Church Overview

It is all too easy to miss this miniature Byzantine basilica, tucked away between two tenements on Linlithgow’s High Street, but no one should pass by this absolute gem without taking a moment to stop and admire its fine stonework and to venture inside its peaceful sanctuary if they can.

It was designed by William James Walker Todd, partner in the architectural firm of of JM Dick Peddie & Walker Todd, who planned it in the form of  Greek cross, with a high central dome and half dome over the sanctuary apse and seating for eighty. The foundation stone was laid on 18th May 1927 and the building was formally opened on Wed 30th May 1928 by George HS Walpole, Bishop of Edinburgh, who had been its prime instigator and had raised a significant contribution towards its costs from American donor contacts. The West Lothian Courier commented later that week on the unusual eastern design and remarked on how uncommon it was to see a church building without any visible side windows, but praised the architect’s “genius” solution of lighting the building from above.

The church is sandwiched tightly between two tenement blocks, but visitors are immediately greeted by its bright red door flanked by an intricately carved surround. The tympanum shows Christ, with hand raised in blessing, flanked by angels, above which is a border of interlacing griffins and dragons. The whole scene is held aloft by two sturdy columns with their capitals carved into the shape of a lion, ox, angel and eagle, the symbols of the four Evangelists, Mark, Luke, Matthew and John.

In addition to the light from the dome above, the sanctuary inside is also lit from the fine triple stained glass window above and behind the altar, depicting the Crucifixion in the centre, St Margaret of Scotland on one side and St Mildred of Kent on the other. This was the work noted Arts and Crafts stained glass artist and suffragette Joan Howson. The building was originally called St Mildred’s, after the 7th-8th century Anglos-Saxon abbess who was declared a saint in 1030. During his remarks the Bishop pointed out the new dedicatory tablet that explained to visitors that the church “was built in gratitude for the varied ministries of women in the home, church and state”, paying tribute to his late wife Mildred Helen and all of the other women who had shaped his life.

The West Lothian Courier reporter was so impressed by Bishop Walpole’s speech at the opening ceremony, in which he commented upon a new national paradigm of “real power and influence” that he believed women were experiencing in the opening decades of the 20th century for the very first time, that the new church was described in their account of the evening as a “Monument to Women.” The same newspaper reported in 1978 that, fifty years to the day after that opening event, the congregation had again met in the presence of another Bishop of Edinburgh, this time the Most Rev Alastair Haggart, and formally changed the building’s name to St Peter the Apostle, Linlithgow. This had been the original name of the mission church in the town where the local Episcopal congregation had originally met before St Mildred’s was built.

In 2018, the beautiful Byzantine-inspired compact church was sensitively extended to the rear, with building work projecting out into a steep gradient, providing better access and much-needed modern facilities. Volunteers then set about transforming the difficult space behind the new extension into a peaceful garden, now well-used by the congregation and community alike.

Services

Sundays at 9.30am, Tuesdays at 10.30am and Thursdays at 9am. Also first Sunday of the month at 6pm and 1st Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm

Opening Arrangements

Open Tuesdays and Saturdays, from May to September 2-4pm, or by arrangement

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.