St. Magnus Cathedral

Kirkwall, United Kingdom

St. Magnus Cathedral was founded as a final resting place for the relics of St. Magnus. Work on its construction started in 1137. The Cathedral's founder was Earl Rognvald who supervised the earliest stages of the building during the bishopric of William the Old of Orkney (1102-1168).

Between 1154 and 1472, Orkney was ecclesiastically under the Norwegian archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim) and after that it became part of the Scottish province of St. Andrews. The Cathedral was assigned to the inhabitants of Kirkwall by King James III of Scotland in a charter dated 1486. One of the most notable bishops was Bishop Robert Reid who held the see of Orkney between 1541 and 1558.

The Reformation brought ruin to many cathedrals but St. Magnus Cathedral seems to have emerged relatively unscathed, although the organ, treasures and rich vestments were removed and the wall decorations were covered in whitewash.

In 1845 the Government presumed the ownership of the Cathedral, expelling the then congregation and carrying out major restoration work to the fabric of the building. In 1851 the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall re-established ownership of the building and the choir and presbytery were fitted with new pews and galleries for the reinstated congregation.

The Cathedral slowly deteriorated until the early 20th century when The Thoms Bequest made further major restoration possible. Between 1913 and 1930, the main alteration to the exterior of the Cathedral was the erection of a tall steeple which replaced the low pyramidal roof of the bell tower. Internally, the screen separating the choir from the nave was removed, along with the pews and galleries. Stained glass windows replaced the formerly plain windows, much of the floor was tiled and the warm red sandstone was revealed by the removal of plaster and whitewash.

Today St. Magnus Cathedral is a popular tourist destination. The great age of much of its structure means it has smaller windows than those found in more modern churches. The tall narrow nave gives the illusion of much greater size than is actually the case. Uniquely in Britain, the Cathedral has a dungeon or holding pen built between the south wall of the choir and the south transept chapel. It is known as Marwick's Hole, but the source of this name and the time of its origin are unknown.

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Founded: 1137
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

En Yin Liew (3 months ago)
St Magnus Cathedral known as the ‘Light in the North’ was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus who was martyred here in Orkney. The Cathedral belongs to the people of Orkney and its doors are open to all. Set in the heart of Kirkwall, the capital city of the Orkney Islands, it is a place of stillness, of inspiration, of warmth, and is steeped in the presence of God. We invite you to explore this website which contains information about many aspects of the Cathedral’s life and when you do visit Orkney we look forward to welcoming you to worship or to a time of quiet reflection and contemplation. The worshipping community over the centuries has been part of the Roman Catholic Church, the Norwegian Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). The worshipping community thus inherits an ecumenical tradition. Today, in addition to our local congregation, worshippers come from a whole host of denominational backgrounds and none.
Denis Parker (3 months ago)
Splendid place to visit and welcomes all comes to the church of Scotland services held there. Lots to see and there is a leaflet with an interesting tour to follow. Look out for the carving on the choir seats.
James Naismith (4 months ago)
Absolutely magnificent place. The stonework a joy. Unlike many such cathedrals in Scotland from this period intact completely. The huge central pillars are impressive, the red stone gives a different and warm feel. On day we went flower show. Some pics taken, cluedo one has some nice nods to game. HMS Royal Oak memorial moving.
Jeffrey Cowgill (6 months ago)
Amazing Cathedral dated from 11 century. Beautifully maintained and ornate. Please visit and help. They have guided tours available if you prefer. Urban Cowgill June 2024
Anthony Roske (7 months ago)
It is a lovely building standing very proud in the centre of Kirkwall and is the most northerly cathedral in Britain. I liked the striking contrast, in places, of the different coloured bricks. Inside it is a scene of total splendour. I may have included a couple of photos from just around the corner, so please forgive me. I thought that they tied in well.
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