Rosslyn Chapel - Sermons In Stones

When we look closely at the carvings in the Chapel — perhaps sitting down in recollection at one of the Sunday morning or late afternoon liturgies (rather than follow the great stir of tourists which flows in considerable bewilderment through the Chapel or sits silently, listening to the well-rehearsed exposition of tour guides), they can be seen to reflect the riches of the biblical tradition of the Psalms, lines of which may suggest themselves.
The visual impact of the Chapel is powerful and quickly encourages the visitor to a feeling of awe and even disorientation. As we enter the Chapel for the first time our involuntary impression might be of mystery: ‘Holiness is the beauty of your house’ (Psalms 93:5) or ‘Better one day in your courts’ (Ps 84: 10). As we sit and absorb the sensuous atmosphere we may meditate on the elevation and protection which the Chapel offers: ‘He folds me on the recesses of his tent, sets me high on a rock’ (Ps 27:5). Gazing in wonder at the complex designs of Rosslyn Chapel (in the soaring roof or in cramped caverns of the Lady Chapel) it would be easy to conclude that ‘From the entire earth the design stands out’ (Ps 19:4). We may become like those who say ‘I look up at your heavens … moon and stars’ (Ps 148:1) and we could finish by whispering ‘Praise Yahweh upon the heavens’ (Ps 148:1).

The Hebrew Psalms provided the poetic basis of the devotions in which the Canons at St Matthew’s Collegiate Church spent much of their time. For us today, thinking of the North Esk River which flows round Castle and Chapel might bring the reflection that ‘In the ravines you opened up springs running between the mountains’ (Ps 104:10) and that ‘Deep is calling to deep, by the roar of your cataract’ (Ps 42:7). Looking round about us at the long low tomb of a St Clair (a warrior like so many of his family in medieval days) the chivalric ideal of the Christian knight would strike us ‘Warrior, strap your sword at your side … ride on in the cause of truth, Gentleness and uprighteousness’ (Ps 45:3).

In the days of Sir William St Clair life was cheap. It would be easy to conclude that, as the Psalmist observes, ‘As for a human person — his days are like grass, he blooms like the wild flower’ (Ps 103:15). So would come the fear of the Lord, visible in the Chapel’s carved Dance of Death: ‘My heart withers within me, the terrors of death come upon me, fear and trembling overwhelm me and shuddering grips me’ (Ps 55:4). It is a cry for help which God answers decisively and with power — ‘Smoke rose from his nostrils’ (Ps 18:8). Now, the forces of evil (epitomised by the devils so much in evidence in the Chapel) are launch their attack, their throats are wide-open graves (5:9) but those who lie in wait for God’s people are heading for destruction — ‘The path of the wicked is doomed’ (Ps 1:6). Like the dragons which curl around the base of the Prince’s Pillar: ‘They are poisonous as any snake, deaf as an adder that blocks its ears’ (Ps 58:4), and so Yahweh will ‘hurl them into a blazing furnace and fire will devour them’ (Ps 20:9). He will split the sea monster, Rahab (representing Chaos) ‘in two like a corpse’ (89:10) and crush the heads of the monster Leviathan (Ps 74:14).

The theme of many of the Chapel’s carvings is the fruitful reign of God: ‘ When the Lord has restored his Kingdom, the Earth will rejoice, as the many musicians are doing above the Lady Chapel, each one saying: ‘I sing for joy’ (Ps 81:1), and ‘We will sing and make noise’ (Ps 20:13).

• Extract of Rosslyn Chapel Revealed by Michael Turnbull by kind permission of The History Press, and remains ©Michael T R B Turnbull