St Machar is a graveyard of
medieval antiquity. It is very congested with a great many stones both
upright and flat. There is a whole range of ornamentation and gravestone
design represented here and consequently the churchyard will be of great
interest to those who wish to see or study this aspect of graveyards. Even
if you have no relatives buried there it is fascinating to see all the
different kinds of memorials that span the ages.Many distinguished
academics and clergymen are buried here. Some memorials are massive,
reflecting the wealth of the individual or the estate. All stones are in
good condition with little sign of vandalism. Having an active cathedral
and a park and houses nearby probably helps to keep it that way. The
church authorities are however to be commended for their upkeep of the
grounds.
While there please go inside the cathedral (its
open almost every day of the year) and look upwards! There is one of the
finest examples of roof interiors in the country. It escaped the ravages
of the Reformation and it is a wonder to behold. There are numerous
other points of interest inside with the staff in attendance more than
willing to answer questions. Leave a few coins in the contribution box
and help the cathedral maintain this wonderful building!
I would normally park my car in the Seaton Park adjacent to the
cathedral. This is only a few minutes walk away with no hassle parking.
The path to the cathedral from the park is a steep climb. Never mind -
it's easy on the way back! The short walk is a lovely one on a nice
sunny day and allows you the opportunity to soak up the considerable
history of the area. Come in the summer and inspect the formal gardens
within the park as an added bonus. I promise you will not be
disappointed!
A lovely park, a lovely cathedral and a lovely graveyard. What
more can I say? Well worth the trouble and
thoroughly recommended!
Click on photos below to enlarge
