We have
recently discovered that there is a "Thoms Window" in Lerwick
Town Hall in the Shetland Islands. Maybe this should not come
as too much of a surprise since history shows that the
building was officially opened on 30th July 1883 by
George Hunter Macthomas* Thoms of Aberlemno, the Sheriff of
Caithness, Orkney and Shetland - even though the
building was not completed until 1884. Sheriff Thoms was, of
course, the 16th Chief of Clan MacThomas.
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The photographs below show the outside of the town
hall and the "Thoms Window" :-
The left hand figure in the window represents Eystein,
the third Bishop of Trondheim and ecclesiastical superior of
the right hand figure - William the Old, first Bishop of the
Islands. William died in 1168. The shield above represents the
arms of the Metropolitan See of Trondheim; below are scenes
depicting the coronation of King Magnus Erlingsson of Norway
in 1162, and the founding of St. Magnus Cathedral, during
William’s bishopric.
"Thoms Window" - Orkney
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The Lerwick window should not be confused with the "Thoms
Window" at the East end of St Magnus Cathedral in
Kirkwall, Orkney. That Window is much grander
and is illustrated below:-
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The Thoms Window - St Magnus Cathedral
More observant Clansfolk may have spotted the Thoms
window in the television coverage of the Battle of
Jutland commemoration service, which was held in St Magnus
Cathedral on 31st May 2016.
For readers not familiar with the location of the Orkney
and Shetland Islands the follwing map may be
useful:-
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Note:- * *****
Macthomas is not
a typo. The 16th Chief preferred that spelling in
preference to
MacThomas.
