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Reformation Scotland -- Edinburgh Castle #1

James IV wanted to make Edinburgh a true capital of Scotland.  This is a "close up" of the Castle.  This ancient fortress overlooking the gardens of Princes Street is full of historic interest.  It was rebuilt in the 7th century by Edwin, King of Northumbria, and has a beautiful little Norman chapel built by Queen St. Margaret in 1076 (next photo below).  This is Edinburgh's oldest building still in use.  The Royal apartments, the Great Banqueting Hall, the Scottish Regalia (crown, sceptre, sword of state) are there.  There is also a war memorial.

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This is the exterior of the part of the Castle housing the Margaret Chapel.  It is said that Queen St. Margaret had this chapel built to house the "Black Rood", a relic of the True Cross.

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The Margaret Chapel in the Castle.  Margaret was an English princess.  She and her mother sailed to Scotland to escape from the king who had conquered their land.  King Malcolm of Scotland welcomed them and fell in love with the beautiful princess.  Margaret and Malcolm were married before too long.  Queen Margaret's son, King David I, built a small church within Edinburgh Castle dedicated to her memory.  St Margaret's Chapel (pictured here) is now the oldest building in the castle.

The stained glass window shown here, honoring Saint Andrew, is one of five windows in the chapel.  An effort at restoring the chapel was made in 1853 when the five small windows were filled in with stained glass.  They were later replaced as they are now.  The windows were made and donated by Dr. Douglas Strachan in the middle of the 20th century and are famous well documented examples of his work.  (According to Rona Moody, "The oldest stained glass we have - apart from collections such as the excellent Burrell in Glasgow, or little fragments scattered around the country - is in the Cowgate, Edinburgh, and dates from c1542."  For more information about stained glass in Scotland, see the British Society of Master Glass Painters at http://www.bsmgp.org.uk/.)

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More about Saint Margaret --

• Catholic Encyclopedia
   
• More information about Queen St. Margaret - St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland
   
• An essay on the life of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland
   

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