Kirk of the Canongate

The Kirk of the Canongate stands beside the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town, a grey-stone parish church of the Church of Scotland. It occupies a site chosen in 1688 on the north side of the Canongate, a street once the main thoroughfare into the city. The building replaced Holyrood Abbey after the Crown withdrew its use and the congregation moved from Lady Yester’s. James Smith designed the church, completed in 1691 at an estimated cost of 34,000 merks. Thomas Moodie’s arms appear above the entrance, a reminder of the bequest that paid for its construction. The church’s history is entwined with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament, both within its parish. The church is worth the journey for its royal connections and the events it has witnessed. Queen Elizabeth II attended services here during her visits to Edinburgh. In 2011, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall were married in the building, drawing national attention. The late Queen’s presence and the royal wedding show how the church has remained a focal point for the nation. During the 18th century, George Whitefield and Ralph Erskine preached here, drawing large crowds. In 1745, the Jacobite army used the church to hold prisoners after the Battle of Prestonpans. These moments give the Kirk of the Canongate a place in Scotland’s story. Inside, the church retains its 17th-century layout with a central aisle and galleries. The pipe organ, installed in 1874, was one of the first in the Church of Scotland. The minister Andrew R. Bonar introduced hymn-singing and a choir during the 19th century. The church’s windows and furnishings reflect its long history and the changes it has seen. Outside, the Canongate’s narrow closes and historic closes lead to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The church stands as part of Edinburgh’s Old Town, a reminder of the city’s past.