Whenever I visit somewhere new for the first time, I love to explore any old churches or cathedrals in the town or city. I studied theology at university, so church history (and in particular Scottish church history) has always been one of my favourite things to learn about.
When we visited Dornoch Cathedral last month, I was so amazed by how beautiful it is and how compactAzetazswe5tat4taz4rrq23 it is. Originally built in the 13th century, Dornoch Cathedral takes centre stage in the middle of Dornoch. Unlike other cathedrals around Scotland, Dornoch Cathedral is much smaller and more like a local church than a grand spiritual home for a town or city.
One of the most interesting parts of Dornoch Cathedral are the three beautiful stained glass windows which were donated in memory of Andrew Carnegie, the famous businessman who often spent his summers at the Skibo Estate just outside Dornoch. These windows represent some of the things Carnegie cared most about-peace, literacy and music.
For me, one of the most interesting parts was the stained glass window entitled "Praise". This window highlights a figure raising his hands in praise to God. A plaque underneath quotes Psalm 134, which reads:
"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who is the Maker of heaven and earth."
For me, this was such a powerful reminder of what it means to praise God and this window really helped me to reflect on this whilst we were visiting Dornoch Cathedral.
Dornoch Cathedral holds services every Sunday at 11am and is open to visit and explore throughout daylight hours. You can find out more information about visiting here.
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