Overview
Due to access restrictions in place as a precautionary measure while we undertake high level masonry inspections, there is currently no visitor access to the church and some headstones. Majority of graveyard is accessible.
Follow the path of pilgrims to a fine Norse church marking the site of a saint’s martyrdom.
Earl Magnus was murdered in a confrontation with Earl Hakon about who should rule Orkney in 1116. The church dates to around 1136, when the Bishop William of Orkney and the future earl Rognvald recognised Earl Magnus as a saint.
Its tall, round bell-tower originally stood nearly 20m high and could be seen for miles around. It served as a beacon for pilgrims. Today the roofless church is still a remarkable building in a stunning location.
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Discover nearly 5,000 years of Orkney’s history and prehistory, including St Magnus Church, with our Orkney Digital Guide.
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