Rosslin
or Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn
Chapel's proper name is the Collegiate Chapel of St. Matthew. It was
founded in the mid-15th century. It had four to six ordained canons
and two choristers. It is near Roslin Castle, and both are near the
village of Roslin, in Midlothian, Scotland.
Some people believe that the name originates from Gaelic, for a ridge
or promontory "ros" and a waterfall "lin". Knight
and Lomas believe the origin of the name Roslin is from Scottish
Gaelic, "ros" meaning ancient knowledge, and "lin"
meaning generations. Together they theorize that they mean knowledge
of the generations or passed down through the generations. Author
Keith Laidler also points out that it might mean the "Rose Line"
which indicates the Jesus bloodline.
Andrew Sinclair thinks it means rosy stream or fall, and the nearest
town to Roslin is Rosewell, or well of roses.
The Sinclair family is supposedly part of the Rex Deus Bloodline.
Books like The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, say that this bloodline
are the Merovingian Bloodline, and have been continually trying to
restore their family to ruling over a unified Europe.
It
was founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness. The Sinclair
family have also spelled their name, Sainte Claire, and St. Clair.
They are believed to be from Saint-Clair-sur-Epte in France.
The
family founded the chapel with the purpose of celebrating Holy Mass
for the dead members of the family and to celebrate the Divine Office
daily. The chapel was set up with an endowment to support it in
perpetuity. William Sinclair received a charter to build it in 1446,
but construction did not begin until ten years later, due to the
necessity of building housing for the craftsmen who were to build it.
After
the Scottish Reformation, in 1560, Roman Catholic Services were
discontinued there and it was closed to the public until 1861.
Most
recently, it has been the subject of theories associated with the
Freemasons and the Knights Templar.
Among
the legends associated with Rosslyn Chapel is that concerning the
Apprentice Pillar, sometimes refered to as the Prentice Pillar or the
Princes Pillar. The legend says that the master mason in charge of
the stonework did not believe that his apprentice could carve the
column without seeing the original it was to be fashioned after. The
master mason went on a journey to see the original. When he returned,
the apprentice had already finished the pillar. The master mason was
enraged by jealousy and struch the apprentice in the head with a
mallet and killed him. As a punishment for this murder, the master
mason's face was careved into the opposite corner to look forever at
the apprentice pillar.
The
chapel is full of carvings with apparent hidden meaning that appear
to be Masonic, which gives credence to the idea that if Masonry
started at a later date than the chapel was built, that they must be
Templar symbols, thereby pointing to a connection between the
Templars and the Masons.
One
such inscription says Forte est vinum fortior est rex fortiores sunt
mulieres super omnia vincit veritas: "Wine is strong, a king is
stronger, women are stronger still, but truth conquers all" (1
Esdras, chapters 3 & 4).
There
is a carving of two riders on one horse which was a Templar symbol on
their seal.
Some
of the carvings are said to look like corn or maize which came from
the Americas. Corn was unknown in Europe at the time that the chapel
was built. This would seem to give credence to the legend that Henry
I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, made a voyage to the Americas long before
Columbus did.
The
crypt in the chapel was the family burial place for many generations.
It has been sealed off. There are theories that say it contains the
mummified head of Jesus Christ, the Holy Grail and the lost treasure
of the Knights Templar or the original crown jewels of Scotland.
Walter Scott described the twenty Sinclair knights that are buried in the chapel as "everlasting Knights of the Grail, on sentry duty over the mysteries entrusted to their keeping."
Walter Scott described the twenty Sinclair knights that are buried in the chapel as "everlasting Knights of the Grail, on sentry duty over the mysteries entrusted to their keeping."
The first St. Clair to arrive in Scotland, was William the Seemly. In
1057, he supposedly arrived with Ladislaus Leslyn and they were both
escorting Princess Margaret to marry King Malcolm Caenmore of
Scotland. William was granted the land at Roslin and he also became
the queen's cupbearer. One interpretation of the carving in the
chapel of two riders on one horse is that it is Leslyn and the
princess riding pillion. It is said that she is holding the relic
known as the Holy Rood, which is believed to be a piece of the True
Cross. The relic was kept in a golden casket, i.e. a Holy Grail. Some
people believe this relic is hidden in Rosslyn Chapel. Author Lewis
Spence referred to the chapel as the Chapel of the Grail. He also
believes that William Sinclair built the chapel with the Chapel
Perilous from the grail legends in mind.
Henri St. Clair was the first Sinclair born in Scotland. He went with
Godfroi Bouillon to Jerusalem on Crusade. After Jerusalem was taken
back from the Muslims, The Knights Templar were formed.
Hughes De Payens was it's first Grand Master, and though it has been
disputed, he was said to have married Catherine Sinclair or de St.
Clair.
The
Sinclair family supposedly testified against the Templars in 1309 at
their trial in Edinburgh. But there are some carvings that appear to
be Masonic. There is a blindfolded man with a noose around his neck.
This is similar to what happens to a candidate being initiated into
Freemasonry. Supposedly, the earliest Masonic lodges date to the 16th
and 17th centuries, long after the chapel was built. This prompts
some to theorize that the Masonic carvings were added at a later
date. In the 1860's James St. Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn,
hired David Bryce an architect and know freemasonr to restore areas
of the chapel.
A
William Sinclair who was a descendant of the founder of the chapel
was the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and several
other members of the family have subsequently held that position.
The
chapel has come into the public spotlight due to books like Rex Deus:
The True Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau And The Dynasty of Jesus,
writen in 2000 by Timothy Wallace-Murphy, and others like The Holy
Blood and the Holy Grail, by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and
Henry Lincoln. In 2003 ABC did a documentary titled Jesus, Mary and
Da Vinci. Niven Sinclair alluded to the fact that Jesus Christ had
descendants who were also Sinclairs.
The
chapel has been closed for renovations. The stained-glass windows and
organ are being restored. There has been work done on the roof and
the stone carvings. A visitor center was planned to open in July
2011. The costs of this restoration is expected to be about L13
million and the visitor center L3.7 million.