Early History
St Blane, after whom Dunblane (fort of Blane) is named, is believed to have been a Briton from the kingdom of Strathclyde who was educated in Ireland before 600AD. St Kentigern (also known as Mungo) was establishing his church in Glasgow at around this time and St Columba had died on Iona in 597, a few years earlier.
Blane established a monastery in Bute in the Firth of Clyde and then moved into the land of the Picts who inhabited the country north of the river Forth. Dunblane is five miles north of Stirling which, even in those days, would be an important river crossing on the Forth.
Blane is said to have been given a dun or fort as a place to build his monastery, near the Allan Water which flows through Strathallan further north.
Although Blane was a bishop, the bishopric did not continue after his death. Muthill, 10/12 miles further north, was a serious rival for the cathedral of the "bishop of Strathearn". But when King David I (who reigned from 1124 to 1153) reorganised the Catholic church in Scotland he established the bishopric at Dunblane, with the support of the Earls of Strathearn who became the patrons of the diocese.
The carving representing St Blane, which is illustrated here, comes from the pulpit in the present-day cathedral.
A stone church (earlier ones may well have been made of wood) was built in the 12th century. Little remains of this building but the lower four floors of the tower (seen here) was built around the time of King David. Originally it may have been detached from the church and would be used defensively as well as housing the belfry.
In 1233, a Dominican Friar named Clement became the bishop. By that time the ecclesiastical buildings were half-ruined and he set about demolishing them and building the fine church we have today. Although he probably did not see it completed, he established the magnificently proportioned nave with its aisles. Clement died in 1258 and his tomb, with what is believed to be his effigy, is still in the choir of the cathedral.
Dunblane Becomes a Magnificent Cathedral
Subsequent bishops added to the size and magnificence of the cathedral. The tower was increased in height by Bishop James Chisholm (1487-1545) and the wall bears his coat of arms. He was also responsible for the wonderfully carved stalls (illustrated here) which are now at the west end of the nave.
The cathedral eventually had ten altars (as well as a high altar) plus statues, paintings and stained glass windows. But when the Reformation came along in the 16th century they were all swept away as they were considered to be signs of idolatry. The Presbyterian church had no need for the large number of clergy and the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church and as a parish church only the former choir continued in use. The rest of the building was allowed to deteriorate and by 1600 the roof of the nave had collapsed.
Restoration
Restoration work on the cathedral was begun towards the end of the 19th century. A leading Scottish architect, Sir Rowand Anderson masterminded the work. After re-roofing the nave he reconstructed the windows and gradually, over the years, magnificent new stained glass was installed, a feature for which the cathedral is understandably famous.
Pictured here is a section of the windows in the south choir and they are the work of Louis Davis. They represent fire, storms, cold and snow. At the foot of the window are the names of the five members of Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole who lost their lives in 1912.
Also in the choir are wonderful carvings on the woodwork of the stalls, organ case and reredos screen, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1914. There are representations of a whole menagerie of animals to represent the richness of creation's variety.
In more recent times, Dunblane gained world-wide prominence as a result of the massacre of 16 primary pupils and their teacher at Dunblane Primary School on Wednesday the 13th of March 1996. A memorial to those who lost their lives has been erected in Dunblane Cathedral.
Pictish Associations
Dunblane's origins in the days of the Picts are recalled by a fine carved Pictish cross which is displayed in the cathedral. The cross was found beneath the floor of the chapter house in 1873. It dates from the 9th century and may have been associated with the early church.
On one side is a Celtic cross and, as is often the case with this type of stonework, the other side has representations of Pictish symbols. At the top there are two mythical beasts facing one another on their hind legs and below there is an unusual square pattern surrounding a square figure filled with five bosses like the dots on dice. There is then a small ringed, Celtic cross on the left, with a large horseman with a spear and a dog below. Below all that is a disc decorated with a cross and spirals. At the very foot is a man with a staff, lying with his feet pointing towards another spiral.
Historic Scotland
Although the cathedral is used by the people of Dunblane as a parish church, the building is now owned by the sate and is maintained by Historic Scotland. As such, it is open to the public and there is usually a guide available to answer questions. Opening hours vary depending on the time of year and it is best to check in advance.
