Another turret, in the angle next the sacristy, contained a private door to the latter, and, probably, another stair to the upper floor. The provost’s tower has evidently, from Pennant’s view, contained at least four stories; but it is now much decayed and demolished. These buildings present very much the appearance of a secular dwelling or castle of the sixteenth century.
The whole edifice being now surrounded with an iron railing, and properly looked after, it is hoped that this interesting specimen of Scottish ecclesiastical architecture will be long preserved from further ruin.
FORTROSE CATHEDRAL, Ross-shire.
According to tradition, the origin of the Church of Rosemarkie, the first cathedral of Ross, is ascribed to St. Boniface, otherwise known as Albanus Kiritinus or Cuiritan. This saint is now supposed to have been an Irish monk named Cuiritan, who, in the seventh century, adopted the Roman ecclesiastical forms, and, coming to Scotland, endeavoured to introduce them there. The legend of Bonifacius is evidently connected with the revolution by which King Nectan and the Picts conformed to Rome. After visiting various places in Pictland, and being well received by King Nectan, St. Boniface founded churches at Restennet[149] and Invergowrie, which were dedicated to St. Peter. Finally, he landed at Rosemarkie, on the north side of the Moray Frith, the site of an old Columban monastery founded by Lugadius or Moluog of Lismore, where, also, he built a church, and named it after St. Peter and Bonifacius.[150]
On this site, which is just opposite the long spit of land which runs far across the Frith from the south side at Fort George, there arose in later times a small town, while a larger ecclesiastical establishment, called the Chanonry, was afterwards founded about one mile further west. These two places were united under one charter by James II., in 1444, with the name of Fortrose, and the two small towns still remain in the same relative position.
The Culdee College continued at Rosemarkie till the Romanising influences of Queen Margaret’s sons were brought to bear upon it. In 1126 there occurs the first mention of the Bishop of Rosemarkie in a charter of David I. It seems probable that here, as at other places, King David converted the existing Culdee College into a chapter, and appointed the abbot, or prior, as the bishop of the diocese. The Bishop of Ross has this peculiarity, that he takes his title from the province, and not from the town, where he holds his see.
When Argyle had been brought under the royal power, the whole of North Argyle was, in 1221, added to the Earldom of Ross, and the diocese was largely increased by the addition to it of the churches in that county.
Up to 1227 the Chapter of Rosemarkie was small, consisting of the dean, the treasurer, the archdeacon, and four canons; but in 1235 Pope Gregory IX. gave leave to the bishop to found and endow new canonries, and increase the endowment of the other four.[151]
It seems probable that at the period of the enlargement of the chapter the cathedral was moved from Rosemarkie to Chanonry, or Fortrose. Although most of the buildings which would have fixed the date of this change are now removed, there still remains one structure which, from its style, seems to be of the first half of the thirteenth century. This is the undercroft of the sacristy, an erection the enlargement of which would be called for by the increased size of the chapter.
The cathedral then constructed was a large and important building. It stood on level ground not far from the Moray Frith, over which it commanded a fine prospect. The ruins still occupy the central position in the town of Fortrose, and stand in a large open plot of grassy ground, where they can be well seen, and where they are well cared for.