St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral stands in Edinburgh’s New Town, a short walk from York Place. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and the mother church of the Archdiocese. The building occupies the site of an earlier chapel opened in 1814, designed by James Gillespie Graham. In 1878 it became the pro-cathedral of the restored Scottish hierarchy and was raised to metropolitan status in 1886. The cathedral holds the National Shrine of Saint Andrew and is listed as a category B building. The cathedral’s architecture blends neo-perpendicular design with later additions. Augustus Pugin contributed to the original 1813–14 plans, while John Biggar widened the aisles after a fire in 1892. Reginald Fairlie designed the war memorial and high altar in 1921, and a baldachino was added six years later. In the 1970s the façade was opened up and the sanctuary remodelled after the Second Vatican Council. Pope John Paul II visited in 1982 during his pastoral journey to Scotland. Inside, the cathedral presents a spacious nave with side aisles and a raised sanctuary. The 1921 war memorial and high altar form a focal point, while the 1927 baldachino adds height and grandeur. The 2008 organ, built by Matthew Copley, contains 4,000 pipes and supports a wide repertoire. The Schola Cantorum and mixed-ability choir perform sacred music, and concerts were held during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 2016. The surrounding streets of the New Town provide a calm setting for visitors approaching the cathedral.