The Churches of Britain and Ireland

  East Lothian

East Lothian on Wikipedia.


Aberlady, the Parish Church. NT 4619 7985. © Bill Henderson. A winter view, and the East Window, both © Revd. Norman Faulds. Norman advises that the central panel of the window is based on Botticelli's "Madonna and Child" which is now in the National Gallery of Scotland. The fabric of the church is late C15 (tower), C16 and C17 (aisles), with a Victorian renovation (1887). Link. Category A listed. PoWiS. Older maps show a United Presbyterian Church, pre-dating one of 1854, and it had gone out of use in the first half of the lasy century. Unfortunately none of the available maps are entirely clear which building the label is meant to apply to, but I think it probably stood on the west side of The Wynd, at NT 4651 8000. If this is correct, it has been demolished, and the site is now a parking area (2024 Streetview). A little way east of the village O.S. maps mark Convent (Remains of) at NT 4711 8015. Its PoWiS entry calls it Luffness Carmelite Monastery. Some photos can be seen here, where it's called Luffness Friary. Canmore.

Belhaven, Church of Scotland. NT 6687 7875. © Bill Henderson. Link. Category B listed, wherein it's dated to 1838-40.
Bolton, the Parish Kirk. NT 5073 7006. © James Denham. Link. Category B listed - dates it to 1809. A churchyard mausoleum is also listed as category B. It has evidently been closed as this webpage shows it as "under offer" in 2025.

Carberry, Carberry Tower Chapel. The tower is at NT 3631 6967. © Alex Parker. Link.
Cockenzie and Port Seton, Viewforth Port Seton Gospel Hall, on Viewforth and Cope Lane. NT 4050 7585. © Bill Henderson. Link dates it to 1922. Cockenzie Old Parish Church (1838) on High Street. NT 4007 7576. © James Denham. As of 2025 Google Streetview is labelling this church as permanently closed. PoWiS. Chalmers Memorial Parish Church on Gosford Road, as seen by Streetview in 2023. As of 2025, Google is also labelling this church as permanently closed, although its website is still active. Its history page dates it to 1904, as a Free Church. NT 4031 7567. PoWiS. Tranent with Cockenzie Methodist Church (2023 Streetview) is on Edinburgh Road and West Lorimer Place. Its date-stone is for 1878, as Primitive Methodist. NT 3990 7553. Link1. Link2. Elcho Place Hall (2023 Streetview) on High Street is also used for worship - their website is here. PoWiS lists a Fishermen's Bethel on New Street, but gives no further details. It pre-dates a map of 1894, and was seen by Streetview in 2022 - unfortunately the date-stone is weathered to un-readability, and the building is evidently now in domestic use. NT 4016 7570. The same map also shows a F. Church (presumably Free Church) nearby at NT 4011 7571, on School Lane. It was no loner marked as a place of worship by the time of a map of 1955. The housing on its site was seen by Streetview in 2022. There was also a Baptist Chapel, shown on a map of 1894 as Bapt. Chapel (General), on Main Street. The map seems to be indicating a building in the middle of a terrace on the south side of the road. If this correct it will have been at circa NT 4016 7577, and Streetview saw the buildings on its site (at the left) in 2023.

Dirleton, the Parish Church. Two more views - 1, 2. NT 5127 8422. All © Steve Bulman (2021). Link, which dates it to 1612, on the site of a medieval predecessor. PoWiS. The village also had a Free Church, now demolished. It stood off Manse Road, south of the western corner of the village green, at NT 5146 8381. It's dated here to post-1843 to 1936. Its site isn't viewable on Streetview, but the access road to where the site was is seen here in a Streetview from 2020.
Dunbar, the Parish Church on Queen's Road. Large scale O.S. maps say about this church as (e.g.) Church on Site of Collegiate Church (A.D. 1342). NT 6817 7858. © Bill Henderson. Link. Category A listed, wherein it's dated to 1818-21. PoWiS. This postcard view of an interior (
from John Bowdler's Collection) was in the Unknown section for many years, before finally being identified by Janet Gimber as the interior of St Anne's Episcopal Church, on Westgate. Its exterior can be seen in a 2022 Streetview. NT 6781 7905. Link. PoWiS. Older O.S. maps also show R.C. Chap. on Bayswell Road at NT 6778 7908. PoWiS calls it Our Lady of the Waves, and is dated here to 1877. It was seen by Streetview in 2018. A map of 1854 shows a United Presbyterian Church at NT 6822 7875. It had been demolished no later than 1893. Its site was seen by Streetview in 2022 - effectively the gap between the two blocks of housing. Curiously, another United Presbyterian Church shows on the same 1854 map nearby, at NT 6805 7882, on Church Street. It had also gone by 1893, and its site was also seen by Streetview in 2022. The towns former Free Church (2022 Streetview) stands at the end of High Street, at NT 6801 7872. It's now in commercial use. Category B listed - dates it to 1850. PoWiS. The Methodist Church (2022 Streetview) is on Castle Street and Victoria Street, at NT 6792 7913. It has a date-stone which says it was Wesleyan. Link. PoWiS. Discovery Church is based in a house on Grahame Place, but meets in a number of locations. I think it's one of the houses on the street seen in a Streetview from 2022. Link.
Dunglass, the substantial remains of the C15 Dunglass Collegiate Church. Another view, and three of the interior - 1, 2, 3. NT 7666 7189. All © Steve Bulman (2017).
Link. Canmore. PoWiS.

