St Magnus Cathedral known as the ‘Light in the North’ was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus who was martyred here in Orkney. The Cathedral belongs to the people of Orkney and its doors are open to all.
Set in the heart of Kirkwall, the capital city of the Orkney Islands, it is a place of stillness, of inspiration, of warmth, and is steeped in the presence of God. We invite you to explore this website which contains information about many aspects of the Cathedral’s life and when you do visit Orkney we look forward to welcoming you to worship or to a time of quiet reflection and contemplation.
The worshipping community over the centuries has been part of the Roman Catholic Church, the Norwegian Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). The worshipping community thus inherits an ecumenical tradition. Today, in addition to our local congregation, worshippers come from a whole host of denominational backgrounds and none.
