St Mary's Chapel, Rothesay

In the old cemetery on the southern edge of Rothesay, beside the High Kirk, stands the chancel of Bute's medieval parish church of St Mary, built in the early 1300s as northern Bute grew in importance around the Stewarts' castle. It was the island's second parish church, after St Blane's, and shares its narrow lancet windows by the altar, a piscina and an aumbry. Two bishops of Sodor, Alan in 1321 and his successor Gilbert, were buried here, suggesting it served as their cathedral. The nave was demolished in 1692 for a Presbyterian church, replaced in turn in 1795. The chancel's treasures are two canopied tombs of the 1300s or 1400s. A knight in plate armour rests his head on a jousting helm crested with a dog's head, his feet on a lion, with arms linking him to the royal Stewarts; beside him a lady prays with her rosary, a baby at her side. The chapel is free and open five days a week, closed on Thursdays and Fridays.