A walking trail celebrating 10 of Edinburgh’s most historic churches has been launched by representatives from Scotland’s three largest Christian denominations.
The Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail leads from the Royal Mile to the New Town and the West End.
The trail takes in all three city cathedrals: St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile; St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in York Place; and St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral near Haymarket, the city’s highest building.
Other churches include Canongate Kirk, the parish church to the royal Palace of Holyroodhouse; St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, which is modelled on Trafalgar Square’s St Martin-in-the-Fields; and Old St Paul’s.
The trail was designed by Anne Martin, a congregant from the Episcopal Diocese.
Martin said: “Setting up the Walking Trail has given an ecumenical opportunity for three Edinburgh church communities to work together to welcome visitors, and I hope it will lead to many more.”
Rev Dr Scott Rennie, minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: “Edinburgh has some of Scotland’s most uplifting places of worship, and I hope the trail encourages people from far and wide to discover some of them. It is wonderful for our three church communities to be working together.”
Very Rev John Conway, provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: “This lovely initiative provides a route to walk between the landmark churches of our beautiful city. Our hope is that the Trail not only shows people how to make their way from one church to another, but also helps reveal the long-shared history and deepening friendship between us all as church communities.”
Monsignor Jeremy Milne, administrator of St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, said: “The ecumenical Walking Trail takes you through the heart of the city and is a brilliant exploration of Edinburgh’s rich Christian heritage and living communities. It is a well-chosen sample of Christian history, culture and worship which offers rich reward to those who set out along its path.”
Rev Fiona Reynolds, advisor for Christian life at the Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh, said: “The history of the city and its churches are intertwined, and so it is fitting that our three denominations are part of this venture. It has been great seeing this Walking Trail develop from a spark of an idea to publication and launch.”
The 10 churches on the Walking Trail
St Giles’ Cathedral
Greyfriars Kirk
St Patrick’s Church
Canongate Kirk
Old St Paul’s
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, York Place
The New Town Church
St John’s Church
Parish Church of St Cuthbert
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
