Scotland's Churches Trust

Day 16 of #31DaysOfGraves - Obelisk

"REMOVED in the midst of his USEFULNESS.
READER be ye also ready"

A cheery warning about the fleeting nature of life on Alexander Cowper's obelisk monument in Wigtown Kirkyard in Dumfries and Galloway.

Photograph of a random grave monument with an obelisk in the background. Rutherglen Cemetery, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Photograph of a random gravestone with an obelisk in the background. Rutherglen Cemetery, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Photograph of a random gravestone with an obelisk in the background. Rutherglen Cemetery, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Photograph of two grave monuments - a celtic cross and an obelisk - at night with the lights of the city of Glasgow in the background and the green glow of the aurora borealis above. Rutherglen Cemetery, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

#31DaysOfGraves
Day 16: Obelisk
Somehow I dont seem to have good photos of any of the obelisks in #RutherglenCemetery (except the one I shared on Day 2) so let's play a game of 'spot the obelisk' instead.

A medium-angle shot on a bright day captures the historic Duddingston Kirk, a Scottish church with warm, sunlit stone walls and a steep, dark grey roof. The building, standing tall, boasts a large, arched window at its center, flanked by smaller, intricate carvings and a dark wooden door to the left. To the far left, a lush green tree with hints of autumn foliage peeks into the frame, while to the right, a darker, evergreen tree stands sentinel, partially obscuring the view of distant autumn trees ablaze with orange and red. In the foreground, a vibrant green lawn, dotted with fallen leaves, slopes gently downwards, revealing several aged, grey tombstones that lean in various directions. A narrow, grey path, almost blending with the earth, leads towards the church, guiding the eye through this serene, ancient scene. The sky above is a brilliant, cloudless blue, gradually fading to a lighter hue on the right horizon.

🪬🧿 Duddingston kirk
#scotland #duddingston #church #kirk #architecture #history #autumn #travel #edinburgh #heritage #alttext

Mehrere historische Grabmäler und Statuen auf einem Friedhof unter bewölktem Himmel. Die Grabmäler sind aus Stein, einige Obelisken und Skulpturen verziert. Im Vordergrund steht ein großes, reich verziertes Denkmal mit einer runden Kuppel.

#31DaysofGraves
Tag 16: Obelisk
Friedhof Necropolis, Glasgow.
Einer meiner Lieblingsfriedhöfe.
#Schottland

#31DaysOfGraves Day16: Obelisk. Tombstone in the rural kirkyard of Monzievaird, near Crieff, of Rev Wm Robertson (d 1864), writer of the baptismal hymn, ‘A little child the Saviour came’.

#31daysofgraves #obelisks 3 generations. Rev Robert Steele @ OldWestKirk, William Steele @ Dumbarton Cemetery and William Steele Brown @ Inverkip. The latter, superintendent of Edinburgh Glasgow Railway, was the son of Inverkip Parish minister. #Inverclyde

Obelisk memorial at entrance to Dunblane Cathedral graveyard, incorporates white plaque to William McCowan

Inscription on white plaque; In memory of William McCowan Massachusettes infantry who died in camp Readville U.S.America in defence of the Union against the rebellion 1st April 1864 aged 47 years. Also detail above of weavers trade symbol.

Photo of page from Stirling Observer with article by Andy Mitchell on story behind the memorial. Entitled Solving cathedral's US Civil War Riddle.

#31daysofgraves day 16 obelisk. This memorial is at the entrance of Dunblane Cathedral graveyard to William McCowan who it says died 'in defence of the Union'. However as local historian and journalist Andy Mitchell discovered this wasn't quite true as on that day McOwan was ill & he died 2.4.1864.

Grave at Glasgow Necropolis. Obelisk type monument on a triangular plinth with Glasgow Cathedral in the background Photo credit: Lorraine Murray 2025

30 days of graves theme 2025 list from @annaandthedead

Day 16 of #31DaysOfGraves is #Obelisk. But I missed yesterday's #damaged theme too, so here is a #grave from the Glasgow Necropolis which can count as both.
This #monument has an unusual triangular plinth, but the stone is weathered, rendering the lettering unreadable
#Cemetery
#Glasgow850

#31DaysOfGraves Day 16 - Obelisk. Warriston Cemetery has many, many obelisks. #Edinburgh #taphophile

Residents fear having to visit war memorials inside a Scotmid after church sold The Church of Scotland say they are committed to helping ensure the respectful removal and preservation of the war memorials as soon as an affordable cost has been agreed

"Residents fear having to visit war memorials inside a Scotmid after church sold"

Burghead Community Council chairperson speaks to The Scotsman about the difficulties experienced while negotiating a respectful future for memorials commemorating the town's war dead 👇
www.scotsman.com/regions/aber...

#31daysofgraves Day 15: Damaged. Years of neglect following the collapse of the Edinburgh Cemetery Company led to widespread vandalism. These photos show not just damage but theft of applied medallions or portraits, probably bronze or stone. (Photos are fairly unusual on Scottish stones.) #Edinburgh

Earlier this year, an excavation in Rousay by @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social uncovered an expressive carved stone face. We have a similar fellow in the cathedral, so archaeologists visited today to examine them side by side!

Bruce family headstone when erected. Large sandstone with vase shape on top.

Headstone in three pieces after storm Arwen

North side of the cathedral with fencing around headstones.

