A Place of Heritage
Where the lives of remarkable Orcadians are remembered.
St Magnus Cathedral is not only a place of worship and community gathering; it is also a place where the lives of remarkable Orcadians are remembered. Over the centuries, memorials, tombs, and associations with the cathedral have preserved the stories of individuals whose lives shaped the history of Orkney and, in some cases, reached far beyond the islands.
St Magnus in stained glass in the cathedral. Photo: WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
THE MARTYR
Magnus Erlendsson
The most significant figure connected with the cathedral is Magnus Erlendsson, the Norse earl whose martyrdom in 1117 inspired the cathedral’s creation.
Magnus was known for his reputation as a peaceful and devout leader during a turbulent period of Norse rule. According to the saga tradition, he refused to fight in a dispute with his cousin and was eventually killed on the island of Egilsay. After his death he was venerated as a saint, and the cathedral was built to honour his memory.
In 2017, to mark 900 years since his death, forensic artist Hew Morrison made a reconstruction of Magnus’s face, drawing on photographs taken in the 1920s of the skull believed to be his. The BBC reported on the work: Face of Orkney’s St Magnus reconstructed.
EARLS, BISHOPS AND EXPLORERS
Others Remembered Here
Three more lives are woven into the story of the building: the earl who founded it, the bishop who oversaw its building, and an Orcadian whose name travelled further than any of them.
Earl Rognvald, Founder of the Cathedral
The cathedral owes its existence to Rognvald Kali Kolsson, who founded the building in 1137.
Rognvald promised to build a great stone church in honour of his uncle Magnus if he gained the earldom of Orkney. Once he became earl, he fulfilled that promise and began construction of the cathedral that still stands today.
Rognvald himself later became venerated as a saint, and his story is closely woven into the cathedral’s early history.
Bishop William the Old
Another important figure is William the Old, who served as bishop during the early years of the cathedral’s construction.
He is believed to have overseen much of the building work during its formative period. Tradition holds that he lived to a remarkable age and was buried within the cathedral.
Dr John Rae, Arctic Explorer
Among more recent Orcadians remembered in connection with the cathedral is the explorer John Rae. Born in Orkney in 1813, Rae became one of the most accomplished Arctic explorers of the nineteenth century, mapping large sections of the Canadian Arctic coastline.
A memorial in the cathedral honours his achievements and the remarkable contribution an Orcadian made to the exploration of the far north.
A PLACE OF ORCADIAN MEMORY
Saints, Explorers and Islanders
Beyond these well-known figures, the cathedral contains many memorials to Orcadians who served their community in quieter ways: ministers, sailors, soldiers, writers and poets, civic leaders and families whose lives were rooted in the islands.
Within its walls, the stories of saints, explorers, and ordinary islanders sit side by side, reflecting the long and continuing history of the Orcadian people.
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.