St Columba’s Cathedral Wood Carving

The oak panels in the sanctuary depict two scenes from the life of Saint Columba in which the saint is portrayed as the symbol of reconciliation between peoples. On the left, Columba, the Celt meets with King Brude of the Picts at Inverness. On the right he meets with Saint Mungo or Kentigern of the British people of Strathclyde. The two saints exchange pastoral staffs as a sign of friendship and reconciliation. The vine carved in stone around the panels is a symbol of Christ reaching out to all. The panels are the work of English sculptor Donald Gilbert (1900 – 1961).