St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney
@stmagnuscathedral.bsky.social
A twelfth-century cathedral built during Viking times in the beautiful Orkney Islands. https://www.orkneymuseums.co.uk/our-museums/st-magnus-cathedral/#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20St%20Magnus%20Cathedral&text=Built%20from%20local%20red%20and,of%20the%20Kingdom
Today, and every day, we remember them.
Unveiling of Kirkwall and St Ola war memorial, 17 October 1923. Photograph by Tom Kent.
Unveiling of Kirkwall and St Ola war memorial, 17 October 1923. Photograph by Tom Kent.
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Today, and every day, we remember them.
Unveiling of Kirkwall and St Ola war memorial, 17 October 1923. Photograph by Tom Kent.
Unveiling of Kirkwall and St Ola war memorial, 17 October 1923. Photograph by Tom Kent.
We’re a bit behind with #31daysofgraves but here’s a ‘mistake’ from Day 18. Do you know anyone else who died on 30 February? 🤨
October 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
We’re a bit behind with #31daysofgraves but here’s a ‘mistake’ from Day 18. Do you know anyone else who died on 30 February? 🤨
Reposted by St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney
Oct 17: Feast of Regulus (Rule) (C4th). Greek who followed an angel’s request to bear some of St Andrew’s relics into ‘northern parts’. Arriving in Fife, the angel brought him to a halt. There Rule built a church to house the relics, which was later called St Andrews. #medievalsky
October 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Oct 17: Feast of Regulus (Rule) (C4th). Greek who followed an angel’s request to bear some of St Andrew’s relics into ‘northern parts’. Arriving in Fife, the angel brought him to a halt. There Rule built a church to house the relics, which was later called St Andrews. #medievalsky
Earlier this year, an excavation in Rousay by @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social uncovered an expressive carved stone face. We have a similar fellow in the cathedral, so archaeologists visited today to examine them side by side!
October 15, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Earlier this year, an excavation in Rousay by @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social uncovered an expressive carved stone face. We have a similar fellow in the cathedral, so archaeologists visited today to examine them side by side!
On this day in 1939, HMS Royal Oak sank in Scapa Flow with the loss of 835 men and boys. Today, and every day, we remember them.
October 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
On this day in 1939, HMS Royal Oak sank in Scapa Flow with the loss of 835 men and boys. Today, and every day, we remember them.
Squeezing this in before the end of the day! #31DaysofGraves - Day 13, Skeleton. Of course, it had to be this cheery and dynamic fellow from the gravestone of Kirkwall merchant Patrick Prince.
October 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Squeezing this in before the end of the day! #31DaysofGraves - Day 13, Skeleton. Of course, it had to be this cheery and dynamic fellow from the gravestone of Kirkwall merchant Patrick Prince.
Catching up with #31DaysofGraves, and prompt 12, Notable Woman. Not buried here, but mentioned on her grandparents' stone - Inga Peace. Orcadian, graphic and theatre designer, wife of black artist and rugby player Eddie Oxley. Thanks to Inga Drever for letting me sharing this family photo.
October 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Catching up with #31DaysofGraves, and prompt 12, Notable Woman. Not buried here, but mentioned on her grandparents' stone - Inga Peace. Orcadian, graphic and theatre designer, wife of black artist and rugby player Eddie Oxley. Thanks to Inga Drever for letting me sharing this family photo.
Day 11 and today’s #31DaysofGraves prompt is ‘military’. We have five @cwgc.bsky.social graves but this photo is from St Olaf’s Cemetery and features Flight Officer Harry Reid who died in the ‘Salford Lancaster’ crash in 1944. Pictured with two of his relatives, @sweynh.bsky.social and Freya.
October 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Day 11 and today’s #31DaysofGraves prompt is ‘military’. We have five @cwgc.bsky.social graves but this photo is from St Olaf’s Cemetery and features Flight Officer Harry Reid who died in the ‘Salford Lancaster’ crash in 1944. Pictured with two of his relatives, @sweynh.bsky.social and Freya.
