Myres Castle Chapel

Myres Castle was built in the early 16th century to the south of Auchtermuchty and is set within a designed landscape of parkland, woods and gardens. The castle was built on land granted to Robert Coxwell by James I of Scotland, who served the king in the 15th century and became Sergeant of Arms to the king at nearby Falkland Palace. The castle itself was built in around 1530 by a descendant, John Scrymgeour. The privately owned castle had a Roman Catholic chapel built into one of the rooms, which has latterly been converted into a billiard room, yet retains many original features.

J Dowling 2017

The chapel room is rectangular and has plastered and wall-papered walls with large rectangular case and sash windows in the external wall. There was an altar built into a recess at the east end but this was removed when the chapel was removed. A full size snooker table now takes up much of the space in the room. Original features that have been retained include plasterwork and fire places. Towards the ceiling there is a frieze of cherubim and garlands in relief. The south elevation has a piscina, retained from the original chapel, decorated with a scallop shell, a Christian symbol of pilgrimage and eternal life.

To the west is a private viewing gallery above the doorway, which is embellished with the arms of the owners. Censers, which were formerly in the altar, hang from the ceiling between the east and west walls. The north elevation retains a board on which prayer numbers were displayed.

J Dowling 2017