Page 28 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

FAITH AND CULTURE

The interior of the Church reflects the boldness of
the exterior. The feeling of space internally is extremely
impressive, and the quality and quantity of light enhances
the internal volume. There is no stained glass to any of the
windows, these being glazed in leaded clear cathedral,
enhancing the clear light of the North-East within the
church. The details are simple and stylised, the arched
openings with their stepped arch heads and pillars stepped
in plan, Romanesque in essence yet with a modern, almost
Art Deco, reference well ahead of its time.
The soaring, semi-circular arches at the crossing of the
nave and transepts are more Byzantine in inspiration.
Above these arches extends the open void within the
centrally located tower. Windows, high in the tower walls,
enhance the light value at the crossing point. There is
an interesting altar in the sanctuary which includes a
colonnaded ambulatory around. The canopy over the altar
refers in form to a Roman temple with triangular pediment
and frieze below.
Two Roman/Tuscan columns support the structure at the
front with matching pilasters at the rear. Below the canopy
at the back of the structure is the original altar with back
screen tabernacle. The tabernacle is built into the fabric of
the back screen and has engraved brass doors and frame.
A new free-standing altar placed in front of this is now
the working altar. Floating airily above the altar on the apse
wall is a mosaic roundel of Christ; this icon reinforcing the
Byzantine reference. Originally, the church was intended
to have the lower surfaces of the walls and pillars clad in
marble, but cost restraints made this not possible at the
time of building. These surfaces which were clad in marble "The canopy over the altar refers in form to a Roman temple"
were subsequently cement rendered and painted. architecturally unusual and unexpected adds interest to its
In the lists of the Planning Department, the Sacred Heart architectural quality, enhancing its value. Whether by habit
Church, Torry is classified category B. or not, the Sacred Heart Church provides a very important
Besides its obvious religious importance (being the only religious and architectural focus in Torry and although its
Roman Catholic Church in the whole of Torry) the church architectural style may not be entirely Aberdeen, it sits very
of the Sacred Heart is critical to the architectural character happily on its site on Grampian Road as a good neighbour
of Grampian Road in particular, and the architectural and friend.
and social fabric of Torry in general. The fact that it is

In Their Footsteps - Exploring a Northern Pilgrimage Way
is about one of these, a route between St Duthac's, Tain
BY SARAH AKEHURST and St Magnus's Cathedral, Kirkwall. She also describes
six circular routes in Caithness, The Northern Saints Trails,
suitable for those who are driving or cycling and linked
n May 2022 The Scottish Catholic reported that to the North Coast 500 route. The walking route includes
record numbers of people were undertaking some alternative braids within it, different possible ways
Ipilgrimages even as religious belief is in decline. between the start and the end.
1
The home page of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum These routes, and ultimately this book originated in a
(SPRF), sums up something of what makes walking a discussion at a book club linked to St Anne’s church in
pilgrimage way so attractive - potentially it is a journey Thurso. In 2017 the group were reading a book by Deacon
“of reflection, a refreshing and healing journey of John Woodside about the northern saints. St Duthac was
discovery into ourselves and into our connectedness born in Tain around the year 1000 and for several hundred
with people and nature through time.” 2 years after his death he was one of the most important
Scotland has its own pilgrimage routes, many of them saints in Scotland. He had a large following in Orkney
based on mediaeval pilgrimage ways. Jane Coll’s book, which may have included St Magnus, a 12th century
saint whose cult eventually became more well known.
1 https://www.scottishcatholic.com/popularity-of- Many other saints also had a connection to Caithness
pilgrimage-booming/ and the group decided to do some research in the hope
2 SPRF website, welcome written by the very Rev Dr
Sheilagh M Kesting of making these saints more widely known. Jane Coll
Page 28