History
Some History
Lerwick was originally part of Tingwall parish. At the time of the Revolution, there was a vacancy and Presbyterianism prevailed in this area. Not until 1726 was an Episcopalian cleric settled in Lerwick.
After a century with no Episcopalian clergy in Shetland, a mission was formed in 1861. The Foundation Stone of the present church was laid on the Feast of St. Magnus (April 16) 1863. The building was completed in 1864 and consecrated on 27 June that year. The distinctive tower was added in 1891.
The windows are of some interest, and indicate something of the fortunes of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Shetland. Above the altar, the centre light is dedicated to the memory of the Revd. John Hunter. Hunter, who died in 1761, was the last remaining Episcopalian priest in Shetland after the Reformation. The window in the north wall of the choir is in memory of the Revd. Robert Walker (Rector of St. Magnus, 1864-1896) – the first Episcopalian priest in Shetland after Hunter. Other windows include some designed by Sir Ninian Comper whose work can also be seen in Westminster Abbey, among other places in the UK.
Magnus the Saint
Little is really known of the early twelfth century figure Magnus Erlendsson who was jointly Earl of Orkney with his cousin Håkon Pålsson, but legend has compensated for the absence of facts.
According to the story of the Orkneyinga Saga, Håkon was a fierce and aggressive warrior, while Magnus (most famously at a bloody battle in the Menai Straits led by King Magnus Barelegs, for example) refused to fight and stood aside chanting psalms. An angry and jealous Håkon plotted against the popular, mild mannered and pacific Magnus, and eventually had him killed.
Following his death, miracles attributed to Magnus’ intervention grew rapidly. Though he was not strictly a martyr (because Håkon also claimed to be a Christian), stories about the dead earl developed at such a pace that Magnus’ nephew Rognvald had the great Cathedral at Kirkwall built in his honour and as a shelter for his remains.
The sagas depicted Magnus as a noble-looking, strong, tall man. Excavation at the Cathedral in Kirkwall in 1926 unearthed a man of about five feet seven with a small skull capacity.
Veneration of St. Magnus has focused on his pacifistic qualities and the humility and bravery of his death. Magnus saw no heroism in senseless killing. He stands out as a counter-cultural figure against a background of violence and warfare throughout northern Europe. For this reason at least, St. Magnus has had an honoured place in the story of Christianity of Orkney and Shetland, and he remains an example in our own age.
The Worldwide Church
As a congregation of the Scottish Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, St. Magnus is in full communion with all of the other churches of the Anglican Communion throughout the world.
Since 1994, through the Porvoo Declaration the Scottish Episcopal Church has linked with the Lutheran Churches of the Nordic and Baltic countries.
On St Andrew’s Day 2021 the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland signed the St Andrew Declaration, committing both denominations to looking at new ways of working together to serve the people of Scotland.
Our Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney has two formal overseas links: Diocese of Connecticut and Diocese of Mthatha.
St Magnus has links with Holy Trinity Church Williamsport Pennsylvania.
There is regular support from members of St Magnus congregation for Project Bongo, a charitable trust based in Shetland which provides support and funding for small scale development and education projects in Ghana.
We actively support the work of Christian Aid in partnership with the other churches in Shetland.
Our Brief History (A PDF version):
As part of our 150th Anniversary celebration in 2014, we revised and updated a history booklet written by local historian Douglas Sinclair. This project was sponsored by Dr Barbara Crawford from St Andrews.
This “Brief History” is below, and also available as a PDF file: