St. Olaf’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Kirkwall
A Brief Visitor Guide

Following the failure of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) to secure the throne of Britain in 1746 (the battle of Culloden in April of that year being the decisive action), Scottish Episcopalians, most of whom were supportive of the Jacobite cause, were subjected to strict penal laws.

Although the penal laws were repealed in 1792, for the greater part of the 19^th Century there was no Episcopalian priest in Orkney. However, owing to the loyalty and the private devotion of many there grew a growing demand for a resident clergyman and a place of worship within Kirkwall.

From 1871 two venues acted as places of worship for Orkney’s Episcopalians - the old Drill Hall in Junction Rd and latterly a ward in the Smallpox Hospital in Watergate. On 21^st November 1874 the foundation stone for the new church (this present building) was laid. The building was finally opened and dedicated on the Feast of St. Olaf, 29^th July 1876 by Bishop Suther of the united Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

The adjacent Rectory was not built until 1889, the tower being an even later addition in 1926. The hall, to the rear of the church is a former First World War army billet hut that was placed on site in 1923. Although by no means luxurious, it is - according to London’s Imperial War Museum - a rare example of an army hut of the 1914-18 period.

Constructed of Orkney sandstone with a timbered roof of Swedish redwood, St. Olaf’s was built by Samuel Baikie of Kirkwall. The architect was Alexander Ross of Inverness who was notable for the design of a number of Episcopal church buildings throughout the Highlands and NE Scotland.

To the right of the door, against the south wall, the visitor can see an attractively designed wooden table, presently used for the display of magazines and other leaflets. However, it is of considerable historic interest in as much as it was the original altar from the old mission chapel in the Smallpox Hospital. During the 1960’s it had been hoped to restore it to its original use in a small side-chapel planned for development to the south side of the chancel. Sadly, the plans did not come to fruition.

The font has its more recent origins in the long since disused church of St. Mary’s at Westness on the island of Rousay and was gifted to St. Olaf’s by Col. Burroughs of Trumland House, Rousay. It is believed to be almost 1,000 years old and considered to be the oldest surviving font, still in use, in Orkney. The brass font ewer nearby dates from 1880 and was gifted by Archdeacon J.B. Craven, the first incumbent of St. Olaf’s, who served the congregation for thirty-nine years.

The chancel screen was dedicated in 1897 to the memory of Mr. Sutherland-Graeme of Graemeshall, Holm. It originally formed part of the Episcopal gallery and throne, erected during the reign of King Charles I, in Kirkwall’s St. Magnus Cathedral during the episcopacy of Mr. Graeme’s ancestor, Bishop George Graeme.

The organ, made by Holditch of London, was introduced to the church in 1881 and has the distinction of being the first of its kind in Orkney since the Reformation. Obtained by St. Olaf’s second-hand, it is an instrument of considerable antiquity and is the oldest church organ presently in use in Orkney.

The altar, against the east wall and below the Ascension window, is an edifice comprising stone from the island of Eday. The oak reredos was donated in memory of Mr. James Grant of Highland Park, Kirkwall,

who was for many years a churchwarden. A number of memorial plaques testify to the loyal support of the Grant family.

Also in the sanctuary, built into the south wall at the time of construction, is a stone credence, which has its origin in the first church dedicated to St. Olaf, built during the 11^th Century by Earl Rognvald Brusison in memory of St. Olaf, King of Norway (please refer to separate information sheet). All that remains of this building is an arched doorway on St. Olaf’s Wynd, just off Bridge St. Kirkwall. Within the vestry is an aumbry from the same building. Both the credence and the aumbry provide something of a link to the past.

Of somewhat more recent vintage, there is also within the vestry a framed, hand-written, poem by the Orcadian poet and writer ,the late George Mackay Brown. Gifted to the church by the poet himself, the poem is a personal tribute to St. Olaf. ‘GMB’ as he was known to most Orcadians was a convert to Roman Catholicism and possessed an abiding affection and devotion to the saints associated with his beloved islands.

The pulpit fall, dating from the mid 1990’s, is the artistic creation of the Revd. John Morson, Church Army, who was Rector of St.Olaf’s between 1992 and 2002. It is a dedication to the memory of a number of the congregation who had departed this life during the Revd. Morson’s incumbency.

Among the names detailed on the fall is that of the late Mrs. Marjorie Linklater, widow of the novelist Eric Linklater, both of whom had close connections with the church.

Adjacent to the font stands the wooden sculpture of our patrol, St. Olaf. Beautifully carved by Frances Pelly, the figure was gifted to the church by Dr. Olaf Cuthbert of Evie in memory of his uncle, Capt. Olaf Ranson Cuthbert who was killed in action on the Somme on 1^st July 1916, aged 25.

In addition to the various memorial plaques, the majority of the windows on both sides of the nave, are dedications to the memories of members of the congregation.

Visitors are most welcome, at any time, to spend time in prayer and contemplation within our attractive church. If visiting on a Sunday, please join other worshippers for coffee and tea, served in the hall, following the Sunday morning Eucharist.

A mid-week Eucharist is celebrated most Wednesdays at 7.00 pm, following the patterns of the 1970 Scottish Liturgy and the 1929 Scottish Prayer Book (very similar to the Book of Common Prayer) on alternative weeks.

Times of Feast Days and other occasions are promulgated on our Sunday Link bulletin or on the notice board within the church porch.

Send mail to webmaster@orkneyanglican.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 26/02/2008