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Death's Head gravestone: August 21, 2012: Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK. (c) 2012 - photography by Leaf McGowan, technogypsie.com. To purchase this photo, go to www.technogypsie.com/photography/?tcp_product_category=photo

 

SACRED SCULPTURE: The church that towers over you today was built following the destruction of the earlier building in 1385. The disaster gave the

Cistercians the chance to build one of Scotland's most magnificent churches.

It was a major feat of construction, involving hundreds of skilled workers and

costing vast sums of money. We are unsure if it was ever finished but the

masons and sculptors left their marks all around you. Take the chance to look

up and discver the beautiful carvings and features of the church. The

Presbytery Ceiling: The intricate paterns of ribs and arches on the ceiling is

decorated with saints, angels, and the Holy Trinity. 5- The Morrow

Inscription: Little personal information is known about the men who built

Scotland's abbeys. This makes the two inscriptions on the south transept

remarkable. They refer by name to a French master mason called John Morrow who worked on Melrose around 1400. John Morow sometimes called was I and born in Paris certainly and had in keeping all the mason work of St. Andrews, the high kirk of Glasgow, and Paisley, of Nithsdale and Galloway. I pray to God and Mary both and sweet St. John to keep this holy church from harm. (1)

Exterior Sculpture: Walk outside through the south door to take a look at the

fantastic sculpture on the outer walls of the church. Look out for the army of

demons and hobgoblins, the angelic musicians, and a bagpipe-playing pig! (4)

The Two Chief Apostles: High up in the north transept are the statues of St.

Peter and St. paul. St. Peter (left) the keeper of the gates of heaven, holds

the book of names and carries the keys. (3) The Night Stair: these steps led

down from the sleeping quarers on the first floor of the cloister

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Uploaded on August 26, 2012
Taken on August 21, 2012