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Dornoch Cathedral is in Dornoch town
centre, on the northeast coast of Scotland, 44
miles north of Inverness, built from the 1220s.
The Cathedral is open for visits most days
throughout the year, Free entry. Donations can
be made to help with the upkeep. Postcode: IV25
3SH.
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This building is now run as a Presbyterian
Church of Scotland.
Dornoch Cathedral History
1140s - Aindreas of Caithness is recorded as
the first known Bishop of Caithness, with the
Cathedral at that time being at Halkirk, 65 miles
north of Dornoch.
1211 - the earliest parts of Skibo Castle
were built as a secure residence for the
Bishops of Caithness, 4 miles west of
Dornoch.
1222 - Halkirk Cathedral was set on fire by
Farmers, killing Bishop Adam of Melrose who was
inside at the time. The Farmers took this
action after the Bishop raised Taxes.
1220s - the earliest parts of Dornoch
Cathedral were built for Gilbert de
Moravia, Bishop of Caithness, relation of
the Lords / Earls of Sutherland. Gilbert no
doubt wanted the Cathedral built at Dornoch, as
it was a good distance south of the Farmers
that killed the previous Bishop.
Most of the Bishops of Dornoch Cathedral
were related to the Earls of Sutherland, with
the Bishops Castles / Palaces, used for Courts
and Jails, a joint venture between the Earls
and Bishops to keep the population in
order.
1245 - Bishop Gilbert de Moravia died at
Scrabster
Castle, leading to him being buried at
Dornoch Cathedral, and Canonized as Saint
Gilbert of Dornoch.
1248 - William de Moravia, 1st Earl of
Sutherland, was buried in Dornoch
Cathedral.
1260 - Richard de
Moravia, relation of the Earls of
Sutherland, was killed fighting Vikings at
Embo, 3 miles north of Dornoch. This battle
forced the Vikings out of the area. Richard's
Sarcophagus can be viewed in Dornoch
Cathedral.
1400s late - Dornoch Castle was built next
to Dornoch Cathedral as the Bishops secure
residence, at times known as the Bishops
Palace.
1557 - the Bishops of Dornoch handed over
the Jurisdiction of Dornoch to the Earls of
Sutherland, with the Earls then running the
Courts an Jails.
1560 - the Reformation began in Scotland, trying
to force everyone to convert from Catholic to
Protestant. This led to many Cathedrals being
destroyed, or converted to Protestant Churches.
Some were partially destroyed, then rebuilt as
Protestant Churches.
1570 - Dornoch Cathedral was set on fire
during a Clan feud between the Murray's of
Dornoch, and the Mackay's of Strathnaver, with
these Clans fighting since a Mackay was
murdered in the 1370s.
1616 - the Cathedral was partially restored
by Sir Robert Gordon to serve as a Church of
Scotland. Gordon was a Tutor of his nephew, the
7 year old 14th Earl of Sutherland.
1690 - religious uprisings led to the end of
Bishops in the Church of Scotland. Cathedrals
from that time were no longer true Cathedrals,
as they were no longer the seat of a
Bishop.
1748 - Landowners in Scotland lost their
power to hold Courts and Imprison people, with
Kings Courts being used from that time.
1835 to 1837 - the restoration of the
Cathedral was completed for Elizabeth, Duchess
/ Countess of Sutherland.
1920s - plaster work was removed from the
interior of the Cathedral to reveal the
stonework, the medieval High Altar was raised,
and a burial area for the Sutherland family
created at the Altar with large marble
memorials.
2000 - the Minister of Dornoch named Susan
Brown, married Madonna and Guy Ritchie at
Skibo Castle,
with Skibo being 4 miles west of Dornoch.
2010 - billionaire Elon Musk and
actress Talulah Riley
were married in Dornoch Cathedral.
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