Historic churches · Central Scotland
South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh
South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh — church in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley · 2.6 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
About
South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Named after Mary. Part of Presbytery of Edinburgh. Wikidata describes it as: "church in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.9721°, -3.1705°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
North and South Leith Parish Church, originally the Kirk of Our Lady, St Mary, is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. Prior to the union with the former North Leith Parish Church in 2024, the building was known as South Leith Parish Church. It is the principal church and congregation in Leith, in Edinburgh. Its kirkyard is the burial place for John Home (author of Douglas) and John Pew, the man from whom the author Robert Louis Stevenson reputedly derived the character of Blind Pew in the novel Treasure Island. 18th-century Scottish Episcopal Church bishop and historian Robert Forbes also lies buried beneath the church floor.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
North and South Leith Parish Church, originally the Kirk of Our Lady, St Mary, is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. Prior to the union with the former North Leith Parish Church in 2024, the building was known as South Leith Parish Church. It is the principal church and congregation in Leith, in Edinburgh. Its kirkyard is the burial place for John Home (author of Douglas) and John Pew, the man from whom the author Robert Louis Stevenson reputedly derived the character of Blind Pew in the novel Treasure Island. 18th-century Scottish Episcopal Church bishop and historian Robert Forbes also lies buried beneath the church floor. The church has been repaired, used as an ammunition store and reconstructed but still retains the basic layout of the nave of the old church.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The use of the site for religious purpose began in 1430 when Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig built a monastery dedicated to St Anthony on the site. The church has a long history although most of the visible building is more recent. The church was founded as a Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to St Mary erected in 1483 In 1544 the church was used as a refuge for people displaced by the fighting when the English army attacked Leith as part of the Rough Wooing when King Henry VIII of England sent his forces to invade southern Scotland to try to compel a marriage between the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, and the English prince Edward. Refuge was required as Henry had ordered that Leith should be…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.9721, -3.1705
- District
- City of Edinburgh
- Postcode
- EH6 6BG
- Parliamentary constituency
- Edinburgh North and Leith
- Phone
- +44 131 554 3289
- Established
- 1487
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley — 2.6 km
- Official site
- www.slpc.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q7567812 (CC0)
- wikipedia: South Leith Parish Church (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: South Leith Parish Church 01 from the SE.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh?
- South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH6 6BG).
- When was South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh built?
- Built or established in 1487.
- Is South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh a listed building?
- South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh free to visit?
- Yes, South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh is free to enter.
- How do I get to South Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 2.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH6 6BG.