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the former returning from ing a meeting on on to claim his patri- 16th April 1116 (or 1117) to mony. The following year resolve their differences. Magnus married Ingarth Egilsay was Bishopric land who was a Scottish noble- and thus they were to meet woman. Thus already the on neutral territory. dual nature of the Earldom, Norwegian and Each Earl was to take two Scottish, was well estab- ships and an equal number lished. of men. Earl Magnus arrived first and seeing Earl The story goes that Magnus Haakon coming with eight never consummated his mar- ships, he suspected treach- riage, taking a cold bath ery, went into the church to whenever he felt enamoured pray and refused help when by his wife. While the Saga his followers offered to from the southwest does not mention any chil- defend him. Haakon and his THE STORY OF ST sat down on the foredeck. dren of the marriage, neither men sought out Magnus the MAGNUS After the death When the king asked why he is there any evidence for his next morning. He was pray- of Earl Thorfinn the Mighty would not fight he said that chastity, which may well be ing when they came up to in 1065 the succession he had nothing against any- an invention to fit in with his him, and he made three St Magnus Cathedral from the southeast passed through his sons, one there. Ordered by the saintly status. offers: to go to Rome or self. Finally he told Lifolf the name Rognvald, because Erlend and Paul, who were King to go below, he instead Jerusalem and not return, to "to hew him a mighty stroke Gunnhild thought the name forcibly replaced by Sigurd, took a psalter and sang dur- The Saga states, “So long as go into custody in Scotland, to the head, so that he was would bring good fortune. son of King Magnus of ing the battle, and did not they remained friends there or to be maimed and impris- killed as a lord and not a Earl Paul Haakonson strong- in 1098 during a shelter himself. were good times and peace oned. Haakon accepted the thief." ly resisted Rognvald’s great expedition to the west . in Orkney.” However last, but the chiefs wanted attempts to claim his share. King Magnus took with him After this incident Magnus Haakon became jealous of one of them dead. Thora, mother of Magnus, the sons of Erlend and Paul , Erlendson slipped away and the popularity and greatness had ready a banquet to cele- Kol advised Rognvald that Magnus and Haakon, but took refuge with his relative, of his kinsman and finally a Magnus remained cheerful brate the Earls' meeting, an indirect approach might Magnus refused to fight. the Scottish King, for some serious argument broke out and fell on his knees in which she stoically contin- succeed and to him "to seek time. Then in 1103 he and at a session of the Ting at prayer. Haakon standard ued and she persuaded help where it is likely to be It is said that during a great his cousin Haakon Paulson Tingwall. Blows were bearer, Ofeig, vehemently Haakon to allow Magnus to had effectually - from the battle in Sound, he succeeded to the Earldom, averted only by them agree- refused to kill Magnus. be buried at Christ's Church holy St Magnus. You must Haakon then ordered his at . Soon after, a promise that if you gain your St Magnus Cathedral from the northwest in 1821 by William Daniell South transept door cook, Lifolf, to do the deed. heavenly light was said to be dominions you will build a Magnus gave his tunic to seen over his grave. Men in stone minister at , him, and prayed for his mur- danger prayed to him and derers, forgiving them for their prayers were answered. their offences against him- Many miraculous cures of St Magnus’ skull with large gash illness occurred.

Earl Magnus' nephew, son of St Rognvald plaque his sister Gunnhild and Kol St Magnus plaque of Agdir in Norway, was meanwhile growing up. King Sigurd of Norway gave him half the Earldom and

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more magnificent than any S M H

in these lands, dedicate it to A C

Earl Magnus the Holy, R endow it with money and have his relics and the Holy See established there."

