Kirk of the Canongate Chapel, Edinburgh
The Kirk of the Canongate Chapel is the church attended by British monarchs whenever they are in town, taking residence at Holyrood Palace. From the outside, you might think it鈥檚 just another unassuming stone church-plain, modest, almost shy. But once inside, it鈥檚 like walking into a totally different world, full of colour, light, and carefully crafted details. That surprise is part of its charm.
The chapel was built in the late 1600s, designed by master mason James Smith. Its look is simple but refined: a rectangular body topped with a Dutch-style end gable, and a Doric columned portico giving it a touch of classical elegance. Right outside, you鈥檒l see a bronze statue of Robert Fergusson-the 18th-century poet immortalized mid-stride, forever keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the Canongate.
Now, here鈥檚 where it gets ceremonial. The chapel is tied to the Order of the Thistle, which is the highest order of Scotland鈥檚 chivalry. Although the Order's official chapel is found inside St. Giles Cathedral, investitures and other grand ceremonies have been staged here, at the Kirk of Canongate, in even-numbered years since the reign of King James II. It鈥檚 tradition with a twist-part sacred, part royal pomp...
Over the centuries, the church has changed several times. First remodelled in 1882 with galleries and a central pulpit, it was then stripped back to something closer to its original form after World War II. Restoration between 1946 and 1954 reopened the apse, while a new pipe organ, installed in 1988, filled the space with music worthy of its history.
Inside, the chapel doesn鈥檛 hold back. The cruciform layout feels light and airy, the walls gleam white, and the pews shine in sky blue. Look closer and you鈥檒l spot rainbow-coloured cushions in the apse, bright banners hanging above, and a bold red carpet tying it all together. Indeed, for a place that hides behind a modest exterior, the Kirk of the Canongate is full of surprises once you cross the threshold...
The chapel was built in the late 1600s, designed by master mason James Smith. Its look is simple but refined: a rectangular body topped with a Dutch-style end gable, and a Doric columned portico giving it a touch of classical elegance. Right outside, you鈥檒l see a bronze statue of Robert Fergusson-the 18th-century poet immortalized mid-stride, forever keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the Canongate.
Now, here鈥檚 where it gets ceremonial. The chapel is tied to the Order of the Thistle, which is the highest order of Scotland鈥檚 chivalry. Although the Order's official chapel is found inside St. Giles Cathedral, investitures and other grand ceremonies have been staged here, at the Kirk of Canongate, in even-numbered years since the reign of King James II. It鈥檚 tradition with a twist-part sacred, part royal pomp...
Over the centuries, the church has changed several times. First remodelled in 1882 with galleries and a central pulpit, it was then stripped back to something closer to its original form after World War II. Restoration between 1946 and 1954 reopened the apse, while a new pipe organ, installed in 1988, filled the space with music worthy of its history.
Inside, the chapel doesn鈥檛 hold back. The cruciform layout feels light and airy, the walls gleam white, and the pews shine in sky blue. Look closer and you鈥檒l spot rainbow-coloured cushions in the apse, bright banners hanging above, and a bold red carpet tying it all together. Indeed, for a place that hides behind a modest exterior, the Kirk of the Canongate is full of surprises once you cross the threshold...
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Kirk of the Canongate Chapel on Map
Sight Name: Kirk of the Canongate Chapel
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
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