Rosslyn Chapel: A Wonder in Stone
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Jonathan R. Corbett, MM, Lodge of Israel (Met) No 205 writes:
“Commit thy verk to God,” saith the motto of the Clan Sinclair. In keeping with this sentiment, Sir William St Clair, 1st Earl of Caithness and traditionally styled “first Hereditary Grand Master of Masonry in Scotland,” undertook, in 1446, the sacred task of erecting a private place for family prayer at Roslin, around seven miles south of Edinburgh. This unique architectural masterpiece, built almost exclusively of sandstone, underwent forty years of construction but was never fully completed.
Spellbinding in atmosphere nonetheless, and evocatively perched upon a small hill above a wooded glen, Rosslyn Chapel has long inspired artists and writers. In later centuries, its wild surroundings and imaginative appearance attracted admiration and frequent visits from such distinguished figures as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns.
Amid the eerie verdure and ruins, William Wordsworth once sought shelter from inclement weather and, in reverie, penned the sonnet Composed in Roslin Chapel, during a Storm, blending nature, faith, Masonry, and beauty.
Adorned with intricately carved details, this edifice – both internally and externally – is, as Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the poet, recorded in her journal Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland, 1803, “exquisitely beautiful,” a judgement often echoed by later wanderers.
Long before these Romantic appreciations, however, the chapel endured periods of upheaval. The Scottish Reformation brought formidable changes to the land. Although Catholic devotions had long ceased for many, the St Clair family continued quietly in their faith. The destruction of its altars in 1592 led to centuries of abandonment to the ravages of the northern clime. In 1650, the family seat, Rosslyn Castle, was reportedly attacked by the forces of the Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell.
The neglect and disrepair of former days were partially remedied during the Victorian era by restoration work carried out by architects including David Bryce. With its rededication on 22nd April 1862, worship resumed as part of the Scottish Episcopal Church after a lapse of approximately two centuries.
To the attentive Mason, the chapel offers much that is worthy of reflection, most notably the “Apprentice Pillar” and the many decorative features often associated with Craft and Templar symbolism. Early members of the St Clair family, including several of the Earls of Rosslyn; who held hereditary patronage over Scottish Masons prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland; are believed to be interred in armour within the crypt below.
Beyond these historical associations, later lore suggests that the chapel became a sanctuary for the Knights Templar following their suppression in the early fourteenth century. Similarly, its survival during the military campaigns of George Monck and other Commonwealth forces in the Scottish realm has been attributed to his alleged Masonic ties.
Whether one journeys in person to Scotland, or explores its history through study and reflection, the Mason will find much to contemplate at Rosslyn Chapel, particularly in its enigmatic resonances with the Ancient Art. Brethren visiting the locality may further derive satisfaction from attending Lodge Rosslyn St Clair No 606, situated in the village and named in honour of Sir William St Clair of Roslin. The Lodge was granted its Charter on 7th May 1877 and first assembled at the former inn on College Hill; subsequent meetings have been held at Creelha' on Manse Road and within Rosslyn Castle itself.
Further particulars regarding the Lodge may be found online at https://rosslynmasonic606.co.uk/about-us/
Pictures and article by Bro Corbett. Originally printed in Arminius Lodge No 25 Bulletin, March 2023, Lodge of the District of Columbia, USA.
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 61 – Summer 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 61 here.
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