Cathedral entrance proposals - take part in our consultation

This consultation is now closed

The Council is consulting on plans to improve the main entrance to St Magnus Cathedral. Feedback is invited from Cathedral users and the wider Orkney community.

The proposed work involves providing visual and physical enhancements to the area at the west entrance doors.

As these illustrations from the Cathedral architects show, wheelchair access to the west door would be created by raising the existing flagstones, with a slope running from the south side to provide access for all at the main entrance.

This is the only change to the Cathedral externally. The outer wooden doors leading into the Cathedral will remain in place and will in turn lead to a new internal entrance porch created from oak and glass.

The porch has been designed to reflect the shape of the west doorway stone arch, which is currently hidden behind the existing internal lobby and will be made visible inside the new porch.

When the outer wooden doors are open, the new internal entrance porch will provide a clear view from one end of the building to the other – along the nave and choir to the east window. This view is also hidden at present by the existing lobby.

A pair of central doors in the new porch is designed to provide direct access to the central aisle of the Cathedral for larger functions, such as weddings, funerals and other civic ceremonies.

The cost of the planned work will be met mainly by the Society of the Friends of St Magnus Cathedral.

Please pass on your views by email to dandi.dbs@orkney.gov.uk or by post to Cathedral Consultation, Development and Infrastructure, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall KW15 1NY.