Rosslyn Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rosslyn Chapel |
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Rosslyn Chapel, August 2014
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 Rosslyn Chapel
Location in Midlothian
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| 55°51′19″N 3°09′37″W / 55.85528°N 3.16028°W | |
| OS grid reference | NT275630 |
| Location | Roslin, Midlothian |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Chapel |
| Dedication | Saint Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category A |
| Groundbreaking | 20 September 1456 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Edinburgh |
The Rosslyn Chapel, also known as the Collegiate Chapel of Saint Matthew, is a famous church from the 1400s. It is located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland. Today, it is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The chapel is named after Saint Matthew the Evangelist. It was started by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness in the mid-1400s. He wanted it to be a special church with priests and choirboys. This was so they could hold daily prayers and church services. Rosslyn Chapel is the third church built by the Sinclair family in Roslin.
After the Scottish Reformation in 1560, Catholic services in the chapel stopped. The Sinclair family remained Catholic for a long time. The name Sinclair comes from a French surname, de Saint-Clair.
The chapel was closed for public worship from the early 1700s until 1861. Then, it reopened for services by the Scottish Episcopal Church. In 1914, the chapel was damaged by a bomb. This happened during a campaign by women who wanted the right to vote.
Since the late 1980s, many stories have been told about the chapel. Some people think it is linked to the Knights Templar or the Holy Grail. Others believe it has ties to Freemasonry. These ideas became very popular after Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003. It was also featured in the 2006 movie. However, historians say there is no real proof for these stories. Rosslyn Chapel is still owned by the Sinclair family. The current owner is Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn.
Contents
Chapel Design and History
The original plans for Rosslyn Chapel are lost. So, no one knows exactly how it was meant to look. Many people think its design is one of the most beautiful in Scotland.
Building the chapel began on September 20, 1456. Some old records say 1446, but that was when the permission to build was given. William Sinclair first built homes for his workers before starting the chapel itself.
The chapel was meant to be shaped like a cross. But only the choir (the main part where services are held) was finished. The Lady Chapel, a smaller area, was built over an older underground room. The foundations for the parts that were never built were still visible in the 1800s. The detailed carvings took about 40 years to complete. After William Sinclair died, the rest of the chapel was never built. This might have been because of a lack of money or changing styles.
The Lower Chapel, also called the crypt, is not the same as the burial vaults. These vaults are hidden underneath the chapel.
The chapel stands on 14 pillars. These pillars create arches around the main area. At the east end, three special pillars separate the main part from the Lady Chapel. These three pillars are called the Master Pillar, the Journeyman Pillar, and the famous Apprentice Pillar. These names became popular in the 1700s.
The Apprentice Pillar Story
The "Apprentice Pillar" is one of the most famous parts of the chapel. It was once called the "Prince's Pillar." Its current name comes from a legend from the 1700s.
The story says that the master stonemason was carving a difficult column. He didn't think his young apprentice could carve it without seeing the original design. So, the master mason traveled to see the original column. While he was away, the apprentice finished the column himself.
When the master returned, he was very angry and jealous. He hit the apprentice on the head with his mallet, killing him. The legend says that the master mason's face was carved into a corner of the chapel. This way, he would forever look at the apprentice's beautiful pillar as punishment. However, there is no proof that this murder ever happened.
On the stone connecting to the pillar, there is an old Latin message. It says: "Wine is strong, a king is stronger, women are stronger still, but truth conquers all."
Some people think the pillar looks like a root from the Yggdrasil tree. This tree is important in old Norse stories. They point to the dragons carved at the bottom of the pillar. They also note the tree leaves carved at the top. This idea suggests a link to Viking and Celtic myths.
A full-size copy of the Apprentice Pillar was made in 1871. You can see it at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Amazing Carvings
Rosslyn Chapel has many detailed carvings. One interesting feature is a series of 213 cubes or "boxes." These stick out from the pillars and arches. Each box has a different pattern. No one knows what these patterns mean. Many people have tried to find a secret message in them. But no one has found a clear answer yet. Sadly, many of these boxes are not original. They were replaced in the 1800s because of damage.
