Edinburgh: St. Giles’ Cathedral

The first on my list of things to see in Edinburgh is St. Giles’ Cathedral. It’s free to visit the 12th century church, and even if you have no religious inclinations it’s definitely worth seeing, purely for its rich history.

For some quick background: the Church was established around 1124 either by King Alexander I or his brother, King David I. The church was used for Catholic mass for centuries, and even members of the Stewart dynasty attendance mass at St. Giles’. By the time Mary, Queen of Scots, was in power, however, the church had begun to turn Protestant (although she did visit three times in her life). Mary’s half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray, was buried there and a brass plate commemorates his place of burial to this day. During the Reformation, the church was led by John Knox, whose statue is seen in the church today. In 1633, the church became a cathedral, and in 1826 they began the process of restoring the cathedral, as the centuries of change had taken a toll on the building. In 1911, the Thistle Chapel was added, which was to be used by the Knights of the Thistle (Scotland’s order of chivalry). For a more comprehensive history, check out this link.

The stained glass and the roof were probably my favorite parts of the cathedral. You could tell it had been expanded over the centuries, since the flow of the church isn’t what you’d typically see. You can just feel the age and history in the church. I was afraid to speak louder than a whisper and I found myself taking quieter, softer steps. The smallest of noises could make the loudest echo.

I highly recommend researching places like this before you go, rather than depending on learning the history when you’re there. It’s hard not to keep thinking, “oh my God, Mary, Queen of Scots, was in the same building.” It’s cool to know the impact of the site going into it.

The other thing that blows my mind is that services are still offered in the cathedral. You can still attend prayer sessions and request prayers from the church leaders. You can still light prayer candles and sit in silence in a prayer chapel.

I would highly recommend visiting St. Giles’. Again, it’s free! You can pay £2 for a photography pass (which I did), and they of course accept donations. They also have a cafe in the basement that serves a delicious hot meal. It’s perfect if you’ve come in from the chilly Edinburgh streets.

I do suggest leaving a donation if you’re not paying for a photography pass. Keeping sites like this up and running is not free and they could easily charge an entrance fee. Keep history alive and available to all by donating whenever you’re visiting somewhere that has free admission. St. Giles’ is an essential stop in Edinburgh and the history of Scotland.