13. William Sinclair Died Before the Chapel Was Completed
The project was so immense that the entire town of Rosslyn was built to accommodate the masons and other workers who would contribute to its construction. Ten thousand blocks of sandstone had to be quarried from nearby fields and brought to the site before they could be built into the masterpiece and carved by hand with the images that define the structure. The quarrying process itself probably took several years. Rosslyn Chapel took an astonishing forty years to build, and its founder, William Sinclair, passed away in 1484, just a couple of years before it was completed.
Many historians believe that he originally intended Rosslyn Chapel to be at least twice the size that it is today, making it an entire church as opposed to a small chapel. Many people who visit the chapel are amazed at how small it actually is, particularly for a building of such global fame. The fact that its founder passed away before its completion may be at least one reason as to why the original plans were not fulfilled. Had he lived longer, his original plans to build a much grander building might have been carried out, and Rosslyn Church would genuinely have been a wonder for the senses.