St Magnus Cathedral
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
St Magnus Cathedral known as the Light in the North and founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus, dominates Kirkwall on Orkney.
The church and community hall is a safe space for local people and home to a range of community activities and services.
Ever since 1885, The Salvation Army has been active in community life in Kirkwall and across Orkney, addressing social needs and inequalities. To continue this work, and meet need, building renovation is underway. On completion - envisaged in August 2025 - the restored and extended church will be a welcoming, attractive, comfortable and fully-accessible space, open daily for all to use and have their needs met.
Services will include pastoral care, counselling, a creche, an older people’s ministry and outreach work with young people. In addition, to serve and connect with a wider section of the community, the church and hall will be a community hub, hosting and working in partnership with fellow local charities, such as Home-Start Orkney, Women’s Aid Orkney and The Orkney Foodbank.
As per The Salvation Army’s commitment to environmental protection, the modernised church will be green. Made of stone from Orkney by local builders, it’s designed to maximise energy efficiency and minimise heat loss, with solar panels providing light and energy to the kitchen, and waste recycled to minimise landfill.