Rosslyn chapel is a tiny (and I mean REALLY tiny) chapel just south of Edinburgh in the village of Roslin. It was founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness in the 15th century. It is thought that it was meant to be the choir for a much larger church but the construction stopped after Sinclair died. However, as many of you will know, what it lacks in size it makes up for in architecture and masonry. Every inch of stonework in the chapel, which was featured in the Da Vinci Code, is intricately carved with unusual figures and symbols, including many "green men" and an entire orchestra of angels. The chapel was closed in 1560 after the Scottish Reformation (when Scotland turned from Catholic to Protestant and many churches were destroyed). It then lay empty for 300 years until it was re-opened by the Victorians, who added stained glass windows and a baptistry, in 1861. The mysterious little church still remains open this day, performing regular church services as well as weddings and other events.
Sadly it is possible that there were other similar churches to Rosslyn but the reformation and English invasions by King Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell destroyed many of the churches and cathedrals in the south of Scotland. Henry VIII's army destroyed all of the grand abbeys in the Scottish Borders, at Melrose, Jedburgh, Dryburgh and Kelso and Scotland now only has one mediaeval cathedral left. Strangely, Rosslyn Chapel was spared, and while Oliver Cromwell's army demolished Roslin castle and much of the village of Roslin, he merely used the abandoned chapel as a stable. Some people believe that Oliver Cromwell was a Freemason and that it was the chapel's links with Freemasonry which saved it.
I thought it was important that you could read some of the history of the chapel before you viewed my photos. You can read more at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Chapel.
I'd also like to point out that what Dan Brown says about Rosslyn in the Da Vinci Code is almost entirely false.
I used some 'gentle' HDR on these photos to bring out some detail in some of the darker shadows and tone down the highlights a bit. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to photograph the chapel so I don't have any shots showing the detail of the architecture in the area called the "Lady Chapel", which is behind the altar, although I might get the chance to go again sometime.
Please let me know your opinions!
Does anyone have any suggestions?
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