Historian hopes to find out about craftsman

A historian from Norway is hoping PA readers can shed light on a Perthshire man and his connection to the Scandanavian country’s oldest cathedral.

Stavanger Cathedral was originally built in 1125 and was reconstructed following a fire that ravaged the city in 1272.

Scottish craftsman, woodcutter and painter Andrew Lawrenceson Smith is well-known for his work within the Norwegian place of worship.

It is understood he was born in Braco around 1620 and he died in Norway around 1694. He was married to Maren Knudsdatter.

Dr Hans Eyvind Naess, retired sub-director with the National Archives of Norway, explained:“In the cathedral of Stavanger there is an oral tradition, which for two centuries has been believed to be true, that the pulpit was made in 1658 by a man from Braco, Andrew Lawrenceson Smith, born in Braco about 1620.”

Dr Naess is wondering if this is a story that has ever been heard of in Braco and, if so, if it can be substantiated in any way.

Lawrenceson Smith appears to have been one of the most notable artists from the Stavanger renaissance.

When he moved to Norway, he first settled in Bergen, but later moved to a farm in Sola near Stavanger.

He is seen as one of the leading representatives of the Cartilage baroque art period, known as such because the wood carvings resemble the curves in a human ear.

Dr Naess is looking for evidence in document form.

He continued:“The pulpit in Stavanger Cathedral is considered the most marvellous pulpit from the baroque period in Norway.

“It has been told through generations that it was carved and painted by the same man, the said Andrew Lawrenceson Smith.

“At present a restoration project in the cathedral is ongoing planned to be finished in 2025 when Stavanger celebrates its 900-year anniversary.

“There is by my findings, having searched the still existent primary sources in the National Archives, no proof that can be documented by primary sources that the oral story is true.”

Mike Boxer, of Braco and Greenloaning Community Council, was intrigued by the request as the village of Braco was not established until 1815.

He said:“The area was just a hamlet and scattered farm houses.

“I will pass the email on to our local historians, who may have the resources to research some of the church records at Dunblane Cathedral – which may have some form of census details of the area as there is no Braco census for that period.”

If anyone can confirm Andrew Lawrenceson Smith’s link to the region, email news@ perthshireadvertiser.co.uk