ROSSLYN CHAPEL, VILLAGE OF ROSLINE IN MIDLOTHAN, SCOTLAND

Rosslyn is a 15th century medieval chapel in the Village of Rosline in Midlothian, Scotland, near the beautiful city of Edinburgh and it has been the subject of many a different cable television show and a gloat of books and written articles. It’s implied association to Free Masonry,The Holy Grail, The KnightsTemplar and other apparitions; like the black knight on horseback, a lady in white, a ghost hound; legends, myths and mysteries, makes it very interesting for the romantics among us drawn to
these topics and we feel strongly compelled to read or watch anything and everything regarding Rosslyn.

ROSSLYN - THE BEGINNING.

The chapel was founded in 1446 by Sir William St. Clair, third and last St.Clair Prince of Orkney. This chapel is only the choir of what was intended to be a larger cruciform shaped building with a tower at it’s centre. He was getting older when he decided to give something back as a thank you for the many blessings received, by building a house for God. In doing so, he brought abundant workers from other regions and foreign kingdoms such as masons , carpenters, smiths, quarriers and barrowmen.

He had the plans carved by carpenters on boards of imported Baltic timber and then they were given to masons so they would in turn carve them in stone. Since all his workers did not have a place to live, he had them build the town of Rosline and gave everyone a house and lands. The masons were paid in accordance to their degree. The master got 40 pounds a year and the rest got 10 pounds.

Sir William Sinclair died in 1484 and was buried in the unfinished chapel and the larger building he planned was never completed. The foundations of the nave are said to have been excavated in the 19th century and have been found to extend 91 feet beyond the chapel’s original west door, just under the current baptistery and churchyard. His legacy to the Sinclair family, Scotland and the world, is a priceless gem.

ROSSLYN, PRESENT TIME AND OLD MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Rosslyn is the fully working Episcopalian Chapel of St. Matthew’s Collegiate Church and it is a beautiful and extraordinarily different church. The multiple icons carved in it’s interior’s walls can jog one’s imagination and make you wonder about the reasons behind these engravings. For instance, were the depictions of corn (maiz) and the agave (aloe vera) some sort of clue? These plants were native to Mexico and still unknown in Europe. It is like someone was trying to say: guess where we have been!! Although there are some who have said they are strawberries and wheat. Oh well, I chose to believe otherwise,it is more interesting..

THE FREEMASONS, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CONNECTIONS

Another engraving is one that appears to be of two poor Knights Templar riding a horse, just as they are represented in their seal. How about the faces of the apprentice, his grieving mother and the master mason - these three associated with the apprentice’s pillar. The figure of a man on his knees, holding his hand to his chest, in what appears to be a Masonic ritual gesture. Numerous angels and so many more wonderful carvings.

No wonder this chapel is called “The cathedral of clues”. The above details and many more, are mentioned in the engrossing and fascinating book “The Hiram Key” (1996) by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas. (Love their books). Did the Templars travel to the new world as the Vikings did, long before it’s discovery by Columbus? And did the St. Clairs have in their hands, proof of said travels? Maybe Prince Henry St. Clair wanted to visit these lands? We are talking about a 90 year difference in time, who knows, maybe more.

In Westford, Massachussets, there is a monument marking the ground carving of a medieval knight in armor whom the locals have named “The Westford Knight” and it dates back to around 1398. The Scotish Knight Sir James Gunn of the Clan Gunn who died while they were in Westford, was a member of Prince Henry St. Clair’s expedition accross the Atlantic to a mystical land beneath the star  “Merica”, along with the Zeno brothers Nicolo and Antonio who were venetian sailors. The engraving was a tribute by Prince Henry and his men to this loyal friend.

There is also mention that with him, went 300 men and 12 ships and that the journey was documented as the Zeno Narratives. Apparently the Zeno brothers wrote to their friend Carlo “The Lion” in Venice, who kept the letters and passed them on to the Zeno family. It is also said that Prince Henry had in his possession the secret scrolls the Templars had found during the first nine years of lodging under Herod’s Temple, which is speculated that the Nasoreans, forefathers of the Mandeans who along with the Qumranians had buried their secret under Herod’s Temple and that he also had an old map the Templars had used to sail accross the Atlantic and that one of the Zeno brothers was updating it for him. It There are also legends amongst the Micmac native of Nova Scotia and the beathuks, native of Newfoundland, whom the Vikings called “Skraeings” where they talk about a white, bearded man who lived with them for a while.

I love this, it is so enormously exciting!!!   How I would describe Rosslyn, its mysteries and any and all connections thereto would be: “amazing, beautiful, fascinating, odd, incredible, puzzling, unique and definitely very inspiring and controversial. Or just plain “WOW”!!!

Rosslyn is open year round and you can visit their website www.rosslynchapel.org.uk for more details like where you can find lodgings, etc. You can even get married there. And… since you are already in Bonnie Scotland, visiting this awesome place, why not continue exploring in many other nearby, interesting and historic locations, where you are very likely to become involved in the discovery of more myths, hauntings and legends this beautiful land has to offer. On May 12, there was a Medieval Fair in the chapel grounds. I hope somebody took pictures and posts them here, it will be a nice addition to the site.

A lot of the information in this subject, I gathered from the following websites. I thank you. Check them out, they are great! I also read a lot about Rosslyn, I am kind of passionate about it.

www.rosslynchapel.org.uk
www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk
www.heritage.scotsman.com
www.thetruthseeker.co.uk
geocities.com/sconemac/wknight.html by Nancy MacCorkill of the Clan Gunn and she said:
“Vikings Guh Brath”. Sounds nice.