Church Overview

Known as ‘The Lamp of Lothian’, St Mary’s Parish Church is the longest parish church in Scotland, with an absolutely fascinating history. Founded as a Collegiate Church in 1380, and taking over one hundred years to build, the cruciform church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin was largely ruined during the violent Siege of Haddington of 1548 that took place during the ‘Rough Wooing‘ period instigated by Henry VIII of England.

Its nave was repaired in 1561 for John Knox and the Reformers and was used as the parish church for almost 400 years. In 1811, architect James Burn, working to a design of Archibald Elliot, carried out extensive alterations to the exterior and parts of the interior. In 1973, four centuries after their ruination, St Marys transepts and choir were restored by the conservation architectural firm of Ian G Lindsay & Partners bringing the whole building back into use.

The building possesses some wonderful stone carvings, especially around its west door, and the Lauderdale Aisle, now known as the Chapel of the Three Kings, with its magnificent alabaster recumbent effigies and ornate heraldic devices, is in regular ecumenical use by the Scottish Episcopal Church. The sexpartite vaulting draws the visitor’s eyes the length of the building, before being distracted by the notable stained glass by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, William Wilson and Sax Roland Shaw, among other artists.

The wonderful and ornate Gothic traceried carved stone pulpit is by Scottish sculptor William Birnie Rhind. There are also some modern tapestries on show and a fine pipe organ by Lammermuir Pipe Organs, built in 1990. There are numerous memorials and grave slabs located throughout the building, including the grave of local writer Jane Welsh Carlyle, and visitors can also see in the north choir an ancient stone sculpture of the burgh’s coat of arms that was rediscovered in the foundations during the early 1970s restoration work.

Having been silent for over 450 years, since the English army removed its three bells, St Mary’s bell tower received a peal of eight bells in 1999. Originally cast in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of George V and hung in Dunecht House, today they regularly sing out across Haddington when rung by a group of local volunteer bellringers.

The wide open churchyard outside contains many interested and some historic headstones and table monuments and the walk along the neighbouring river Tyne is a very pleasant one.

Services

Sundays at 10am. Occasional joint services held in Haddington West Kirk

Opening Arrangements

Open 1st May – 30th September every day from 1.30pm-4.00pm

During the summer months a series of free musical concerts are held on Sunday afternoons at 4pm. Check church’s own website for details.

      (available with booked tours – see website for details)

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.