#31daysofgraves Day 15, damaged. A long list, unfortunately, which is why we have so much fencing at Dunblane Cathedral graveyard. As an example this one to the Bruce family fell during storm Arwen. The wooden dowels wouldn't have helped!

Day 15 of #31DaysOfGraves - Damaged

Around 160 west coast winters and the invasive roots of wispy lichens have given this, formerly sturdy, slate memorial at Kilnave on Islay the appearance of splintered and weathered wood.

A few more generations and it too will have returned to crumbling dust...

Govan hogback postcard

Govan Warrior postcard

We close for the winter at the end of October, so why not come along for a wee visit and get an exclusive Govan Stones Christmas card! 🎄

Popped into Govan Old. The Pictish sarcophagus is looking great. I signed my books in their excellent gift shop. Perhaps pick up a Christmas present while helping @govanstones.bsky.social fundraising?

All Souls, Invergowrie, #ScottishChurchOfTheWeek, possesses a stunning interior with Gothic arches and hammerbeam roof. The font and pulpit are designed by Carnegie and Son of Dundee and high altar by Farmer and Brindley of London. Note the Italian marble reredos and alabaster crucifixion scene.

Photograph of two mortsafe cages covering two family graves adjoining the inner walls of Ramshorn Kirkyard & surrounded by green trees and grass.

#31DaysofGraves Day 14: Inside - mortsafe cages in Ramshorn Kirkyard, Glasgow.
Designed to keep bodies inside their graves, safe from the attentions of the 'Resurrection Men' who supplied corpses to Glasgow's medical schools for dissection.

#31DaysOfGraves Day 15: Damaged. Broken stones in Kilmadock old churchyard. It’s an interesting place to visit in an idyllic spot near Doune in Stirlingshire

#StainedGlassSunday Sleeping or tired angels. By Oscar Paterson, in Newington Trinity Church, Edinburgh.

Church and Society conference - 15 November, central Edinburgh. For full programme and to book ------> www.eventbrite.com/e/schs-autum... #churchhist #history #scothist

A stone church building with a steep roof and a small bell tower rises against a clear blue sky. The sunlight casts strong shadows across the roof, highlighting a decorative cross at the roof’s peak and a single hanging bell visible through an arched window on the left.

For Whom The Bell Tolls
Royal Mile, Edinburgh

#BlueSkyMonday

#EastCoastKin

Maryhill Road with Rennie Mackintosh Church at Kirkland Street, #Glasgow 1960s.
(Chris Doak)

A large gravestone lies on its back within a grassy churchyard. In the background other similar stones can be seen.

#31DaysofGraves #Day15 #Damaged At Carmunnock, some stones have been pushed over, not randomly, but by the council responsible for graveyards. Allegedly the stones were in a dangerous condition & this is to prevent them injuring visitors, rather than making them safe. Institutional vandalism.

Young man lying in a Roman-style bed, with a woman kneeling before him and an angel standing at the side, both of them gazing at him: attending death.

Interwoven hexagram (typically a Masonic symbol), with square cross in centre and surrounded by a snake biting its own tail (an ouroboros), which represents eternal life / rebirth.

Two cherub-angels holding an ornate scroll, with a hand in its centre pointing two fingers upwards: this gesture depicted by artists since at least the mediaeval period has represented Jesus and the Trinity, and is commonly associated with blessings by Catholic clergy.

Gravestone with angel positioned at the top, holding wide a scroll: BLESSED ARE THE DEAD THAT DIE IN THE LORD

Victorian gravestone iconography, St Mary's Greyfriars church, Dumfries, home to some of the largest memorials in the region.

#photography #history #taphophile #southern #Scotland #church #cemetery #ouroboros #angel #tombstone #burial #graveyard #gravestone

The Kildalton Cross. The image shows part of a ruined church on the left of the frame and a graveyard occupying much of the lower part of the frame with trees behind it. There are only a few scattered graves while, in the centre foreground and occupying the whole central strip of the frame is a large greenish-grey decorated stone cross with arcs connecting its arms to the upper and lower parts. The scene is in sunlight.

The magnificent Kildalton Cross in the south-eastern corner of Islay: Scotland's finest intact early Christian high cross. Beautifully preserved and standing 2.65m high by 1.32m wide, it was carved towards the end of the 700s. More pics and images: www.undiscoveredscot...

#Scotland #Islay

The inside of an old stone church with rugged grey walls and altar at the end. Modern wooden roof vaults and benches fill the interior

#MedievalMonday Inside the 12th century church of Teampall Mholuaidh (St Moluag's church) on the Isle of Lewis, #Scotland

You can really feel the age in here!

#history #archaeology #churches #photooftheday

Atmospheric black and white photo of an 18th century church with 19th century alterations and a bird cage style belfry. Surrounded by tombstones under a dramatic sky.

Troqueer Parish Church, Dumfries.
#blackandwhitephotography #Scotland #Galloway #History

They are indeed in remarkable condition, as are the two stones showing priests. Well worth a wade through the retreating tidal waters between Colonsay and Oronsay should you ever have the opportunity!

Stone carving of a medieval nobleman, wearing a helmet and carrying a large sword

Another similar carving. On this one, the warrior is facing left and is carrying a large spear in his right hand

Ah lovely! I went for the Govan Stones today but had considered the similar stones from Kilmartin.