Church

St. Mary's Cathedral

Name: St. Mary's Cathedral
Address: Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, GB

30 locals recommend,

Tips from locals

Phaidraig

February 16, 2019

For me this is the most beautiful building in Edinburgh.

Paul

May 25, 2015

Daily choral services and regular free classical concerts in this victorian gothic cathedral, an antidote to a busy day in town.

Jock

February 11, 2022

Saint Mary's Cathedral isn't a tourist attraction, but is still worth mentioning as a 'place of interest' you may pass by several times during your stay. It is a relatively modern cathedral, only being completed in 1917. It was paid for by a bequest from two spinster sisters who lived in Easter Coates House, adjacent, from the profits arising from developing their father, William Walker's estate as the western extension of the New Town. He is remembered in William Street and Walker Street, which bear his name. On the South Transept, facing the walkway which passes through the catherdral grounds, there are three stained glass windows completed by Sir Eduard Paolozzi in 2002. You should be able to see these backlit if passing the cathedral at night. Easter Coates House, dating from 1613 is well worth a look if you use the path to the north side of the cathedral. It is a typical country house of the period, standing on lands well outside the compact boundary of the city when it was built. Also on the north side of the cathedral is the original Song School which contains wonderful murals by Phoebe Traquair of the choir of the day in rehearal. These can usually be seen on Doors Open Day in September, but are otherwise not open to the public. Saint Mary's Music School is still very much active, though now independent of the cathedral. The choristers sing daily in the cathedral and if you happen to be staying over Christmas I can highly recommend attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The music is fabulous.