Church Overview

Records show that a church was first consecrated on this site in 1244. The present building dates from 1809 and the architect was probably Archibald Elliot. The work was overseen by Robert Burns’ brother, Gilbert, factor of nearby Lennoxlove and a member of the Kirk Session. He and his family, including his mother, are buried in the churchyard. Externally, the church has remained unchanged since that time.

The interior is plain and simple, with Carpenter’s Gothic pulpit and three Lairds’ Lofts in the gallery, which is supported by clustered iron posts. The Bolton Hearse, formerly housed in the small building outside, is now in the Royal Scottish Museum, but displayed in the church porch are a grave-guard and other items designed to thwart the body snatchers, who stole newly-buried corpses to sell to Edinburgh’s Medical School.

The kirkyard outside contains many interesting gravestones, including that of the Burns family, now surrounded by an iron fence, as well as the square. cube-like mausoleum of the family of Stuarts of Eaglescairnie.

This church is now closed and was marketed for sale by the Church of Scotland in March 2025. The graveyard remains open to the public, as it is owned by East Lothian Council, and services continue at Yester Parish Church around nine miles away.

Now Closed.  

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.