Key facts
- Address
- The Palace, Birsay, KW17 2LX
Orkney - Listed status
- Category B listed
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata Q3517136, OpenStreetMap
Before visiting Saint Magnus
Service times are not recorded in this listing. We cannot confirm when the next service takes place or whether the building opens outside worship hours.
We do not have confirmed information here about step-free access, accessible toilets, hearing support or supervised children’s groups. If these matter for your visit, ask the church about the specific service you plan to attend.
No direct contact details are recorded. Use the linked sources above or the wider local directory to continue your search.
About Saint Magnus
Saint Magnus stands at The Palace in Birsay, on Orkney’s Mainland. Dating principally from the seventeenth century, it is a Category B listed building. The church ceased to serve the parish in 1996 and is now cared for by a local trust responsible for its preservation.
The present church was erected in 1664 where Earl Thorfinn had founded an earlier church between 1050 and 1064. That medieval building temporarily held the remains of St Magnus before their transfer to Kirkwall Cathedral. Enlargement in 1760 created the current rectangular form, while a south-west porch was added during alterations in 1867. The harled exterior has gabled ends, arched windows and an original open belfry on the west gable. Surviving medieval fabric includes a sealed arched doorway and two blocked lancet windows. Inside are a red sandstone font with an octagonal bowl and heraldic carving, and stained glass installed in 1904 depicting the Crucifixion and scenes from the saint’s life.
Getting there
Other Other Christian churches in The Palace, Birsay
More churches in The Palace, Birsay
See all churches in The Palace, Birsay →Nearby churches
About this listing
This listing was put together from publicly available information and has not passed through our submission review process. If you represent Saint Magnus, you can claim and update the listing free of charge, and once reviewed we will mark the submission as reviewed.
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