Earl Paul was kidnapped by Sweyn Asleifson whilst hunting Otters at Westness Plan of St Magnus Cathedral in and taken to . The cult of St the edge of the Peerie Sea. Atholl, where his sister was Magnus was a strong one Earl Rognvald is said to married to Earl Maddad. and for centuries people have laid the foundation Paul never returned to from as far away as Iceland stone on 13th December, Orkney, and was possibly and Norway came to his Santa Lucia’s Day. Work killed by Sweyn. shrine. During the reforma- initially went ahead quickly, tion all the shrines would with the choir being com- In addition to St Magnus have been dismantled and plete within five years. Cathedral at least ten the bones hidden in the pillar However Rognvald’s funds as well where they remain today. ran low and it was only by as the ruined cathedral at threatening to pass a law Kirkjuvagr in the Faroes are Building of the Cathedral stating that the Earls had St Rognvald’s Chapel at the east end of the choir Northwest aisle looking west dedicated to Magnus The Cathedral building was inherited all Udal posses- been made over the years . The relics of St Magnus fer from that imagined by Erlendson. There are also commenced in 1137, under sions, that he managed to In the early 13th century the were found in 1919 in the Kol, but is probably all the seven in Iceland and five in the supervision of Kol, on raise sufficient funds. Each choir was extended and the southeast rectangular pillar more impressive. About farmer agreed to pay one impressive east window of the choir, and remain 69m long, by 30m across the St Magnus Cathedral nave from the west door mark per ploughland to buy added while the nave was there today. The wooden transepts, and with only 5m back the Udal rights which extended westwards. Twin box that contained them is in between the pillars the they had really never lost. In towers were planned for the the Orkney Museum. The church has a feeling of great this way St Magnus west gable, but never com- skull has a large cleavage size and good proportion Cathedral was financed by pleted and the building was consistent with being struck inside. The Old Red the Orkney people them- essentially complete by the by an axe. Rognvald’s Sandstone, used skillfully in selves, uniquely became early 14th century. remains are in the north pil- its various colours by the their property. lar. In 1848 the grave of Durham masons, lends Bishop William the Old was warmth to the graceful but South transept door It is probable that the con- found. He died in 1168 and solid structure. struction was far enough had been Bishop for 68 advanced for consecration years. A small inscribed Before the restoration there and the reinterment of St lead plate provided clear were many chapels and Magnus before Rognvald identification. shrines and the walls were made his trip to the Holy decorated. Today’s unclut- Land in 1151. The The Cathedral Today The tered church may lack these Cathedral at that time con- bones of St Magnus (with a medieval things, but the sisted of the Crossing, great cleft in the skull) now many interesting old grave- Choir, an Apse with the lie in the North choir pillar, stones, often decorated with shrine of St Magnus at the while those of St Rognvald skull and crossbones, the east end, part of the Nave lie in the South one. The memorial to John Rae the and the Transepts. Cathedral of today may dif- 19th century Arctic explorer, Considerable additions have

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and “took it over” in 1845. They did a considerable amount of much-needed work, but in 1851, they were persuaded that it did in fact belong to the people, not the State. The contractor at the time, Samuel Baikie stated, The “Mort Brod” “During the years 1847-48 the operations of repairs were chiefly confined to the rebuilding of the parapet 13th century graveslab walls of the nave and transepts together with a considerable portion of the wall heads and string cours- es under these parapets that had fallen much in decay Moonrise over St Magnus Cathedral St Magnus window paid for by the Thom bequest The “Mort Brod” and was admitting water to who is buried in the grave marks may be discerned. various construction peri- maintenance continues an almost ruinous extent yard, a statue of St Olaf gift- ods. The exterior is particu- today, with the aim of pre- through the wall heads, so The Consecration Stones dates from ed by Nidaros Cathedral for The graveyard has a large larly impressive when flood- serving the building for the much so, that after a time of 1151, now in St Rognvald’s Chapel the 800th anniversary in 1937 number of fascinating old lit against a moonlit winter future. The Cathedral is rainy weather the interior kept up a dropping for some inches and repaired with and a Tapestry from headstones, not least the one sky. The copper cladding on unique among churches in native flagstones, thus show- th weeks afterwards and sent a Hordaland for the 850 all of the person who died on the spire was renewed in the that it has never belonged to ing the bases of the columns th chill damp in throughout the add to the interest and feel- 30 February! There are 1990s and is slowly weath- the Church, but has always at a reasonable height and ing of a continuous past. attractive views of the ering. been the property of the peo- building.” th There are many interesting Cathedral and Bishop’s ple of Orkney. At various One of many fine 17 century stones carved stones decorating the Palace from various parts of Considerable restoration times the Church, the He continued, “The interior older parts of the church and the kirkyard. Changes in the work was carried out in the Government and the Town was receiving no small share in several places masons masonry clearly indicate the 19th and 20th centuries and Council have claimed own- of attention, especially ership. In 1486 King James throughout the nave and West front of St Magnus Cathedral III thought he owned it after transepts, the floors of the Impignoration, and which had accumulated to “granted it to the such a height as to conceal Magistrates, Council and all the bases of the columns Community of Kirkwall.” in those parts and the Since the Norwegian Crown columns themselves mugged did not ever have any claim up in rather a hedious man- to the Cathedral ner with the memorials of the departed. By the 1840s the Cathedral was in very poor repair. The “These were all removed Government Board of and placed along the side Woods and Forests, which walls in an orderly manner had taken over the Bishopric as now seen, the floor exca- Estates, assumed that the vated of earthy matter to an Cathedral must form a part average depth of about 20

