A Place of Community
A living gathering place for the people of Orkney.
For nearly nine centuries, St Magnus Cathedral has stood at the centre of life in Kirkwall. So much more than a remarkable historic building, it is a living gathering place for the people of Orkney, a space where faith, culture, remembrance and celebration come together.
A SHARED CIVIC SPACE
Belonging to the People of Orkney
Because the cathedral belongs to the people of Orkney rather than to a church authority, it has long served as a shared civic space. Orcadians and visitors alike come together here for moments of reflection, celebration and remembrance.
HOW ORKNEY GATHERS
Where the Community Comes Together
Four occasions show the cathedral at its most public: an act of remembrance, a festival of music, the arrival of a tree from Norway, and a festival of flowers.
Remembrance
Services marking national events, acts of remembrance, and local commemorations bring the community together beneath the great red sandstone arches. One of the most significant gatherings is the service held on Remembrance Sunday, when people from across Orkney assemble to honour those who have lost their lives in conflict.
Music and the Arts
The cathedral also plays a central role in Orkney’s cultural life. Its remarkable acoustics make it one of the islands’ finest performance spaces. During the internationally renowned St Magnus International Festival the building becomes a major concert venue, welcoming musicians and audiences from around the world. Choirs, orchestras and local performers appear here throughout the year, making the cathedral a place where community and creativity meet.
The Christmas Tree from Norway
One of the most cherished annual events celebrates the arrival of Kirkwall’s Christmas tree, gifted each year from Norway, a reminder of Orkney’s enduring historical ties with Scandinavia. The tree on the Kirk Green is a gift from the county of Vestland, and a second tree, for inside the cathedral, comes from the Fjære Historical Society in Grimstad, in southern Norway. It is cut from the woods at Bringsværd, where Kali Kolsson, later Earl Rognvald and St Rognvald, grew up. The occasion begins with a special service in the cathedral marked by a procession of primary school pupils carrying lamps in the tradition of Saint Lucy’s Day. Their lights moving through the cathedral create a moment of warmth and symbolism in the dark northern winter.
The service celebrates the friendship between Orkney and Norway and is attended by civic leaders from both communities. The cathedral is filled with people ready to celebrate the arrival of the tree. Music from both countries is performed, reflecting the shared heritage that links the islands across the North Sea. Afterwards, everyone gathers outside for the lighting of the tree.
A FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS
The Flower Festival
Each year the Kirkwall Flower Arrangement Club fills the cathedral with colour for its annual Flower Festival, telling stories through flowers on a new theme each time, from Men of Orkney in 1975 to Myths and Legends in 2026. The proceeds are donated to the Friends.
A GATHERING PLACE
As It Has Done for Centuries
From concerts and commemorations to festivals and seasonal celebrations, St Magnus Cathedral continues to serve as a place where the community gathers, just as it has done for centuries.
Inspired by the Cathedral?
Whether you’ve visited in person or discovered St Magnus Cathedral from afar, you can play a part in its story. The Friends help fund conservation, improvements and the day-to-day care that keeps this remarkable building open and welcoming.
Every subscription and donation goes directly towards the Cathedral’s care and future.