The Light in the North

St. Magnus Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Scotland and Britain's most northerly cathedral. It is known as the "Light in the North" and was founded in 1137 by the Viking Earl Rognvald Kali Kolsson, to honor his martyred uncle, St. Magnus. The cathedral is set in the heart of Kirkwall, the capitol city of the Orkney Islands, and is still a popular venue for church services, weddings, and funerals.

Welcome to St. Magnus Cathedral: The Light of the North

Front of cathedral

Best preserved medieval cathedral in Scotland

Primary burial ground for town for over 800 years

Builders used two different local sandstones to give the cathedral its striped pattern. The cathedral features a 16th century dungeon. Known as "Marwick's Hole," it's the only cathedral in Britain believed to have a dungeon. There is a chute on the upper floor that allowed prisoners to be dropped into dark holding cells. According to records, people accused of witchcraft were kept in the dudgeon while awaiting trial and execution (1594-1708). 

Contrasting red and yellow sandstone

Gravestones

Another outer door

Chapel

There was much to see inside the church. The architecture was equally impressive as what we saw outside, if not more. In 1919, workers found a hidden cavity in one of the pillars. It contained a box of bones believed to belong to St. Magnus, the cathedral's patron saint. I missed seeing the marker for Magnus's bones, as they were put back into the pillar in 1925.

Huge pillars

Stained glass window

Check out the ceiling

There were many relics in the cathedral, including many grave markers and memorial stones. Most of the carvings displayed skulls and crossbones. They were traditional symbols of the time.  

From the 17th century

Interesting grave marker

Praying to the crown

Close-up of crown