Clan Carruthers Int Society CCIS                           PROMPTUS ET FIDELIS

 

 

Govan Stones

 

REMARKABLE HOGBACK STONES, CROSSES AND THE GOVAN SARCOPHAGUS

Viking raids destroyed a fortress, known as Alt Clut (Dumbarton), the centre of an ancient kingdom of Britons at the mouth of the Clyde, in 870.

Govan was further up the river, and gained in importance when a new dynasty was established in the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Govan Parish Church became an importantecclesistical centre for this new kingdom.

 

Govan Old Church contains a remarkable collection of 31 carved stones which date to the 9th-11th centuries. There were 45 stones in the 1980s, but some were destroyed when the neighbouring Harland and Wolff shipyard was demolished, the stones being mistaken for debris.

 

The surviving stones include five exceptionally large sandstone hogback stones; tombs which were intended to look like the roofs of Viking buildings. They demonstrate the presence of Vikings in the area.

 

 

 

 

The collection also includes beautifully-carved crosses and cross shafts, and the Govan Sarcophagus. This has intricate interlace, warriors and hunting scenes carved onto it and is the only one of its kind from northern Britain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is believed to commemorate St Constantine, the son of Pictish king Kenneth MacAlpin.  Both men, Constantine and King Alpin carry the CTS11603 Carruthers genome.

 

 

 

 

Govan Old Church, 866 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 3UU

Old Parish Church is the name of the original parish church serving Govan in Glasgow from the 6th century until 2007. In that year, the Church of Scotland united the two Govan congregations with Linthouse and established the parish church at Govan Cross, making Govan Old redundant. Govan Old Church is no longer used for regular Sunday services, but the building remains a place of worship with a daily morning service and is open to visitors in the afternoons.

 

The church dedicated to Saint Constantine of Strathclyde occupies a Scottish Gothic Revival building of national significance (A-Listed by Historic Environment Scotland) within a churchyard designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Historic Environment Scotland). The church houses an internationally significant collection of early medieval sculpture known as Govan Stones. All the carved stones come from the churchyard and including interlace-decorated crosses, hogbacks, and burial monuments dating to the 9th – 11th centuries AD. Govan Old and the Govan Stones are open daily between April 1 and October 31 from 1pm-4pm. Admission to the museum is by donation.

 

 

Preserving Our Past, Recording Our Present, Informing Our Future

Ancient and Honorable Clan Carruthes Int Society CCIS  LLc

carruthersclan1@gmail.com               carrothersclan@gmail.com

 

Dr Timothy Frasier

     Northumberland, England

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