Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh Church

Canongate Kirk Scotland Photo, Royal Mile Building Picture, Architecture, Wedding Date

Canongate Kirk Edinburgh

Historic Church on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Old Town Architecture – History + Images

post updated 28 October 2023

Canongate Kirk is on the Royal Mile opposite Crichton’s Close, Old Town, Edinburgh

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall marriage at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on July 30, 2011.

Canongate Kirk
Kirk from north, in the morning – photo © Adrian Welch

Canongate Kirk

Canongate Kirk
photo © Adrian Welch

The Kirk (1688) which is set back from the road allowing the tight Royal Mile to expand north to form a seating area.

Canongate Kirk
kirk building from north, at noon – photo © Adrian Welch

Canongate Kirk
church building viewed from north photo © Adrian Welch

Next to the Canongate Old Tolbooth (1591) on the left and Moray House (1625).

The Kirk of the Canongate serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh’s Old Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The parish includes the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. It is also the parish church of Edinburgh Castle, even though the castle is detached from the rest of the parish. The wedding of Zara Phillips, the Queen’s granddaughter, and Mike Tindall, took place at the church on 30 July 2011.

The Canongate was a separate burgh before it was formally absorbed by Edinburgh in 1856. By the late 1970s, the lower part of the Royal Mile, including the Canongate, had become unfashionable and run down. The local population was declining. The Kirk was threatened with closure, which was successfully resisted by the minister and congregation. Since then, circumstances have changed radically – notably with the construction of new flats in the vicinity as well as the new Scottish Parliament building.
source: wikipedia

Edinburgh Architecture

Canongate Tolbooth:
Canongate Tolbooth
Canongate Tolbooth image © Adrian Welch

Another Old Town church building, roughly half way up the Royal Mile on the south side, by the junction with the South and North Bridges:

Tron Kirk Edinburgh
Tron Kirk Edinburgh
photo © Adrian Welch

Old Town buildings close by:

Scottish Parliament Building – at the foot of the Royal Mile
Scottish Parliament
picture © Keith Hunter

Old Town Canongate Housing – further down the street on the same side as the church
Old Town Housing
photograph © Adrian Welch

Scottish Capital Building Designs

Contemporary Scottish Capital Property Designs – recent architectural selection below:

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Edinburgh Architectural Tours

Edinburgh Churches

Canongate Kirk images © Adrian Welch

Jenners

Royal High School
Royal High School
photo © Adrian Welch

Comments / photos for the Canongate Kirk Edinburgh Architecture – historic building on the Royal Mile, Scotland, UK, page welcome