of God to be placed there. The edifice was extenfive ; as ufual, in 
b rea r°, *J eru Jalem or Paffion crofs ; extending 0.64. feet in length, and 114 in 
ip ■ * be *S b tof ^0 central tower, including the fpire, 198. A broad pave- 
houf e Urroun ded the inclofure of the Church, and on the outfide were arranged the 
y arc j es . °f th e dignified clergy, which thus formed a fpacious oblong fquare, 900 
a nd d 'f C ' rcuit ’ a ^°fty wall, in which were four gates, well contrived for fecurity 
th e c ence ’ inclofed the whole, and gave it the effect of a ftrong fortrefs, guarding 
lan <Wies of devotion. 
,n el^ ^^ a P ter_ h°ufe, of which a particular view is given in the annexed plate, is 
Wi^ f 3nt ° aa S on > °f about 40 feet diameter, and equally high, communicating 
th e o- ^ c ' 10 ’ r b y a veftry and vaulted pafiage, which alfo led into the avenues of 
§ re at altar. 
The 
fup D ro °^ c °nfifts of an affemblage of Gothic arches, forming an ample dome, 
c °ats : f Ct ^ a ^ ne centra ^ column, elaborately fluted ; neat carvings of various 
Wh 0 armS are P^ acec ^ round the capital (probably the infignia of thofe characters 
*Phef e f le mo ^- forward -in promoting the embellifhments of the facred edifice). 
0r m a rich and uncommon chapiter to the pillar. 
The 
foliage Wlnc ^ 0ws °f this are very fpacious ; and from the remains of the ornamental 
of ' nto which the ftone divifions had been carved, there is expreflive evidence 
hand avin g been defigned and executed with great tafte, and by a mafterly 
the rniddi n ° rt ^ wa ^ 3re the venerable niches, with the feats of the fpiritual court ; 
e 0ne Is raifed fome fteps higher, as the cathedra veritatis , and more digni- 
F 2 fled 
