18 - 19 King's College Chapel
Bishop William Elphinstone Monument (1926)
Henry Wilson (1864-1934)
Bishop Elphinstone founded the University of Aberdeen in 1495. His tomb in the chapel originally had a monument with his likeness, but this monument was removed by Covenanters in the seventeenth century. In 1891 a replacement was proposed, eventually being comissioned and completed decades later. The new monument was overly large and didn't fit on the tomb, so it was moved outside in 1946 after cramping the antechapel for nineteen years.
The monument depicts the bishop resting on his funeral bier. Figures representing wisdom, hope, love and faith decorate the south side; prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude the north side. Two angels are at the west end and two attendants at the east end. The Gaelic inscription reads:
"Lige ar n-aiti noí, in fer Elphinston, éces Goídel
Lasa mbrúcht dúinne - búaid nglé - in srúaim soís co suíthe.
A chell som in chell atchí in drong immot, a daltai:
A anam i nim nár Dé: fég sund a lecht sa lige L"
"The resting-place of our holy teacher, the man Elphinstone, scholar of the Gaels, due to whom the stream of wisdom and learning - a brilliant benefit - bursts forth upon us. The church which those around you see, O student, is his church. His soul is in God's noble heaven; behold here his monument and his resting place."
Stained glass windows
The chapel has had stained glass windows since it was built at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Only two small pieces of glass remain from this time, which are incorporated into the West Window.
Most of the windows were designed by Aberdeen-born artist Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) over the course of his career. Many of the chapel's windows memorialise alumni or are dedicated to important people in the University's history.
North East Apse Window (1938)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts Jesus, the seasons and the Nativity.
South East Apse Window (1938)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts the Garden of Eden and representations of good and evil.
West Window (1875)
Clayton and Bell
Depicts biblical scenes with the theme of learning, with portraits of important figures in the university's history.
War Memorial Window (1920)
Douglas Strachan
Memorialises alumni and other members of the university community who died in the first world war.
Campbell Memorial Window (1880)
Clayton and Bell
Depicts King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and the Adoration of the Magi.
Pirie Memorial Window (1912)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts scenes from the life of Bishop Elphinstone and the founding of the university.
Geddes Memorial Window (1903)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts pre-Christian figures such as the sibyls and Plato whose writings are interpreted here as prophecies of the coming of Jesus.
Harrower Memorial Window (1934)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts a crucified Christ with other biblical figures and Bishop Elphinstone, St. Andrew, and locally important saints St. Nicholas and St. Machar.
Robertson Smith Memorial Window (1897)
A. Marshall Mackenzie
Depicts prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.
de Gurbs Window (1904)
Douglas Strachan
Depicts the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
Merson Memorial Window (1963)
William Wilson
A memorial to alumni in the Gordon Highlanders who died in the first and second world wars.