The roofless remains of St Magnus Kirk stand on the western side of Egilsay – dominating the island on which St Magnus was executed early in the 12th century.

Built towards the end of the 12th century, the church is made up of a rectangular nave and a square chancel, with a tall round tower on the western end. Despite the lack of a roof, the remains are still in good condition.

The tower still stands 14.9 metres (48.9 feet) high, although it is thought it was once taller – perhaps as much as 4.5 metres (15 feet).

The structure lost its roof sometime in the mid to late 19th century. An early 19th sketch shows a stone roof over kirk’s nave, chancel and tower.

It is thought that the kirk was built on the spot of an earlier church – the one mentioned in the sagas as the site of Earl Magnus’ murder in 1115, 1116, 1117 or 1118.