Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Aberdeen

The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, also known as Saint Andrew's Cathedral, is an important landmark in Aberdeen. It serves as the seat of the Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney within the Scottish Episcopal Church, making it the focal point of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. Originally opened in 1817 as Saint Andrew’s Chapel, the building was elevated to cathedral status in 1914. This Category A listed building is noted for its distinctive architectural history and its significance in the religious landscape of Aberdeen.

The original structure, designed by renowned Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson, showcases the perpendicular Gothic style. While much of the building is constructed from the local granite, typical of Aberdeen’s architecture, the front façade facing King Street was built from sandstone for economic reasons. Despite Simpson’s opposition to the use of sandstone, this choice has become a defining feature of the cathedral. Over time, the building saw significant additions, including a chancel by George Edmund Street in 1880 and a porch by Robert Lorimer in 1911.

The cathedral holds historical importance as the site is closely linked to the consecration of Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, who was ordained in Aberdeen in 1784. His consecration, performed by Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen, and other bishops, took place in an upper room of a house near the present cathedral. This event is commemorated by a granite plaque on the wall of Marischal College.

In the 1930s, renovations for the 150th anniversary of Seabury’s consecration expanded the cathedral, with architect Ninian Comper adding ornate designs like a vaulted ceiling and gold-painted baldachino. The Kennedy family, including Joseph and John F. Kennedy, attended the opening of an extension in 1938. Originally Anglo-Catholic, the cathedral saw liturgical reforms in the 1980s under Provost Donald Howard, making worship more inclusive. Today, Saint Andrew’s Cathedral honors its history while evolving in its practices.