Rosslyn Chapel-Whitney Cockrell

Today we visited Rosslyn Chapel, a place that the world was made aware of with the popularity of Dan Brown’s novel, The Divinci Code. Even though the book was an inaccurate depiction of Rosslyn Chapel, it is a fascinating and beautiful place shrouded in mystery, with a rich history.

The chapel was originally built for the St. Clair family in 1446, and was dedicated to St. Matthew. It 40 years to complete the chapel, and once finished, the family staffed the chapel with priests. The priests were paid to sit in the chapel and pray for the family. Although the chapel was originally intended for private use, much of it was destroyed during the reformation in the 1500’s. It was seized in 1571, and the altars were destroyed in 1592. Restoration work began in 1736, but it wasn’t until the early 1800’s that the St. Clair’s began working in earnest to restore the interior. It became a working church in 1862.

The chapel is filled with intricate carvings that represent different scenes from the Bible, and different stories about the way one should lead a virtuous life. The carvings also depict what would happen to you should you choose to turn to the devil, instead of turning towards God. Among the carvings is one of a knight riding a horse, carrying a cross. It is thought to be representation of Sir William St. Clair, who was first given the land Rosslyn Chapel is built on. Legend has it that he had purchased a piece of the Holy Rood and brought it back to Scotland. Another carving of particular interest is the one of Lucifer, tied in ropes and hanging upside down. This is one of many carvings depicting angels in unusual positions, which is one of the many rites of freemasonry.

The St. Clairs’ eventually became Grand Masters of the free masons in 1630. It is said that underneath the chapel is the family crypt. In the crypt are members of the family and members of Knights of the Templar, buried in their armor. Legend has it that the Knights of Templar brought the Holy Grail from Jerusalem and buried it in the St. Clair’s crypt to keep it hidden and out of the wrong hands. Three hundred years ago the St. Clair’s had the crypt sealed and it has not been opened since. Each generation of the family is given specific instructions to leave the crypt untouched. Further adding to the mystery is the fact the crypt has been x-rayed and is filled with several metal boxes and other unknown artifacts. It is also believed that the chapel was once filled with statues. During the reformation the statues disappeared and haven’t been found since. They are believed to be buried within the chapel. The whereabouts of the statues has been lost in the mists of time.

Rossalyn Chapel is devastatingly beautiful. I understood why in 1842, Queen Victoria declared that the chapel should be preserved for the people of Scotland. There is a grave of a husband and wife on the ground, marked by intricate carvings. Above the gravestones it says, “Love conquerors death.” It brought tears to my eyes. I could understand why poets and writers were and still are inspired by it.

Our group really enjoyed our visit to Rosslyn chapel. I personally, thought it was exquisite. The setting and intricate design and carvings in the chapel were like nothing I’ve ever seen. The surrounding mysteries and legends only serve to make the place more interesting and exciting. This was the one place I was most looking forward to visiting. It did not disappoint.