William The Founder
Ian says, “Not much is known about the founder but he is described as ‘a very fair man of great stature, broad bodied, yellow haired, well proportioned, humble and courteous’. He held vast territories and influence and was the third St Clair Prince of Orkney until 1471, when it was formally annexed to the Scottish Crown by Act of Parliament and he received Ravenscraig Castle in Fife. Earlier, in 1455, he was given the earldom of Caithness in exchange for Nithsdale. This carving shows William wearing a crown and holding a sword in his right hand. Today, William still roams the chapel and its grounds in the guise of its much loved cat, named after the founder, often found asleep on one of the pews.”