East Linton, Prestonkirk Church (CoS). Another view. NT 5925 7781. Both © Howard Richter (2013). Link. Category A listed. PoWiS dates it to 1770, possibly on the site of a chapel founded by St. Baldred, who died in the early 7th century. The former St. Kentigern (R.C., closed before 1990) on High Street, now a private residence. Another view. NT 5914 7732. Both © Howard Richter (2013). The former Free Church. It pre-dates 1879, when it is reported as being "improved". The spire is of the "Rhenish helm" type, and rare in Britain. NT 5521 7719. © Howard Richter (2013). PoWiS. Three views of the former United Presbyterian Church on The Square - 1, 2, 3. What may be this building shows on the OS map of 1854-5; it is certainly shown on the 1894 map, and on the next map (1907, which is after the union) it shows as "U. F. Church". It continues as such on the 1938 map, but by the 1957 edition it shows as "U. F. Church (Dis.)". There is some indication that it was subsequently in use as a Masonic Hall. NT 5919 7731. All © Howard Richter (2013). PoWiS dates it to 1770, closing in 1910, and confirming its later use as a Masonic Hall.
East Saltoun, the parish church. NT 4744 6787. © Bill McKenzie. Link, dates it to 1805, on an older site. A 2024 webpage has a comment that the church is expected to be closed.
Category A listed.

Garvald, the Parish Kirk. NT 5907 7091. © James Denham. Link. Category B listed. PoWiS. The village also has a former Free Church, which now serves as the village hall (2011 Streetview). NT 5867 7082. Category C listed - dates it to 1843. PoWiS.
Gifford, the Yester Parish Church. Jim Napier and James Denham advise that the Rev. John Witherspoon, son of the one-time vicar here (also John Witherspoon), was the only cleric to sign the American Declaration of Independence (though he signed as Governor of Princeton and Principal of Princeton College), and that the American system of government owes much to this Presbyterian influence. Another view. NT 5348 6810. Both © Steve Bulman (2021). Link. Grade A listed, wherein it's dated to 1708-10. The village also had a Free Church. According to its Genuki entry, it pre-dates a map of 1853, and has been converted into two houses - the one nearer the road being seen in a Streetview from 2011 here. TL 5370 6809.

Gullane, the ruins of St. Andrew. NT 4804 8271. © Steve Bulman. PoWiS. Gullane Parish Church (CoS) on East Links Road. NT 4829 8271. © Steve Bulman. Link. PoWiS dates it to 1908, as a United Free Church. St. Adrian (Episcopal) on Sandy Loan. Another view. NT 4799 8284. Both © Steve Bulman. Link. Category B listed, dates it to 1926. PoWiS. The former St. Peter on Main Street. NT 4835 8277. © Steve Bulman. Category A listed - dates it to the late 19th century with enlargement and additions in 1908. To the north of the town by the coast are the remains of the Chapel of St. Patrick. Its PoWiS entry doesn't date
it, but it's presumably medieval. A photo can be seen on its Genuki page. NT4828 8437. Canmore.

