Greyfriars Kirk

Greyfriars Kirk stands in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, beside the ancient Greyfriars Kirkyard. Built between 1602 and 1620 on ground once used by Franciscan friars, it replaced a Catholic monastery dissolved after the Scottish Reformation. The church’s name recalls the ‘Grey Friars’, who arrived from the Netherlands in the 15th century and settled near the Grassmarket. Its simple Gothic nave was later enlarged after a tower explosion in 1718 and rebuilt after a fire in 1845. The interior still shows traces of these changes, with restored arcades and stained glass added in the 1930s. The church is famous for the 1638 National Covenant, first signed here by Scotland’s leaders. This act helped spark the Bishops’ Wars and the wider conflict of the 17th century. Greyfriars also witnessed turbulent events during Oliver Cromwell’s occupation, when troops used it as barracks. Later, in the 19th century, the minister Robert Lee introduced an organ and stained glass, innovations for a Scottish parish church after the Reformation. The building now holds notable monuments, including a 17th-century memorial to Margaret, Lady Yester. Inside, the church has an open, un-aisled space created after the 1845 fire. The restored arcades and historic windows by James Ballantine add colour and detail. Outside, Greyfriars Kirkyard contains graves of Edinburgh’s past, including the monument to Greyfriars Bobby. The church continues its mission through local projects, keeping alive its tradition of Gaelic worship begun in the early 18th century.