Gordon Episcopal Chapel and Parsonage, Fochabers

Gordon Chapel stands in the small town of Fochabers in Moray, Scotland. It is a 19th-century Gothic church built in the 1830s by Archibald Simpson for Elizabeth Brodie, the last Duchess of Gordon. The building has two levels, with the parsonage on the ground floor and the chapel above. The chapel faces south towards Castle Street, its ashlar sandstone entrance contrasting with the harled walls of the rest of the structure. A private entrance in the north-west corner was once used by the Gordon family. The chapel is a Category A listed building, recognised for its architectural and historical significance. The chapel is worth visiting for its remarkable collection of Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows, the largest in Scotland. These windows were produced by Morris and Co, with designs by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and include depictions of the Crucifixion, St Cecilia, St Ursula, and archangels Raphael and Michael. The St Michael window honours Bernard Charles Gordon-Lennox, who died in the First World War. The building has undergone several renovations, including work by Alexander Ross in the 1870s and restorations in the 20th and 21st centuries. Visitors find a two-level space with the chapel on the upper floor, reached by a flight of stairs. Services are relayed by CCTV to the ground-floor chapel room for those with mobility issues. The interior features a hammerbeam roof installed during 19th-century renovations. The stained glass windows dominate the space, their vivid colours and intricate designs drawing attention. The building remains an active place of worship, part of the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness. Its setting in Fochabers, near the remains of Gordon Castle, adds to its historical context.