It’s Day 10 of #31DaysofGraves, and the prompt is ‘urn’. This is the grave of late 19th-early 20thC merchant and entrepreneur Robert Garden, who built a trading and manufacturing empire throughout the islands.
October 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
It’s Day 10 of #31DaysofGraves, and the prompt is ‘urn’. This is the grave of late 19th-early 20thC merchant and entrepreneur Robert Garden, who built a trading and manufacturing empire throughout the islands.
*** Skulls and Dancing Skeletons tour rescheduled***
We are pleased to confirm that this special curator tour is going ahead tomorrow, Saturday 11 October. The tour explores the symbolism of hourglasses, candles, bells, skulls and more, and it's all inside! Starts at 10am, costs £15, lasts 1 hour.
We are pleased to confirm that this special curator tour is going ahead tomorrow, Saturday 11 October. The tour explores the symbolism of hourglasses, candles, bells, skulls and more, and it's all inside! Starts at 10am, costs £15, lasts 1 hour.
October 10, 2025 at 8:09 AM
*** Skulls and Dancing Skeletons tour rescheduled***
We are pleased to confirm that this special curator tour is going ahead tomorrow, Saturday 11 October. The tour explores the symbolism of hourglasses, candles, bells, skulls and more, and it's all inside! Starts at 10am, costs £15, lasts 1 hour.
We are pleased to confirm that this special curator tour is going ahead tomorrow, Saturday 11 October. The tour explores the symbolism of hourglasses, candles, bells, skulls and more, and it's all inside! Starts at 10am, costs £15, lasts 1 hour.
Day 9 of #31DaysofGraves - and the prompt is ‘hand’! Here’s a little prototype emoji from the 1600s - a hand pointing towards a Bible. This stone commemorates Kirk Minister Thomas Baikie, who died aged 42.
October 9, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Day 9 of #31DaysofGraves - and the prompt is ‘hand’! Here’s a little prototype emoji from the 1600s - a hand pointing towards a Bible. This stone commemorates Kirk Minister Thomas Baikie, who died aged 42.
Today is Day 8 of #31DaysofGraves and the prompt is 'glass'. This is a 1911 postcard by Tom Kent, showing the grave of RN rating Arthur Sartin covered in glass 'immortelles' - domes filled with ceramic flowers. The other image is the same spot today.
October 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Today is Day 8 of #31DaysofGraves and the prompt is 'glass'. This is a 1911 postcard by Tom Kent, showing the grave of RN rating Arthur Sartin covered in glass 'immortelles' - domes filled with ceramic flowers. The other image is the same spot today.
Catching up with #31DaysofGraves - Day 4’s prompt was ‘Languages’. Here’s a stone from St Magnus with a Greek inscription meaning ‘Behold the end of life’ ☠️
October 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Catching up with #31DaysofGraves - Day 4’s prompt was ‘Languages’. Here’s a stone from St Magnus with a Greek inscription meaning ‘Behold the end of life’ ☠️
We’re very sorry - Orkney is about to experience Storm Amy and there is an Amber Weather Warning for tomorrow morning. So unfortunately we have made the decision to postpone this tour until a later date.
☠️Skulls and Dancing Skeletons - Saturday 4 October!☠️
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
October 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
We’re very sorry - Orkney is about to experience Storm Amy and there is an Amber Weather Warning for tomorrow morning. So unfortunately we have made the decision to postpone this tour until a later date.
Day 3 of #31DaysofGraves, and the prompt is 'tomb'. So here's a wall-set tomb from the south nave aisle. It's thought to date from the 14th century, and was possibly the burial place of the Paplay family.
October 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Day 3 of #31DaysofGraves, and the prompt is 'tomb'. So here's a wall-set tomb from the south nave aisle. It's thought to date from the 14th century, and was possibly the burial place of the Paplay family.
