St Giles' Cathedral

Welcome to Edinburgh, a magnificent tale of two cities where the rationality of the New Town stands in stark contrast to the organic, troubled, and ancient history of the Old Town. We are standing upon the Royal Mile, the…

Before we cross the threshold into the interior, I urge you to step back slightly and cast your gaze upward to the most distinctive feature of the Edinburgh skyline, the magnificent Crown Spire of Saint Giles. This delicate,…

We now approach the main entrance, standing beneath the protective shadow of the ornate entrance portico. Before you step through the heavy wooden doors, direct your attention to the intricate relief carving situated directly…

Stepping into the vast, vaulted interior of Saint Giles, the first sensory impression is often one of overwhelming scale and complex geometry. Your eyes are naturally drawn upward along the soaring stone pillars toward the…

As we move toward the center of the Cathedral, our attention naturally fixes upon the central pulpit. This elevated wooden platform is the theological beating heart of the building. …

Tucked away in the quiet southeastern corner of the cathedral lies an architectural treasure that provides a startling contrast to the vast, austere spaces of the main nave. This is the Thistle Chapel, a relatively modern…

As we walk back into the expanse of the nave, we must address an event that perfectly encapsulates the uniquely Scottish trait of fierce resistance to imposed authority. We are looking for a subtle memorial commemorating a riot…

Let us now exit the cool confines of the Cathedral and step out into the daylight of Parliament Square, the grand civic courtyard situated immediately behind and beside the church. This paved expanse is ringed by elegant…

For our final stop, we must return to the bustling pedestrian thoroughfare just outside the grand western facade of the Cathedral. We ask you to look down at the cobblestones beneath your feet. …

As our architectural and historical journey around Saint Giles draws to a close, take a moment to stand back and look at the entire structure one final time. From the soaring, intricate beauty of the fifteenth century crown spire…