One idea is that the boxes are a musical score. The patterns look a bit like shapes made by sound vibrations. A father and son, Thomas and Stuart Mitchell, used this idea. They matched the patterns to musical notes. They then created a tune they call the Rosslyn Motet.
There are over 110 carvings of "Green Men" in the chapel. These are faces with leaves and plants growing around them. Sometimes, the plants even come out of their mouths. You can find them all over the chapel.
Other carvings show plants like wheat, strawberries, or lilies. Some writers, Robert Lomas and Christopher Knight, think some carvings look like corn. Corn was not known in Europe when the chapel was built. They suggest this means Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, traveled to America before Columbus. However, a botanist named Adrian Dyer said that only one plant carving was clearly identifiable. He thought the "corn" and "aloe" carvings were just decorative patterns.
Hidden Crypt
Rosslyn Chapel has been a burial place for many generations of the Sinclair family. There is a crypt (an underground room) that was once reached by stairs. This crypt has been sealed for many years. This has led to many legends. Some say it hides the mummified head of Jesus Christ. Others believe it holds the Holy Grail, the treasure of the Knights Templar, or even the old crown jewels of Scotland.
In 1837, the 2nd Earl of Rosslyn wanted to be buried in the original vault. People searched for a week, but they could not find the entrance. So, he was buried next to his wife in the Lady Chapel.
Rooftop Secrets
During repairs in 2010, workers found something interesting on the rooftop. They were fixing the tall stone points (pinnacles). They discovered a small chamber inside one of them. This chamber was built by the stonemasons to hold bees. The beehive was empty, but it was sent to local beekeepers to study.
Important Burials
Many members of the Sinclair family and other important people are buried at Rosslyn Chapel. Some of them include:
- William Alexander (1690–1761), a leader of Edinburgh.
- Sheila Chisholm (1895–1969), a famous Australian socialite.
- William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, who founded the chapel.
- James St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn.
- James St Clair-Erskine, 2nd Earl of Rosslyn.
- Lady Angela St Clair-Erskine, daughter of the 4th Earl.
The 1914 Bombing
On July 11, 1914, a bomb exploded inside Rosslyn Chapel. This was part of a campaign by women who were fighting for the right to vote. These women, called suffragettes, used bombings and fires to make their point. They targeted churches because they believed the Church of England was against women's voting rights. Between 1913 and 1914, 32 churches were attacked in the country. Other famous places like Westminster Abbey were also bombed around that time.
Saving and Sharing the Chapel
The chapel's altars were destroyed in 1592. After that, the chapel was left alone and slowly fell apart.
In 1842, Queen Victoria visited the chapel. It was in ruins and covered in plants. She wanted it to be saved. So, in 1862, David Bryce began restoration work. The chapel was officially reopened on April 22, 1862. Since then, Sunday services have been held there again.
The Rosslyn Chapel Trust was started in 1995. Its goal is to protect the chapel and open it for visitors. From 1997 to 2013, a huge project took place to fix the chapel. This included work on the roof, stone, carvings, and stained-glass windows. A large steel cover was put over the roof for 14 years. This helped protect the chapel from rain and allowed it to dry out. During the repairs, three human skeletons were found. Most of the stone repairs were finished by 2011.
A new visitor center opened in July 2011. The chapel's stained-glass windows and organ were fully repaired. New lights and heating were also put in. The restoration cost about £13 million. Famous actor Tom Hanks even made a donation to help.
Since 2008, you are not allowed to take photos or videos inside the chapel. The chapel sells its own pictures in its shop. In 2006, some people criticized the chapel for making too much money from the popularity of The Da Vinci Code.
In 2013–14, Rosslyn Chapel had over 144,000 visitors. This was the highest number since 2007–08. Back then, nearly 159,000 people visited because of The Da Vinci Code book and movie.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla Rosslyn para niños
- Castle of Mey
- Clan Sinclair
- Earl of Caithness
- List of Category A listed buildings in Midlothian
- Sinclair (surname)
- Sinclair & Girnigoe Castle
- Roslin Castle
