Before we move on to the lovely little chapel inside St Giles' Cathedral, this post is dedicated to all the beautiful things I found inside of it. I mean, I did already post one entry about the church itself, but that was mainly focusing on the building itself. This post is meant more to highlight the details of the 'art' pieces I found myself drawn to inside. Not sure if 'art' is the right term to use, or religious artefact? So let's start. Above, stained glasses and stone carvings adorn the place.
The stone carving was everywhere, and very detailed. I thought they were beautiful, but I have read that Rosslyn Church in Roslin Scotland has an even more lovely interior! I can't imagine it, so I'm making sure I'll be visiting it in my next trip!
Somewhere in the middle, there was a small podium? Probably for where the bishop can stand to give his sermons. Usually I would see this made of wood, and quite plain in design. But the ones here were made of stones, and with lovely carvings on it. Take note of the fuller picture above.
And now look at this zoom in photo on just one of the many carvings found on those stone stairs up to the podium. I bet there is a book documenting all these information about the church on sale somewhere. It wouldn't make sense for me to photograph everything when we have the internet ready for us to explore in details. So I'm just leaving some bits and pieces here as a journal of my visit here.
I've seen many stained glasses before in churches, and in museums. But I don't recall seeing the colours of the stained glasses shinning on to the concrete floor before. And yet here I was, standing there in awe of this beautiful sight before me. It wasn't anything special, and not many people were even aware of it. Yet I stopped, and snapped this photo of the lights on the floor. It was a keepsake for me. A moment in time to remember how beautiful those lights were <3
After visiting the Louvre in Paris on my first trip to Europe and trying to capture almost every stained glass I saw there and then, I would say I've given up the notion of photographing everything I chance upon, cause it was just endless! Yet I still take random photos of it whenever I feel like it. I just thing stained glass is such a beautiful art.
The colours on this one was just wild! Again, I'm sure each and every piece has a story to tell. But maybe just look at them and feel them? That's all I ever do anyway. Just be in awe at them.
I love those that is colour coordinated too, with a certain themed colour like this red white and blue piece.
Or a typical one like this of Jesus in probably every scene.
Besides stained glass, there were also stone sculpture and maybe bronze pieces like this one of angels.
Here is another one that looked more like a painting. I love the colour of it, almost like it depicting an era in the past. Almost like middle eastern art. Interesting I've also visited many churches in my Balkan trip in 2025, and found new love for Orthodox Churches there as well. Their 'art' pieces was so different from anything I've seen before. So no matter how many churches I've visited, I would always visit more, cause there is no two that is ever the same. Everyone is unique, just like any sunrise and sunset, any botanical garden or museums etc.
A simple piece of a man sitting on a chair. I'm sure he is a famous person, but I did't look him up....
I did learn a few things during my church visit, like seeing this guy and learning that he is the founder of Boys' Brigade 1883! In our daily lives growing up, we just took for granted that school activities like the uniform group was just there. Well here I connected the dots that not only the Boys' Brigade, but St John was also founded in Scotland! For a country that is not that big, they do produce, invent, founded many things that we just took for granted today!
There was a full statue of John Knox, this time standing in full height inside the church. He is a very famous in Scotland, probably due to religion. I am unfortunately not very familiar with his works.
Above are just plaques and memorials, but I am posting it here because of Sir James Young Simpson, who discover Chloroform and its use in surgery. I mean, maybe it's because I came from the east, but it seems that people in the east doesn't seems to be very well known in discovering stuff..... Am I being whitewashed here? Or is that just a fact?
Remember I was telling you about a special chapel inside this cathedral? Well, above is Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer who built the Thistle Chapel. I will show you more about this chapel in the next two post!
Before we left the cathedral, one lighted candle, in memory of my cousin Lim Sin Chuan who passed away April 2025. He was only 59 years old and I have helped looked after him in 2024 when he was hospitalised. I was glad I visited him in January 2025 just before I left Penang. He had been discharged then and I had offered to buy him some food to tied him over since he lives alone. That was the last time I saw him, and I was glad it was a happy moment that we shared.
Me, standing here in St Giles' Cathedral. I will be back again this April 2026.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments