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Edinburgh can often be gray and rainy, but there are numerous interesting things to do and see even on wet days: we visited the cathedral on such a day and were quite intrigued by its interiors and history.
St Giles was built in the early 12th century, and was originally much smaller. Over the centuries more and more altars and chapels were added. As it stands today, its architecture is mostly Gothic and its crown-like spire is an imposing part of Edinburgh's skyline. It is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh and is often called the mother church of Presbyterianism. It was named after St Giles, a 7th century abbot who lived in France; probably due to the ancient ties between Scotland and France. His feast day is celebrated on September 1st.
This is the church the British Royal family attends when in town. After the Reformation, John Knox became St. Giles' first minister and this is where he famously delivered the Presbyterian sermons that drove the Catholic May Queen of Scots into exile.
It is a gorgeous church and its best part is the Thistle Chapel where deserving individuals are installed into the very distinguished Order of the Thistle by the Queen each year. This lovely little chapel dates from 1911 and was built for "the Knights of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle". It's famous for the amazing detailed wood carvings.
Another amazing feature of St. Giles are its huge stained glass windows (excuse the poor photo quality... it's difficult snapping windows from inside a dark church, with a gloomy gray cloudy day outside). It also contains hundreds of memorials to distinguished Scots, which I found most interesting (see my photo of some of these plaques on the church's interior wall).
There is a daily service at noon, and 5 services each Sunday.
Inside the cathedral you'll also find the St. Giles Cafe, a wonderful little place to enjoy a tea and a scone, other home baked goods or even a full lunch made with the best, locally sourced ingredients. The cafe is open 7 days a week and can be accessed from inside the Cathedral or directly from street level at the back of the building.
Opening Hours:
Summer (May-September):
Monday-Friday 09.00am-07.00pm.
Saturdays 09.00am-05.00pm.
Sundays 01.00pm-05.00pm and for services.
Winter (October-April):
Monday-Saturday 09.00am-05.00pm.
Sundays 01.00pm-05.00pm and for services.
Entrance is free, but the cathedral charges 2 Pounds to take photos inside and donations are welcome. Volunteer guides are on duty each day to welcome visitors, answer questions and conduct guided tours on request.
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Updated Jul 27, 2011
Address: Parliament Square, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Phone: 0044(0)131-225 9442
Website: www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/
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St Giles' Cathedral is the High Kirk of Edinburgh, and has been at the heart of the city's spiritual life for at least 900 years. A living church with an active congregation, it is also host to around a quarter of a million visitors every year, who come to experience its unique atmosphere of continuing worship and ages-old history.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Royal Mile
Phone: 0131 2259442
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St. Giles Cathedral has a lot of history. Its dates back to the 15th century. It is here that John Knox brought the Protestant Reformation to Scotland. It is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh and is often called the mother church of world presbyterianism. We took some time to explore the inside of this beautiful church. We visited the historic Thistle Chapel and took some time to admire the art work through out the Cathedral.
Written Apr 5, 2009
Address: Royal Mile
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St. Giles' Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh is a Church of Scotland place of worship decorating the midpoint of the Royal Mile with its highly distinctive hollow-crown tower. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points for approximately 900 years. Today it is sometimes regarded as the mother church of Presbyterianism.
I found the cathedral to be somewhat austere, but that is a trait of Presbyterianism in general I have always found.
It is however a beautiful buiilding and well worth the visit.
Updated Jul 23, 2007
Address: Royal Mile
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The gothic church St Giles is located in Parliament Square at the Royal Mile. The church has very nice glass windows, but what I found most interesting was that the altar is in the middle. That's rather unusual.
The church is also well-known as the reformation of the Church of Scotland in the 16th century has been started from here, by John Knox. If you are interested in John Knox and the reformation you can visit the musuem in the John Knox House which is also located at the Royal Mile.
The church is free, but donations are welcome.
Written Jul 5, 2007
Address: Royal Mile
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I must say that i never have seen something like this before. it is very small but special to see.
It is inside the St Giles Cathedral entrance is 1 pound.
more pictures at travelogue
Opening Times
Summer (May-September)
Monday - Friday 09.00-19.00
Saturday 09.00-17.00
Sunday 13.00-17.00 and for services
Winter (October-April)
Monday - Saturday 09.00-17.00
Sunday 13.00-17.00 and for services
closed 25, 26 dec and 1 , 2 january
Updated Oct 27, 2006
Address: Royal Mile
Website: http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/
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This Cathedral is worth a visite. The entrance is for free except you have to pay 1 pound to make pictures and another pound for the Thistle Chapel.
The volunteers are very friendly and helpfull. did get more info than i could handle but it was very intresting.
Opening Times
Summer (May-September)
Monday - Friday 09.00-19.00
Saturday 09.00-17.00
Sunday 13.00-17.00 and for services
Winter (October-April)
Monday - Saturday 09.00-17.00
Sunday 13.00-17.00 and for services
closed 25th-26th December and 1st-2nd January
more pictures at travelogue
Written Oct 27, 2006
Address: Royal Mile
Website: http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/
Famous church where that wild and crazy guy John Knox riled the public against Mary Queen of Scots. It is a gorgeous church and its best part is the Thistle Chapel where persons are installed into the very distinguished Order of the Thistle by the Queen each year. There is a famous carving there of an angel playing bagpipes but it did not turn out in my photo.
Written Sep 21, 2006
Address: Royal Mile
Website: www.stgilescathedral.org.uk
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Discover 1,000 years of history in the heart of Edinburgh. Founded in the 1120s, St Giles' was the church of John Knox during the Reformation and is often referred to as the 'Cradle of Presbyterianism'. Highlights of a visit include our beautiful stained glass windows. The impressive Rieger organ was installed in 1992 and the famous Thistle Chapel, home of the Knights of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's great order of chivalry designed by Robert Lorimer for the Order of the Thistle, was added in 1911
St Giles' is situated on the historic Royal Mile, halfway between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Volunteer guides are available to welcome visitors, answer questions and conduct guided tours on request. Groups are asked to book in advance and a donation of £1.00 per person is requested.
Written Sep 4, 2006
Address: Royal Mile
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This lovely little chapel, inside St Giles' cathedral dates from 1911 and was built for the Knights of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. There are so many carvings to wonder at in this small chapel. The gothic type stalls have canopies topped with the arms and helms of the 16 knights. The top edges of the book rests are decorated with carvings of plants and animals.
Written Aug 13, 2006
Address: Royal Mile
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Write a ReviewThis lovely little chapel, inside St Giles' cathedral dates from 1911 and was built for the Knights of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle....
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