Haddington, St. Mary. NT 5188 7362. © Bill McKenzie. Link. Category A listed. PoWiS. Haddington West (CoS) on Court Street is labelled on older maps as a Free Church. NT 5119 7389. © Steve Bulman. Link. Holy Trinity (Episcopal) on Church Street. PoWiS dates it to 1769-70. NT 5180 7387. © Steve Bulman. Link. Category B listed. St. Mary (R.C.) on Poldrate, as seen by Streetview in 2021. It's dated here to 1862. NT 5178 7354. The remains of the 12th century St. Martin on Bullet Loan, as seen by Streetview in 2022. NT 5209 7394. PoWiS. A map of 1855 shows West United Presbyterian Church off Court Street, at NT 5124 7393. Only a small tower survives, seen by Streetview in 2020. PoWiS dates it (presumably incorrectly, unless the date refers to a re-build) to 1860. The former St. John (2022 Streetview) on Newton Port and Fortune Avenue. According to its PoWiS entry, it's now used as a church hall. NT 5147 7408. Category B listed - dates it to 1838. On the 1855 map, immediately south-east of St. John, was St. John's Free Church, at NT 5149 7408. By the time of a map of 1895 it was disused. Whether the building on its site (2022 Streetview) is a conversion or a later building is unclear. 
Humbie, Humbie Kirk (CoS). Another view. NT 4608 6371. Both © Steve Bulman. Link - dates it to 1800.
Category B listed.

Innerwick, Church of Scotland. NT 7207 7394. © James Denham (2010). It has evidently been closed - an un-dated sales brochure has numerous interior photos. A 2024 news item says it was closed two years before. Category C listed - dates it to 1784.
Inveresk, St. Michael's Parish Kirk on an older site. NT 3442 7207. © James Denham. Link. Category A listed, wherein it's dated to 1803-5.

Morham, Church of Scotland. NT 5566 7259. © James Denham (2010). 2023 news story, which tells of closure. Category A listed.
Musselburgh.

North Berwick.

Oldhamstocks, Church of Scotland. NT 7380 7065. © James Denham (2010). Two more views - 1, 2, both © Steve Bulman (2017). Link - advises that  the final service was held in January, 2025. Category A listed. See here for related listed features. Older O.S. maps also show a Free Church in the village. It pre-dates one of 1854, and had gone out of use by 1938. It seems to survive, converted, and was seen by Streetview in 2011. NT 7390 7058.

Port Seton - see Cockenzie above.
Prestonpans. Previously listed as Cockenzie and Port Seaton Old Parish Church, James Denham has advised that this church is Prestongrange Parish Church. NT 3882 7456. © Bill Henderson. Link. Category A listed - dates it to 1596. Salvation Army Hall on Kirk Street. This is perhaps the same building as shown on old maps as a Free Church Hall, or was built on the site of it. NT 3875 7450. © Rob Brettle. Link. Lighthouse Central Church (2022 Streetview) is at the junction of  Ayres Wynd and Orchard Crescent, and is a former Free Church. Its category C listing dates it to 1878, replacing an earlier church on the same site. NT 3870 7439. St. Gabriel (R.C.) on West Loan, as seen by Streetview in 2022. NT 3886 7405. Link. The history page dates it to 1965. Category B listed.

Stenton, the Parish Kirk. It's dated here to 1829. NT 6220 7428. © James Denham. Two more views - 1, 2. Both © Steve Bulman (2017). Category B listed. The remains of the Old Parish Church stand a short distance away - the tower was seen by Streetview in 2022. NT 6215 7427. Category B listed. PoWiS.

Tranent, the Parish Kirk. NT 4026 7338. © James Denham. Link. Category B listed - says the church is dated 1799, "incorporating medieval fragments". Salvation Army Hall on Winton Place and Lindores Drive. NT 4055 7285. © Rob Brettle. St. Martin of Tours (R.C.) on High Street, as seen by Streetview in 2023. NT 4095 7265. Link - dates it to 1969, the third church on the site. Old maps show that one of the predecessors stood where the church car park (2023 Streetview) is now. A map of 1854 shows a Free Church just a little way S.E. of the site of the later catholic church. It had closed by the mid-20th century. Its site was seen by Streetview in 2023. NT 4108 7263. The 25" map of 1894 shows an adjacent F.C. Mission Hall north of the church. It seems to have survived as The Blair Halls (2022 Streetview). NT 4106 7264. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses (2020 Streetview) stands between Church Street and Fowler Street at NT 4039 7328. The former (Primitive) Methodist Church on Bridge Street, as seen by Streetview in 2016. This source provides dates of 1870. Older Streetviews show that it had been closed by 2008, when it was for sale. NT 4027 7287. A United Presbyterian Church shows on a map of 1854 set back from Church Street at NT 4048 7307. Its category B listing dates it to 1827-30, and also says that it was built on the site of a 1776 church building. It now serves as the CoS church halls, seen by Streetview in 2021.

Whitekirk, St. Mary. NT 5963 8152. © Bill Henderson. Three further views - 1, 2, 3, two interior views - 1, 2, and the font, all © Steve Bulman (2017). Link. PoWiS. Category A listed.

 

 
 

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14 April 2025

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