Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 9 July 1903, Page 15

In a secluded hollow at the top of the smiling and well cultivated valley of Glenlivet, in Banffshire, there still stands, almost as it stood over 100 years ago, the old Catholic Ecclesiastical College of Scalan, the first to be erected in Scotland after the Reformation for the education of boys destined to serve as priests on the Scottish mission. It was built by Bishop Gordon in 1712, and continued to exist as a seminary until 1799, when it was discontinued and the students transferred to Aquhorties, in Aberdeenshire. The college was visited by Cumberland's soldiert .after Culloden, who burned down the house and disposed of its inmates'. Many eminent ecclesiastics received their training within its walls. The yet venerated Bishop Hay was consecrated here, and presided over the establishment as its Superior for many yeais, and also did his coadjutor, the saintly Bishop Geddes. Bishop Aneas McDonald, of the Highland Vicanate. was also consecrated at Scalan College. Bishop Hay wrote a considerable part of his learned theological works at Scalan. The building when entire formed a s |iiare. The college proper which is a two-storied building, with attics, and slated, is 50 feet in length by 16 feet in bieadth, and is flanked on the right-hand side by the chapel and on ■the left by the college kitchens. The mam entrance to the building was by a i;ate which led into the centre of the little paved courtyard Each successive year tourists from many climes and of all denominations come to visit this ancient seat of learning, which seems almost to defy the ravages of time and climate.