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Restoration of Brechin Cathedral

M176 Restoration of Brechin Cathedral

Address: Church Lane, Brechin DD9 6EU
Date: 1892–1901
Client: Brechin Cathedral restoration committee
Authorship: Authorship category 4 (Office) (Office)

Colour photograph of wheel window in N.E. transept, Brechin Cathedral

1892
24 October: The Dundee Courier reports that a movement for the restoration of Brechin Cathedral is being organised, and that the building 'has already been examined by an architect'. 1 Drawings are prepared at this time by John Honeyman. 2
1897
November: A donation of £1000 towards the cost of restoration has been received from J. A. Campbell, MP, of Stracathro (along with a second anonymous donation of the same amount), provided that plans prepared 'some years ago' for the late Rev. Alex Gardner are used. An illustration and description of Honeyman's proposed restoration is published. 3
1898
Fund-raising appeal launched. 4
31 January: Donations amounting to over £4000 have been received or promised. 5
March: Perspective drawing of Honeyman's design by Alexander McGibbon exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (586). 6
1899
May 1899: drawings to be prepared for addition to accommodate c. 110 people. 7
10 October: £8700 has been subscribed to the restoration fund. The Presbytery of Brechin gives its formal approval to the scheme. 8
December: Principal tenders accepted. 9
1900
14 January: Final services held in the Cathedral prior to commencement of restoration. 10
25 January: Design for proposed N.E. aisle published in the Dundee Courier. 11 This was not part of the original restoration scheme, and was commissioned from John Honeyman & Keppie on the recommendation of the Presbytery, in order that that the Cathedral should be able to seat 1000. 12
September: New aisles completed and partly roofed; memorial stone to be laid. 13
1901
October: drawing of seating plan prepared for reproduction. 14
November: Restoration complete. 15
1901-2
Stained glass windows by David Gauld and Henry Holiday installed in the chancel. 16
1902
4 July: Final payment on mason's contract. 17
21 August: Final payment on joiner's contract. 18

Notes:

1: Dundee Courier, 24 October 1892, p. 3.

2: Dundee Courier, 11 October 1899, p. 3.

3: Dundee Courier, 19 November 1897, p. 6.

4: Brechin Cathedral Archive: fund-raising leaflet.

5: Dundee Courier, 31 January 1898, p. 4.

6: Glasgow Herald, 12 March 1898, p. 4.

7: Brechin Cathedral Archive: John Honeyman to Alexander Philip, 16 May 1899.

8: Dundee Courier, 11 October 1899, p. 3.

9: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: John Honeyman & Keppie / Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh job book, GLAHA 53061, p. 209.

10: Dundee Courier, 15 January 1899, p. 7.

11: Dundee Courier, 25 January 1900, p. 3.

12: Dundee Courier, 1 May 1900, p. 4.

13: Scotsman, 20 September 1900, p. 8.

14: Original untraced but copies of the lithograph produced from it in 1902 are held in Brechin Cathedral Archive. The drawing was dated October 1901. John Keppie referred to delays in arranging the printing in a letter of 16 July 1902 to Alexander Philip, coll. Brechin Cathedral Archive.

15: Brechin Cathedral Archive: John Honeyman to Alexander Philip, 16 October 1901, enclosing certificate confirming that the Cathedral is ready for occupation; Scotsman, 4 November 1901, p. 9; British Architect, 56, 6 December 1901, pp. 410–11.

16: Archie Milne, The Stained Glass Windows of Brechin Cathedral & Stracathro Parish Church, Brechin Cathedral, n.d., pp. 3, 5, 6, 14–29.

17: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: John Honeyman & Keppie / Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh job book, GLAHA 53061, p. 209.

18: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: John Honeyman & Keppie / Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh job book, GLAHA 53061, p. 209.