Birthplace of Hibernian Football Club, St Patrick contains the shrine of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair and priceless murals by the Scottish painter, Alexander Runciman.
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
St Patrick’s is a busy parish church and highly significant building in Edinburgh’s old town and includes many important and unique historical features. It houses the shrine and museum of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair, a former parishioner venerated in 1978, and hosts an annual pilgrimage in her name, attended by pilgrims from all over the UK and globally. It is the birthplace of Hibernian Football club, founded by the parish priest Canon Edward Joseph Hannan in 1875. The Memorial Room was erected in 1921 in memory of over 300 parishioners who died in the First World War.
The church also contains a series of murals painted by Alexander Runciman, which are outstanding in national importance for rarity and completeness. In 2016, the Runciman Apse Trust was founded with the objectives of restoration, preservation and public presentation of these murals.
There are several exciting heritage projects happening in the church. This includes the restoration of the Runciman murals and further plans to develop the history and relationship with Hibernian Football Club.
This is a church that is open to everyone in the community – as well as visitors from near and far – every day of the week. The building has a very diverse history – originally built in 1771 as an Episcopalian church, it was sold to the Presbyterian Relief Church in 1818, before being bought by the Catholic Church in 1856, presenting a model of cooperation among religious denominations.
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
When stepping up to Canongate Kirk you may be excused for not quite knowing what the building is, the front is unusual with its flat facade, heavy Doric porch and strange Dutch style gable, topped by a set of real antlers.
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Welcome to St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh positioned at the heart of the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Completed in 1861 abutting a viaduct across marshy ground beside the Royal Mile (leading from Edinburgh Castle) is AUC, where Edinburgh’s Old Town developed, AUC was said to 'resemble a brides cake' with elaborate tower ‘in God's praise’.
