Only remains of the round St. Nicholas Church remain. This was built around 1123 and is probably modeled on the rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

After the First Crusade, Earl Håkon of Orkney had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to atone for the order to murder Count Magnus, later Saint Magnus, on Egilsay on 16 April 1117. St Magnus's lasting monument was St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. The less lasting memorial of Count Håkon was this St. Nicholas Church.

It was less durable because in 1757 most of the church was destroyed to provide stone for a new parish church nearby, which itself has long since disappeared. All that remains is the semi-circular apse and the circular markings on the grass of the original church's form. You can see more than enough to realize that the destruction in 1757 was a sad loss.

(Undiscovered Scotland)

Translated by Google •

Bear S.

August 16, 2024

Church remains in an old cemetery. Nice, but not a must-have.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 60 m

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Friday 10 October

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Location: Orphir, Orkney islands, Scotland, United Kingdom

Orphir Round Church (St Nicholas' Church Ruins)

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