It’s Day 2 of #31DaysofGraves, and the theme is ‘nautical’. So here are two from our graveyard - a wooden marker for a ship’s carpenter, and a stone ensign at half mast for a captain… 🫡
October 2, 2025 at 8:18 AM
It’s Day 2 of #31DaysofGraves, and the theme is ‘nautical’. So here are two from our graveyard - a wooden marker for a ship’s carpenter, and a stone ensign at half mast for a captain… 🫡
It's a wet, windy day in Orkney but it's also the first day of October, and that means... #31daysofgraves! The prompt for today is 'Flower', so here's a lovely carved rose from the gravestone of one Elizabeth Cuthbert who died in 1685. Follow @annaandthedead.bsky.social if you want to join in ☠️🪦
October 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
It's a wet, windy day in Orkney but it's also the first day of October, and that means... #31daysofgraves! The prompt for today is 'Flower', so here's a lovely carved rose from the gravestone of one Elizabeth Cuthbert who died in 1685. Follow @annaandthedead.bsky.social if you want to join in ☠️🪦
☠️Skulls and Dancing Skeletons - Saturday 4 October!☠️
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
September 30, 2025 at 9:17 AM
☠️Skulls and Dancing Skeletons - Saturday 4 October!☠️
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
This weekend sees the return of this popular cathedral tour, exploring the symbolism of the skull-and-crossbones, the candles, hourglasses, and much more. Meet your guide inside at 10am; the tour lasts 1 hour approximately, and costs £15pp.
Tomorrow (Monday 29 Sept) sees the last 🪦 historic graveyard tour🪦 of the season. It starts at 2pm inside, next to the custodian’s office - costs £10pp and lasts an hour.
September 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Tomorrow (Monday 29 Sept) sees the last 🪦 historic graveyard tour🪦 of the season. It starts at 2pm inside, next to the custodian’s office - costs £10pp and lasts an hour.
Yesterday we said goodbye to our Team Leader for Heritage, Meredith. She joined us as cathedral conservator in 2019, and has transformed care of the cathedral building over the past 6 years. Here she is on her final day with Peter, technician, and Fran, curator. Good luck for the future, Meredith!
September 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Yesterday we said goodbye to our Team Leader for Heritage, Meredith. She joined us as cathedral conservator in 2019, and has transformed care of the cathedral building over the past 6 years. Here she is on her final day with Peter, technician, and Fran, curator. Good luck for the future, Meredith!
We are looking forward to once again taking part in the #31daysofgraves!
REPOST (error in first post!)
Get ready! October 1st is the start of a month of gravestone and burial ground pictures, with a different prompt for each day. Be creative, there are no rules, just tag with #31DaysOfGraves!
Background image is from King's Chapel Burying Ground, Boston, Mass.
Get ready! October 1st is the start of a month of gravestone and burial ground pictures, with a different prompt for each day. Be creative, there are no rules, just tag with #31DaysOfGraves!
Background image is from King's Chapel Burying Ground, Boston, Mass.
September 15, 2025 at 6:10 PM
We are looking forward to once again taking part in the #31daysofgraves!
***Please remember*** there is no tour of the historic cathedral graveyard today (Monday 15 September). The next tour will be on Friday 19 September at 2pm.
September 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
***Please remember*** there is no tour of the historic cathedral graveyard today (Monday 15 September). The next tour will be on Friday 19 September at 2pm.
Huge thanks to everyone who came along on our special Graffiti Tours, put on as part of the Orkney Festival of Archaeology. Here's Curator Fran Flett Hollinrake in full flow! (Thank you to Valeria for the photo) ⛪
September 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Huge thanks to everyone who came along on our special Graffiti Tours, put on as part of the Orkney Festival of Archaeology. Here's Curator Fran Flett Hollinrake in full flow! (Thank you to Valeria for the photo) ⛪
***UPDATE*** These tours have now sold out! Many thanks to everyone for their interest.
As part of the inaugural Orkney Festival of Archaeology, we are offering lots of tours, including a special Graffiti Tour, featuring parts of the Upper Levels that we don't usually go to! More details here: orkneyarchaeologysociety.org.uk/events/list/
September 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
***UPDATE*** These tours have now sold out! Many thanks to everyone for their interest.