The final photograph of this series shows the Chapel more or less as it is today. By 1980, on the recommendation of George Hay, architect with the precursor of Historic Scotland, the plaster had been replaced between the stone ribs and on the walls and new lighting introduced and soft furnishings provided, giving a warmer and brighter appearance to the chapel.

The photo (about 2004) also shows the result of water seepage from a leaking roof high above. As part of Phase One of the Mither Kirk Project, a new roof has been completed. This has stopped the water ingress but drying out is a slow process. In a later phase of the Mither Kirk Project the whole Chapel area will be restored.

One of the many features in St Mary’s Chapel are the carved wood panels around the walls. The large screen on the west wall was originally in the Provost’s Loft in the East Kirk. The photograph shows two panels from the screen, the upper one is of the City coat of arms in 1606 and the lower one the coat of arms of the Alexander Rutherford of Rubislaw who was Provost of Aberdeen on eight other separate times between 1591 and 1615 including 1606. Clearly a good servant of the city over many years he died whilst in office in 1615.

In 1604, another year when he was Provost, Alexander Rutherford had to put down a ‘demonstration’ by 20 boys of the Aberdeen Grammar School. Their protest was against the suppression by the Provost of their Christmas vacation, traditionally from the feast of St. Nicholas (6th December) until Innocents Day (28th December). They were armed with “hagbuttis, pistollis, swordis and lang wapynnis”. In the riot, the school boys “barred-out” their masters and magistrates and occupied the school. The siege lasted three days until hunger overtook them! The boys were taken to the Tollbooth by Provost Rutherford – but eventually the Christmas vacations were restored.

The building of St Mary’s Chapel probably began in the 1440s as the first stage of the extension of the church over the steep slope down to the Putachie Burn. When it was dedicated in 1498 St Nicholas’ was one of the largest parish churches in Scotland. After the Reformation the chapel was used for many secular purposes but by 1886 when this drawing (the earliest known view of the interior) was published it was again being used for regular services. The original window openings had been altered, a wooden floor inserted at a higher level than the original, and pews formed from carved panels removed from the church above.

A major restoration of St Mary’s Chapel in 1898 attracted widespread public support and significantly altered its appearance. The original floor levels were restored and new floors laid in granite, in which interesting grave slabs, at one time in the church, were inserted. A stone Communion table was placed in the apse, chairs replaced the pews, and the old carved panels from these were used to form a dado round the walls while others were used along with an ancient choir desk were used to furnish a dais against the west wall. Two stained glass windows were inserted. Contrary to the architects’ recommendation, plaster between the ribs of the roof was removed, revealing some interesting, and puzzling, features.