Dedicated to Researching Rosslyn Chapel, The Knights Templar and Scottish Freemasonry

St. Duthac was built during the 14th century and probably also during the first part of the 15th century by William, 5th Earl of Ross.

Dedicated to Duthac who was born in Tain c.1050 and rose to become bishop of Ross. 200 years following his death in Ireland his relics were returned to Tain in June 1253 where a cult soon arose. This coincided with the expansion of Tain as an ecclesiastical centre. Because it housed the relics of the saint, the church quickly became part of the Scottish pilgrimage route. Many members of the nobility and royalty, and large numbers of more humble pilgrims, visited the shrine in order to venerate the saint. It is know that during a 20 year period James IV visited the church a total 18 times. Rosslyn Chapel is different in this respect in that it never became a place of pilgrimage. Rosslyn Chapel contained no saint’s relics to merit pilgrims visiting the building. In addition Rosslyn was privately owned and so was not open to the public be they pilgrims or otherwise.