Talk:Sutherland Towns and Villages D

Dornoch

Dornoch Cathedral is a cathedral by name only. Originally a Roman Catholic building built as the seat of the diocese of Caithness (built for and financed by Gilbert de Moravia) in the early to mid 1200's the cathedral status was relinquished after the Reformation and is only used as a reminder of the history of the church.

The building remained untouched and in original condition until a clan fued in 1570 brought about many changes. The building was set alight and save for the chancel and transept walls the building was almost completely destroyed. Nearly fifty years passed before a partial restoration took place (around 1615) but it was only due to the generosity of Elizabeth, Duchess-Countess of Sutherland that the work was completed during the 1830's.

Dornoch Free Church is one of the earliest Free Church buildings in Scotland, the formation of the Free Church in 1843 brought about a number of new buildings though few were completed in that year due to land and funding issues. Dornoch suffered little in the way of problems in that erspect and the church was designed and constructed before the end of the year.

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