Thistle Chapel With angels performing a jig (13 photos + 1 video)

Hidden in the southeast corner of Sant'Egidio Cathedral is a small chapel, the woodcarvings of which are truly breathtaking.





If you look closely (and you definitely should), you'll discover three celestial beings with a distinctly Scottish character among the architectural flourishes.



The Chapel of the Order of the Thistle is a magnificent neo-Gothic structure, completed in 1911. Architect Robert Lorimer designed this space as a home for the Order of the Thistle, the second-highest order of chivalry in Scotland. The wood carvings were executed by James Grieve in his workshop.





Sixteen members of the Order are appointed personally by the British monarch, and new members can only join upon the death of the current knight. When a new knight is invested, the others don green velvet robes and hats with white feathers. Then the solemn ceremony begins.



James II Stuart – King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a member of the Stuart dynasty. As a Scottish monarch, he was known as James VII (1685–1688).

The founding of the order is attributed to King James VII (17th century), although its roots likely go back further, perhaps to Robert the Bruce himself. Most likely, however, the honor of founding it belongs to one of the early Jameses.



Knights' benches line the walls. Coats of arms of the fallen and the living adorn the walls, and the carved canopies above the benches are crowned with the symbols of the living members of the order.



Olav V — King of Norway from 1957 to 1991

Several coats of arms on the western wall are particularly noteworthy. On the left is the insignia of King Olav V of Norway, the only non-Scottish knight.



Fitzroy Hugh Royle Maclean (11 March 1911 – 15 June 1996) was a Scottish British Army officer, writer, and politician.

To his right is Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the man who inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond.



But it's not only heraldry that adorns this place. The dark wood is transformed into a masterpiece with minute details, illuminated by light from the stained glass windows. Flowers and animals are carved into the beams. Among the figures on the high ceiling is a pelican, the ancient Roman symbol of Christianity.



And amid all this splendor, hidden from casual view, lie three angels with bagpipes. Two of them—one above the upper right corner of the door, the other in the corner opposite the entrance—blend into the surrounding carvings. The third is carved from stone and looks down on one of the windows.



These three musicians became such a beloved feature of the chapel that they inspired the name of the restaurant across the street.



The chapel is open and welcoming visitors. The angels are still in place. The restaurant across the street is also open. The only thing that has changed is that in July 2024, Queen Camilla and the Duke of Edinburgh were solemnly knighted.