The Armorial Embellishments

Lt Col. Robert Gayre's Coat of Arms.
Lt Col. Robert Gayre’s Coat of Arms

St Vincent’s is adorned with Modern European Heraldry made and erected between 1971 and 1996 whilst under the control of Lt Col. Robert Gayre of Gayre and Nigg as The Commandery of Lochore of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus. The Commandery also owned Lochore Castle in Fife and the Lordship of the Manor of Moulton Bewsolas in Lincolnshire.

The bearer of each of more than 150 armorial shields and achievements is given in the History of St Vincent’s booklet. It was most recently updated in 2014, and is available in St Vincent’s for £3.00.

Gallery Achievements
The achievements mounted on the Gallery of St Vincent’s, above the nave – left to right: The Lord de Saumarez (South Africa); The Lord Mowbray of Stourton (England); The Much Honoured Lt Col R Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, Baron of Lochoreshyre (the term ‘much honoured’ was the traditional way of addressing the laird); Paul Bertrand de la Grassiere (Grand Capitular);The Duke de Brissac (France); HRH the Duke de Nemours (46th Grand Master; The Much Honoured Lt Col R Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, Baron of Lochoreshyre (Grand Referendary); Guy Coutant de Saisseval (Grand Chancellor); The Marquess of Huntly (Scotland); The Lord Dunsany (Ireland); Sir Hannibal Scicluna (Malta).

 

Shields and European coats of arms in St Vincent's
South side of Gallery and Organ Loft

 

Gallery North Side
North side of Gallery and Organ Loft

 

Above Skene Memorial
The south wall of the nave of St Vincent’s: The Achievement of Robert Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, Hereditary Commander of Lochore, above the memorial to William Forbes Skene, the building’s benefactor.

 

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The banners of the North Wall of the Nave

 

North Aisle Gallery
Gallery of the North Aisle – left to right: Cecil Evelyn; The Much Honoured Robert Gayre; HRH Prince Philip Francis of Bourbon and Bourbon, Prince, Grand Master; The Royal Arms of Scotland; HRH Prince Charles Philip of Orleans, Duke of Nemours, Vendome and Alencon; Reinold Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, Younger, Deputy Commander of Lochore (label); Philip Arbuthnot.

 

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The banners over the nave of St Vincent’s.

 

There are two gonfannons at the east end of the north aisle. These represent the Kings of France and the Commandery of Lochore.

 

The 47 shields on the ceiling of the Chancel in St Vincent's
The forty seven chancel ceiling shields.. 

 

The Armorial Display in St Vincent’s on 1st August 1976. More were added (see above).