In Scotland there are some incredible old churches. Some of them are not just ordinary churches but churches that are very unusual for various reasons. A good example of this is Paisley Abbey in Paisley, Scotland. I have talked about this church before. Paisley Abbey has the actual tombs of some kings right in the middle of the church. The church had expanded to include a grave yard and now these graves are on view. Perhaps grave is the wrong word, we should use tomb. It is very unusually to walk into a church and in the front, in the middle of the floor find a tomb with the likeness of a former king carved into a slab on top of the tomb. Buried in the Abbey are six High Stewards, Marjory Bruce, Robert II`s wives and Robert III.

Tomb of Robert III
Photo Source: Me and my trusty Canon

There are far stranger churches in Scotland and one of them is Rosslyn Chapel. But what makes it so strange? Could it be because this particular chapel is said by some to be the resting place of the Holy Grail? The Holy Grail is thought by many to be the cup that Jesus drank out of at the last supper. It is said that the chapel was built under the directions of the Templar Knights, by the Prince of Orkney.The knights brought the grail to Scotland, then to this church for safe keeping. There are crypts in the basement and there are many strange etchings and drawings on those walls. One type of drawing is felt to be a mason's mark and also appears in the church and in Melrose Abbey. The man behind the building of this chapel was Sir William St. Clair, third and last Prince of Orkney. Rosslyn is a Member of the Episcopalian Church and holds regular services on Sundays. It is located in Roslin Village about three miles from Edinburgh.and charges 5 pounds to get in. The chapel was started in 1446.

The ceiling has a very strange design incorporating thousands of cube shapes. No building plans were every found which is unusual. The foundation shows signs that a much larger church was originally planned. Usually when an arch is used the same type is used throughout or maybe there is a slight variation. In this case there are 42 different types of arches used on a building that is only 68 feet long, almost 41 feet high and almost 35 feet wide.

The church contains the world famous 'Apprentice pillar' also know as the 'Prentice Pillar' The story goes that a stone mason wanted to carve a very grand pillar for the church but he didn't want to start it until he went around Rome and studied the grant art there and received further direction. When he was gone on his trip, his apprentice carved a pillar which many think is the grandest pillar ever carved. When he came back he couldn't believe that the pillar was carved. He was filled with envy and anger when he saw this incredible work. He asked who had done this and his apprentice thinking he had done a good thing, stepped forward and proudly said he did it. At that moment the mason hit him over the head with his mallet killing him. The mason was punished for his crime.

Cromwell used the chapel as a stable for the horses of his troops in 1650. There is a carving of a head in one corner of the church. It is said to be that of the master mason, the murderer of the apprentice. Another head depicts the Apprentice right down to the scar on his head where he was struck and killed. The head of the apprentice's mother is on the wall and shows her grieving for her son. Another head that is shown is the head of William St. Clair, founder of the chapel.

The Knight Templars supposedly hid the Holy Grail somewhere in the church but that was not the only thing that they were said to have hidden. The story goes that they also hid a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on inside this building. There is a vault that contains the remains of the Sinclair ancestors in full armour and it hasn't been opened for centuries. Some people think that this is where the grail and cross fragment are hidden. The chapel is also said to contain a code that would give the location of these treasures. Then there is another legend that states if you go to the castle, stand on the right step and blow a horn, you will see the treasure.

Some of the carvings inside the church resemble cactus and corn and it is thought that somehow there had been contact with the new world before Columbus. Could it have been that the Templars had traveled to North America before Columbus? Many people have stated that they have seen ghosts in the building and on the outside. One curator is said to have stated that he saw a phantom monk praying in the crypt with two knights on each side of him. Others have said they also have seen these monks on the outside of the building and that some were in brown and others in black. Strange lights have also been seen around the chapel. The castle is also said to be haunted.