The Society of the Friends of St Magnus Cathedral was formed in 1958 mainly because it became apparent that the Cathedral needed a great deal more money for its upkeep than was available at the time.
Its object was the support of any project connected with, or incidental to, the care and improvement of the Cathedral and its furnishings, together with the raising of funds for these purposes. All this was to be done in association with the Local Authority, at that time Kirkwall Town Council. The Provost James Scott was appointed Chairman of the Society and Cathedral Minister the Revd John Rose vice chairman. A Council of Members was set up with representatives form the Local Authority, the Cathedral congregation, and four other Members not belonging to these other bodies. The Council was to run the ongoing affairs of the Society.
The Society devoted itself to the raising of the funds required for the necessary maintenance of the Cathedral. Today the Society continues to make grants of some £50,000 per annum to the Orkney Islands Council to assist with the upkeep and maintenance of the building.