Orphir Round Church facts for kids
The Orphir Round Church, also known as the Round Kirk or St Nicholas's Church, is a very old building in Orphir Parish on the Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It is a special historical site that has been protected since 2014.
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What the Church Looked Like
This church was built for Saint Nicholas. It had a round main room, called a nave, which was about 6 metres (20 feet) wide. On the eastern side, there was a curved section called an apse with a rounded roof and a window in the middle. The walls of the church were very thick, about one metre (3 feet) wide.
A Look at Its History
People believe that Jarl (or Earl) Haakon Paulsson built this church. He was a powerful leader in Orkney from 1103 to 1123. He built it as a way to make up for a sad event: he caused the death of his cousin and co-ruler, Magnus Erlendsson. Magnus later became known as Saint Magnus.
According to an old story called the Orkneyinga saga, Earl Haakon became the only ruler in 1117 after Magnus died. The round church was later given a new dedication to Saint Magnus. The saga also mentions a "large drinking-hall" and a "magnificent church" nearby. You can still see the remains of this drinking hall, which is called the 'Earl's Bu'. There are also parts of an 11th-century Norse watermill nearby.
The Orphir Round Church is the oldest round church still standing in Scotland. The only other medieval round church in Scotland is found near the English border, at Roxburgh. The design of these round churches was inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Many knights returning from the Crusades wanted to copy this famous circular building.
The Church Today
Most of the church survived until 1757. Sadly, much of it was then taken apart to get stones for a new church in the parish. That new church has also been taken down now. Today, only the apse (the curved section) and a small part of the round church's main wall are left.
The site is now looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. It is open for people to visit and learn about its history. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument, which means they are very important and must be preserved.
How We Learn About It: Archaeology
Archaeologists use different methods to study old sites like this church. Using special equipment to look underground, called Geophysical surveys, hasn't worked very well here. However, digging carefully into the ground, known as excavations, has been much better. These digs have helped us understand the church's history and how it changed over time.
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