Chapel Of St Anthony The Eremite, Murthly

The Chapel of St Anthony the Eremite in Murthly is a pre-Reformation mortuary chapel originally built for the Stewarts of Grandtully. It was later extended with the addition of a Romanesque chapel designed by James Gillespie Graham for Sir William Drummond Stewart.

The original chapel dates from the 16th or 17th century and features a barrel-vaulted timber boarded ceiling adorned with arabesque motifs. Inside, there is a notable water stoup and a fine early 18th century cream sandstone mural monument dedicated to Sir Thomas Stewart. This monument is framed by four partially fluted Corinthian columns and supports a pediment that displays the Stewart arms, topped with two winged trumpeters and flaming urns. The chapel also contains a series of well-preserved hatchments, while the vestry has recently been relined with modern pine panelling.

The new chapel, designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1846, is located to the west of the original structure and is built in the Romanesque style. The interior boasts spectacular decoration by Alexander Christie, ARSA, along with contributions from his pupils at the School of Design of the Board of Manufactures for Scotland, completed between 1846 and 1848. The lavish decoration includes extensive gilding, marbling, and carved woodwork, all highlighted by a large mural depicting the Vision of Constantine. Additional features include an altar, stalls, confessional, and other carved woodwork by Charles Trotter of Edinburgh, as well as stained glass by James Ballantyne, also from Edinburgh.