Holy Rood Chapel, aka St Christopher's, Dumfries

Grid reference

NX 975 762 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

297500 576200

Latitude

55.06960563160141

Longitude

-3.6053577102761043

County

Dumfriesshire

Nearby places

St Catherine's Cottage, Dumfries (0.14 miles)

St Thomas's Chapel, Dumfries (0.22 miles)

St John's Land, settlement, Dumfries. (0.37 miles)

Dumfries, parish (0.37 miles)

St Michael's Church, Dumfries (0.37 miles)

Object Classification

Antiquity

Ecclesiastical

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

NMRS records that the chapel had two dedications, Holy Rood and St Christopher (also 'the Chrystal Chapel'), founded by Robert Bruce on the spot of his brother-in-law's execution for his part in the Comyn murder. ... St Mary's Church was built on the site in 1837. (See NMRS for further details). In fact we know from the founding charter of the chapel that it was dedicated originally to the Holy Cross ('in honorem crucis dominice ... capellam') (RRS i, app. 1, no. 61); it is likely that the mention of 'Christopher' in its later names has nothing to do with 'St Christopher', but is a misundersstaning of the original purpose of the chapel, which was to pray for the SOUL of Christopher de Seton who, far from being regarded as a saint, was a murderer and violator of church sanctuary.'

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/

Relationships with other parishes

Within Dumfries, parish