Guildry - Symbol four

Symbol Four

The symbolic 4 is realised in several ways.  The shields at the top of the window represent the arms of Scotland's first Royal Burghs, founded in the 12th century and a source of the merchant guilds.  The symbols of the Four Evangelists form an arc above the Cross, carrying the Word to the people of Scotland, symbolised by the Royal Burghs.  A strong line from the Saltire Cross combines with the reversed 4 to form an equilateral triangle - symbol of the Holy Trinity and the source of the sub-theme of the Triumph of Christ's victory over the Cross as a move from darkness into light.

By using the geometry of the stonework, here in dark, sombre tones broken only by the Saltire Cross of St Andrew, the three lancets present the theme of Darkness into Light through the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.  The design of the left hand lancet presents God the Father and the Creation, with the Genesis then further realised in the birth of the River Forth and its meeting with the Teith.  The centre lancet is dedicated to God the Son, with the large seal of Stirling showing the Crucified Christ as the focal point of the design so that his agony of the Cross is eclipsed by the Golden Light of the empty Cross of the Resurrected Christ.  The apex carries the attribute Christus Vuctor, and this is further emphasised with the Alpha and Omega in the topmost quatrefoil.  The right hand lancet is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, associated with Holy Wisdom and Inspiration, hence the soaring Eagle of St John at the apex.  A variation on this theme is symbolised by the Cog as the Ship of the Church, driven by the Holy Breath towards the Holy Rude, its bowsprit pointing towards the Golden Cross.  The star and the moon, taken from the Crucifixion on the Stirling Seal and placed in the firmament beside the angel and eagle, present guiding lights in the Darkness of the Night.

The bottom section of the three lancets complete the elements of the window - the Cog or merchant ship, the River Forth, the seven coat of arms of countries and cities with which Stirling traded, and the Ring borne on the chain of office of the Dean of the Guildry.  These in their relation to other symbols reinforce the religious and secular themes of the window, perhaps most strongly in the ship pointing to the moon and star.  Just as these were the lights by which Medieval ships steered in the night, so the Word Made Flesh is the guiding light of the Ship that is the Kirk of the Holy Rude.