St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral stands in Edinburgh’s West End, a Gothic-revival church with three spires. Its foundation stone was laid in 1874 by the Duke of Buccleuch, and the building was consecrated five years later. The cathedral is the mother church of the Edinburgh diocese, home to daily choral services and a noted choir school. The main spire reaches 90 metres, making it the tallest structure in the city. Two smaller spires bear the names of the Walker sisters, whose bequest secured the site. The cathedral is part of the city’s World Heritage Site and holds Category A listed status. The Walker sisters’ family had long supported Scottish episcopacy, and their estate bordered the cathedral grounds. The design came from Sir George Gilbert Scott, with later work by his grandson. Inside, the west entrance shows Saint Peter with the keys to Heaven. The reredos, criticised for its style, was carved by Mary Grant to John Oldrid Scott’s design. The cathedral’s bells, cast by John Taylor & Co., include a tenor weighing over two tonnes. Daily Evensong and a mixed choir of boys and girls make this a living musical tradition. Visitors enter through one of four main doors, the west door being the most ornate. The Song School, built in 1885, contains a second Father Willis organ and murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair. The cathedral hosts Fringe concerts, recitals and exhibitions throughout the year. The organ itself has 57 stops, maintained by Harrison & Harrison since 1931. The provost, the senior priest, leads services alongside the bishop. The building’s stonework and stained glass frame a space shaped by centuries of worship and music.