Canon Alexander Galloway

According to Steven Holmes,[1] he was one of the most notable liturgists of his time, designing many fine examples of Sacrament Houses across the North-East of Scotland.

He was a friend of and adviser to Hector Boece, the first Principal of the University of Aberdeen, as well as Bishop Elphinstone, Chancellor of Scotland and Gavin Dunbar.

[3] In 1949, the Aberdeen architect and antiquarian, William Kelly, wrote a brief hagiography and stated: [..] one of the notable men of Aberdeen in the first half of the 16th century: a good man, and a priest; a warm-hearted, open-handed, willing, and managing; one of the brotherhood of artistic men; [..] a deviser of liberal things, by which his figure stands secure in its own niche to this day.In 2017, Charles Burnett provided an outline of this cleric.

[7] There are no public memorials to him apart from references in two stained glass windows by 20th-century artists – Charles Eamer Kempe and Douglas Strachan.

Galloway, when he is recalled is most often remembered as the “architect” of Greyfriars John Knox Church on Broad Street, Aberdeen; the Bridge of Dee; liturgic marks and sacrament houses in Aberdeenshire churches;[8] and finally a striking octagonal baptismal font now in St John's, Aberdeen.

Later in life he adopted the arms of the namesake family – the Earls of Galloway, a common practice at the time.

He used this during his life to fund various projects as well as allowing him to live comfortably in residences in the parish where he was Prebendary (Kinkell) and in the Chanonry in Old Aberdeen.

He also provided funds to purchase lands for church purposes and in one instance for a Hospital for “Bedeswomen” at the Foot O’Dee in Aberdeen.

He was suited to this potion first, because of a close working relationship to Bishops Elphinstone and Dunbar and his friendship with Hector Boece.

As an experienced Master of Works he developed a close association with Canon Alexander Mylne of Dunkeld (d.1548), first President of the Scottish College of Justice and Abbot of Cambuskenneth.

[19] Carter has recalled him as : [..] the man behind the late flowering of medieval [sic] art which took place in the NE of Scotland during the first third of the 16th century ..[..] .Galloway made three important liturgical contributions at his own Church.

Holmes claims: [..] .. ..the crucifix suggests that its purpose was to show, in the same way as much liturgical interpretation and medieval Eucharistic theology, that the mass was a re-presentation of the passion…..this plaque gave a Catholic interpretation of the mass for the people in the church … the prominence of Galloway’s initials suggests that he wanted to be remembered for this teaching…....[..]The panel that is now visible, in the ruins, is a copy made in the early 20th century after the original had been removed for restoration and lost in 1903.

[24] The liturgical signs are as follows: the eight sides of the bowl itself are a reference to the eighth day of Holy Week – the Sunday of the Resurrection and new birth.

[25] There are in addition on other faces, the Arma Christi (five wounds - the objects associated with Jesus' Passion), two sacred monograms (one being “IHS” - abbreviation of the name ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Jesus); the other a crowned M for Mary), a pierced heart (the "arms of Mary"), two carved roses and the cross with a crown of thorns.

It now sits on a pedestal which was designed by the Aberdeen architect James Mitchell who provided the setting in 1851 when it was installed in St John's.

[26] Not only was Galloway a skilled canonist, Master of Works and an influential liturgist, In two ways he was a "man of his times".

Some time, between 1505 and 1507 Galloway and Hector Boece undertook a series of expeditions on behalf of Bishop Elphinstone.

To inform the group undertaking the work, Boece and Galloway, both members of the Aberdeen Liturgists, were asked to update stories of the Scottish Saints.

(See also, Barnacle goose myth) [..] Alexander Galloway, parson of Kinkell, who, besides being a man of outstanding probity, is possessed of an unmatched zeal for studying wonders … when he was pulling up some driftwood and saw that seashells were clinging to it from one end to the other, he was surprised by the unusual nature of the thing, and, out of a zeal to understand it, opened them up, whereupon he was more amazed than ever, for within them he discovered, not sea creatures, but rather birds, of a size similar to the shells that contained them ... small shells contained birds of a proportionately small size ... so, he quickly ran to me, whom he knew to be gripped with a great curiosity for investigating suchlike matters and revealed the entire thing to me ..[..][31] Boece has been accused of writing history that suited his sponsor, James V of Scotland.

On 28/29 February 1528, Patrick Hamilton, considered the first Protestant martyr of the Scottish Reformation, was burned at the stake, following trial before an Ecclesiastical tribunal and conviction for heresy at St Andrews.

Hamilton had made the fatal decision to publish his writings in defense of Lutheranism and against "the errors and absurdities of the papists".

There is some circumstantial evidence that both the Bishop of Aberdeen may have been one of the judges and that his Canon may have been present at the trial and execution of Hamilton.

Latomus referred to ‘Alexander Galoai Scotus Abordonensis canonicus’ as one of the ‘friends’ who persuaded him to publish his reply to Patrick Hamilton's Places.

Galloway’s liturgical zeal indicates a preference for certainty and deep loyalty to the Catholic Church in Scotland.