Church Overview

Designed by noted Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott to accommodate the growing Episcopal population of Dundee. The Bishop of Brechin, Andrew Penrose Forbes, and Scott considered 14 sites for the new cathedral, before eventually settling upon the former site of the city’s ancient castle. Work commenced in March 1853 and the building opened its doors to worshippers in December 1855, but it would be another ten years before the considerable debt incurred was cleared and the building was formally consecrated.

Its magnificent 220ft spire dominates the city’s skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral is most definitely Gothic in style, but Gothic with a difference. Inside the building, its tall, graceful columns give an impression of remarkable lightness and airiness. There is an absolutely splendid alabaster and marble Reredos by Clayton and Bell, made to a design of George Gilbert Scott himself, which houses a sumptuously detailed mosaic by the great Antonio Salviati of Venice, depicting a seated Christ surrounded by cherubim and seraphim and other angelic figures. The eight foot long altar is made from a giant slab of black marble from County Durham and if you look at it closely, you can see that it is speckled with fossilised sea creatures.

It was some years before the congregation could afford to commission stained glass, but eventually various benefactors donated some incredible memorial windows, by notable firms such as Hardman & Co , Scott & Draper of Carlisle and Gibbs of London. The 3-manual pipe organ is by Hill & Son and was installed in 1865. It was entirely rebuilt by Hill, Norman & Beard, in 1975 when a new console was added and it was fully electrified. The impressive stone pulpit has the carved heads of the four Evangelists in the centre of each of its panel and an ornate carved timber sounding board above, with winged angels with hands clasped in prayer. The ashlar font incorporates fragments of a font that came from Lindores Abbey in Fife. The building also contains a great many memorials, look out for one commemorating James Chalmers, a stationer from nearby Castle Street, who invented the adhesive postage stamp!

Services

Sundays at 10.30am and 5pm and Thursdays at 1pm

Opening Arrangements

Open Mon to Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturdays 2pm-4pm

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.