| St Magnus Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 | |
  St Magnus Cathedral | |
| 58°58′56″N 2°57′32″W / 58.98222°N 2.95889°W | |
| Location | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Previous denomination | Catholic |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founded | 1137 |
| Founder(s) | Earl Rögnvald |
| Dedication | Saint Magnus |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Category A listed[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 50 metres (160 ft) |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Clergy | |
| Minister(s) | The Revd Fraser MacNaughton |
St Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. Originally Roman Catholic, it is the oldest cathedral in Scotland and the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom - a fine example of Romanesque architecture built when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. Today it is owned not by any church, but by the burgh of Kirkwall as a result of an act of King James III of Scotland following Orkney's annexation by the Scottish Crown in 1468.
The cathedral has its own dungeon. People accused of witchcraft in Orkney from 1594-1708 were usually incarcerated in the church, with their trials also held here.[2]
Construction began in 1137 and it was added to over the next 300 years. The first bishop was William the Old, and the diocese was under the authority of the Archbishop of Nidaros in Norway. It was for Bishop William that the nearby Bishop's Palace was built.
Before the Reformation, the cathedral was presided over by the Bishop of Orkney, whose seat was in Kirkwall. Today, it is a parish church of the Church of Scotland (with a Presbyterian system of Church governance). Its status within the Catholic church is now therefore less clear. The old graves are still considered consecrated grounds however the altar and building would need to be reconsecrated if the cathedral were to become Catholic once again. Nevertheless, occasional Catholic services do take place within the cathedral where necessary.
As of 2024, the congregation of St Magnus Cathedral is part of Orkney Islands Church of Scotland - a single Church of Scotland ecclesiastical parish.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Broad Street, St Magnus Cathedral... (LB36668)". Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "History of Witchcraft Trials in Orkney". Orkney Heritage Society. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2024.