Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church, Bonnyrigg

Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church stands south of Bonnyrigg in Midlothian. It belongs to the Church of Scotland and unites two former parishes. The present building replaced an older church in 1820. Richard Crichton designed it in 1816, but he died before it was finished. His apprentices R & R Dickson completed the work between 1817 and 1820. The church has a tall tower, unusually high for its size. The church is a Category A listed building and remains in regular use. Its tower design was later copied, on a larger scale, for Kilconquhar Parish Church in Fife. The congregation shares a minister with Lasswade and Rosewell Parish Church. The link with Lasswade began in 1977 and with Rosewell in 1991. Recent ministers include The Rev Wendy Drake, The Rev Matthew Ross, and The Rev Lorna M Souter. Visitors find a simple but elegant church with a striking tower. The interior reflects its long use as a place of worship. The building’s stonework and proportions show the skill of Crichton and his apprentices. The churchyard holds older gravestones from the time before the current church was built. The surrounding area includes farmland and new housing at Hopefield. The view from the churchyard looks toward the Pentland Hills in the distance.