The Catholic altar has been replaced with a simple central table. Book of Martyrs, John Fox, 1563.

Description: James IV had this chapel built in about 1492. Before that it was probably living quarters. See if you can find the three projecting stone brackets (corbels) that once held up the floor above.

In 1560, the year before Mary Queen of Scots returned to Scotland, there was a religious Reformation. The Scottish Parliament declared in favour of the Protestant religion. Dramatic changes were made to cathedrals, churches and chapels across Scotland. Religious images were over-painted with whitewash and statues of saints pulled down. The Catholic mass was outlawed.

This chapel once had statues of saints on the corbel-brackets in between the windows. Between the two high arched doors at the east end was a decorated Catholic altar. All that remains are traces of the iron pins that held up the back panel, or 'retable'.

Teleport to see a private prayer chapel that Mary Queen of Scots might have used to say her Catholic prayers.