Scotland's Churches Trust

08/10/2026

Day 8 of - Animal

This is the lion at the foot a medieval knight's effigy located inside the early 19th century Ceres Church, Fife (part of Ceres Kemback Springfield Church)

The recumbent 15th century figure is in absolutely superb condition, having been rediscovered buried in a nearby garden. It offers a wonderful insight into the likely splendour of the now lost medieval church on this site.

07/10/2026

We had a wonderful time yesterday working with some amazing volunteers who kindly joined us from the The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland office, local universities and another Edinburgh church, along with a few of our own fabulous veteran church recorders, as we began to document the historic St Margaret's Chapel in Bruntsfield, part of the Gillis Centre.

This church recording was undertaken as part of the Research in Action on Church Heritage project, a collaborative initiative to document the heritage and social value of ten exceptional Scottish churches managed by ourselves and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Pilgrim Trust.

Our thanks to all of these incredible hard-working volunteers who gave up their day to assist with the recording work and to the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh for arranging access and welcoming us to their beautiful church building.

If you live in or near Brechin, you can meet members of the ReACH team there this weekend as the Brechin Cathedral Trust kindly welcome us along to begin recording their building on Friday and for an Heritage Open Day on Saturday.

07/10/2026

Day 7 of - Home

Donald Whyte was the keeper of Carraig Fhada Lighthouse on the island of Islay. He and his son Daniel were lost tragically to the stormy sea on the 1st January 1916 after Daniel fell in while bringing provisions to his father and Donald valiantly attempted to rescue him, while his wife and other children looked helplessly on at the sight unfolding in front of them.

Their grave site looks forever out onto Donald's lighthouse home.

07/10/2026

Our , Central Church in Edinburgh has a vast and impressive interior. The balcony level was partitioned in 1936 by the firm of Maclennan and Cunningham and the interior still possesses significant high-end early-20th century artistic details.

By 1940, the building above street level had a seating capacity of almost 1200, a large schoolroom and 18 other meeting rooms.

Striking tiling, stained glass and copper and brass fittings can be seen throughout the building.

Read more here 👇
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/central-church-edinburgh/

07/10/2026

Scotland’s first museum dedicated to the art and history of stained glass and the work of artist Alf Webster is to open in Glasgow's West End next year.

Story here 👇
https://www.glasgowwestendtoday.scot/news/scotlands-first-stained-glass-museum-to-open-in-west-end-1770

Former Lansdowne Church made accessible for close-up window tours

06/10/2026

Day 6 of - Weather

This carving, on a Celtic cross in the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, depicts the funeral of Lt John Irving, a member of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition that disappeared while searching for the Northwest Passage in 1845.

Lt Irving's body was discovered in 1879 and his remains were returned to Edinburgh for reburial in 1881.

The Celtic cross was raised above him, with an account of his life, death and discovery carved above the scene depicting his first funeral, showing his shipmates on a rocky shore, with HMS Terror and HMS Erebus trapped by the cold weather in the ice behind.

Beneath the scene the Latin words "Decorum est pro patria mori" have been carved, translated as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country".

05/10/2026

For , our , Central Church in Edinburgh has a striking example in the main first floor hallway. Staircases from the entrance and those leading to the balconies all converge here.

Read more about the church on the SCT website 👇
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/central-church-edinburgh/

05/10/2026

This delightful Beaux Arts style three storey city block and its distinctive domed circular corner tower, Central Church, Edinburgh, is our .

It was built for the local Methodist congregation by the respected architectural firm of Dunn & Findlay from 1899-1901.

Its parade of shops on the ground floor were designed to provide a regular rental income to support the Methodist congregation in the grand “Central Hall”.

In 2011, after merger of several Edinburgh Methodist congregations, it was purchased by Morningside Baptist Church and renamed “The Central Church.”

Following a major refurbishment in 2012 the main auditorium can now host 675 people for regular services. There is a café and space for multiple events that can be booked - for the Festival, weddings, exhibitions etc.

More on our site👇
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/central-church-edinburgh/

05/10/2026

Day 5 of - Vehicle

A memorial stone raised in 1765 by the "Society of Coach Drivers" in the graveyard of the Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, in Edinburgh, to remember its members who would be buried therein in unmarked graves.

It shows a horse-drawn coach crossing one of the city's bridges.

04/10/2026

Day 4 of - Entrance

This remarkable Victorian memorial, depicting the entrance to the Egyptian Land of the Dead, behind an incredible carved sandstone palm tree, is located in the Grange Cemetery, next to Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre, Edinburgh

Erected for Susan Stuart by her grieving husband William, it was carved by local sculptor Robert Thomson and reflected the growing interest at that time in ancient Egyptian culture.