55 Churches to Explore in Scotland

St Giles’ Cathedral, built on an ancient sanctuary built during the ninth century. The temple is dedicated to St Giles, patron saint of the lepers. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended until the early 16th century; significant alterations were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the addition of the Thistle Chapel. St Giles' is closely associated with many events and figures in Scottish history, including John Knox, who served as the church's minister a

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. It has its own dungeon.

St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland.[1] An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building. As you will see, the chapel is a small building, found in the upper levels of the castle, and was used for prayer by the Scottish Royal Family. It is very simply designed inside, and the chancel arch is still the original structure.

St Mary's Cathedral is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the West End of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built in the late 19th century in the West End of Edinburgh's New Town. The cathedral is the see of the Bishop of Edinburgh, one of seven bishops within the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion. Designed in a Gothic style by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the cathedral is now protected as a category A listed building.

The Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Church of Scotland parish church in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. Building work on the church was started in 1380, and further building and rebuilding has taken place up to the present day. It is the longest church in Scotland, at 206 feet from east to west, and is in the early Gothic style.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley is dedicated to Saint Mirin – the patron saint of Paisley. Designed by Thomas Baird in 1932, the church which is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Paisley and the seat of the Bishop of Paisley became a cathedral in 1948. This remarkable building is Romanesque with canted apse and tower-flanked narthex, and home to an organ constructed in 1912. The church is also the largest in the Diocese, accommodating around 1300 worshippers.

St Molios Church stands next to the main road through the village of Shiskine, the only significant settlement on the Isle of Arran not sited on the coast. Popularly known as the "Red Church", for obvious reasons, it was built in 1889 by the architect Sir John James Burnet. The process by which the church came to be dedicated to St Molaise is a complex one. Molios was an Irish monk called Molaise who, in the late 500s spent some years in a cave on Holy Island in Lamlash Bay, on the east side of

St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Dundee, Scotland. It is the cathedral and administrative centre of the Diocese of Brechin in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Like most city centre churches, the Cathedral is a gathered congregation and incredibly diverse. Made up of all ages, it is truly international due to its proximity to the city’s two universities.

St. Peter's Seminary is a former Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance. It is one of only 42 post-war buildings in Scotland to be listed at Category A, the highest level of protection for a building of "special architectural or historic interest.

St Blane’s Chapel is a church in Argyll and Bute. St Blane’s Chapel is situated south of Kilchattan, close to Hogback Stone. This was the home of St Blane – ‘fair Blaan of Ceen Garad’ – who may have been buried here on his death. The churchyards contain a number of fascintaing weathered grave slabs. Look out for the enclosure wall.

St Conan's Kirk is an extraordinary early 20th-century church on the shore of Loch Awe, built by Walter Douglas Campbell. The unique church has no level foundations, and features some unconventional architectural details. It was now one of the famous pilgrimage sites in this area and attracts a lot of tourists too.

Sweetheart Abbey was founded in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla of Galloway in memory of her husband John Balliol. When she died, she was buried with her husband’s embalmed heart and her tomb is in the Abbey’s sanctuary. The village which stands next to the ruins today, is now known as New Abbey. At the other end of the main street is Monksmill, a corn mill. Although the present buildings date from the late 18th century, there was an earlier mill built by and for the monks of the abbey which serviced th

Bothwell Parish Church is the oldest Collegiate Church in Scotland in which worship is still held. It is one of the most ancient, historic, beautiful and worshipful church buildings in Scotland. Our church stands at the heart of our community. We are an inclusive mainstream congregation of the Church of Scotland comprised of men, women and young people of all ages and circumstance.

The Mackintosh Church or Queen's Cross Church is a former parish church of Church of Scotland. This is the only church designed by the Scotish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh from whom church came to known as the Mackintosh Church. Unlike most churches in Glasgow, the Mackintosh Church does not have a huge towering spire and is more like a Norman Castle.

Wellpark Mid Kirk is home to a lively congregation which cherishes its building, a handsome classical church with an Ionic portico and steeple modelled on St Martin-in-the-Fields. The church stands at the heart of Greenock, looking down William Street and the site of James Watt’s earliest years. The internal square layout, with seating positioned to fit a plan provided by James Watt’s father, gives the feeling of intimacy.