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A bequest of £60,000 by munion table, chair and glass windows are also quite This event was to a large Sheriff Thoms paid for very lectern. Carved figures rep- recent and were paid for by extent the inspiration of the substantial renovation work resenting Kol, Earl the Thoms bequest. composer Sir Peter Maxwell from 1913 to 1930. The Rognvald and Bishop Davies and the poet George somewhat eccentric Thoms William were designed by St Magnus Festival During Mackay Brown. Many of had been Sheriff of Orkney, artist Stanley Cursiter. the Festival each June the the composer's works have and Zetland dur- Cathedral is venue to many been premièred at the ing 1870-1899. Today the For the 850th anniversary in performances, providing an Festival, several of which Society of Friends of St 1987 a new window was evocative backdrop to the have been collaborations Magnus Cathedral raises commissioned for the West wonderful music being with the poet. funds to pay for repairs and Window of the nave. This played. This successful The first Festival was maintenance. “HMS Royal Oak” memorial modern stained-glass design Arts Festival has gone from formed around The fits in well with the ancient strength to strength and is “Martyrdom of St Magnus”, memorial to those lost on There are many interesting Cathedral and casts a beauti- now very much on the which is based on George HMS Royal Oak in World tombstones standing against ful light down the nave in Scottish and indeed Mackay Brown's novel, War II is a poignant the inside walls, the oldest the late summer afternoon. International calendar. “Magnus”. reminder of more recent his- of which is 13th century and Most of the other stained- tory. stands in the choir. Most Stained glass in the west window of the nave from 1987 date from the 17th century Marwick’s Hole is a dun- ST MAGNUS and have well-preserved let- geon between the southeast CATHEDRAL ting and symbols of death. aisle and the south transept TIMELINE The “Mort Brod”, hanging chapel. Men and women in the north isle, is a curious 1116 or 1117 Murder of Magnus were held here as late as the 1136 Rognvald wins Earldom memorial. There are various Hordaland tapestry 18th century to await their 1137 Construction begins flamboyant monuments 1152 Choir and part of nave built fate after being sentenced. as no doubt the original from the 19th century, 1158 Death of Earl Rognvald Originally prisoners were 1168 Death of Bishop William founders had intended.” notably that to John Rae, of deposited to the chamber via c 1200 Crossing rebuilt Arctic fame. early 1200s East end extended The a chute from above, but the early 1300s Tower built Protestants stopped this and tried to claim ownership in Nowadays small plaques are late 1300s Transept chapels delivered their unfortunates c.1400 West gable complete 1925. In 1929 they agreed in favour, but it is rather sad by ladder. 1486 Kirkwall Royal Charter that the Provost, Magistrates to note that only male 1528 Bells cast in Edinburgh and Councillors would for of letters are so 1544 Bishop Reid The hangman’s double lad- 1560 Gilbert Foulzie all time retain the fabric of far commemorated. In the der in the south triforium is a last priest first minister the church. north aisle near the choir the 1614 Stewart Rebellion reminder of what was then a 1650s Cromwell’s men billeted common punishment. 1671 Spire destroyed by lightning St Magnus Centre is to the east of the kirkyard Witches were “worried at 1845 State claims ownership the stake unto death”, how- 1851 Kirkwall reclaims Kirk 1903 Thoms bequest ever it seems that some at 1913-1930 Restoration least did manage to escape, 1925 Church claims ownership often with the assistance of 1937 800th anniversary St Magnus Pageant their family or friends. 1958 Society of Friends 1965 St Rognvald Chapel The east end of the choir 1972-1974 Major repairs was dedicated as St 1977 First St Magnus Festival 1987 850th anniversary, new west Rognvald’s Chapel in 1965. window, Hordaland Tapestry Old wooden panels are Children’s Pilgrimage incorporated in the com- 2001 St Magnus Centre opens 2005 Public toilets installed

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