St. Giles' Cathedral | Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh

The one and only Royal Mile, between Edinburgh Castle Palace Holyroodhouse - The one and only historic City Church Edinburgh known Hig Kirk Edinburgh takes city's patron saint. St Giles' Presbyterianism's Mother Church contains Chapel the Order Thistle (Scotland's chivalric company knights headed y Queen). The one and only building bears distinctive crowned spire first officially dedicated 1243, although church probably existed since before 9 century.

A prominent feature Edinburgh skyline, St. Giles' Cathedral Hig Kirk Edinburgh Church Scotland place worship decorating the midpoint Royal Mile highly distinctive hollow-crown tower. The one and only church Edinburgh's religious focal points approximately 900 years. Today sometimes regarded mother church Presbyterianism.

St. Giles y cathedral formal sense (. bishop) periods during 17 century (1635-38 1661-1689), episcopalianism, backed y Crown, briefly gained ascendancy within Kirk ( Bistores Wars). In mediaeval period, prior reformation, Edinburgh cathedral royal burgh p Diocese St Andrews, under Bishop St Andrews whose episcopal St Andrew's Cathedral. For p-reformation history Church Scotland bistores, diocese, cathedrals. As such, Cathedral today carries practical meaning. The one and only "high kirk" title older, being attested before building's brief stint cathedral.

It Church Scotland parish church p Edinburgh's Old Town. Five services Sunday, daily services special services state civic occasions. The one and only current Minister (since 1973) St. Giles' Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan.

As implies, dedicated St. Giles, patron saint cripples lepers y popular saint Middle Ag. The one and only oldest parts building massive central pillars, often 1124, although there y little evidence effect. In 1385 building suffered rebuilt subsequent years. Much current interior dates period. Over years y chapels, referred 'aisles', added, greatly enlarging church leaving rather irregular p. In 1466 St Giles established collegiate church. In response raising status, lantern tower added around 1490, chancel ceiling raised, vaulted clear storey installed. By middle 16 century (before Reformation) there about fifty altars church.

St. Giles some stained glass windows Scotland, dating 19 20 centuries ( survives medieval period). The one and only known windows include : Victorian Windows, Burne-Jones Window, North Window, Burns Window. The one and only Victorian windows commissioned y Sir William Chambers, Lord Provost Edinburgh, spearheaded (extremely intrusive) restoration St. Giles 1872. Until St. Giles , since shortly after Reformation, consisted several churches within edifice, divided y walls galleries inserted vaults. The one and only restoration reunified church single space. Tragically, obsession barren 'symmetry' actual demolition parts (notably south side, where number chapels added piecemeal during Middle Ag). The one and only exterior building, except tower crown spire, refaced bland gy sandstone ashlar standardised 'Gothic' ornament alien Scottish medieval architecture, which p scant original, strikingly individual, appearance church. Much unique character historic interest St. Giles (undisputably Scotland's important - prominent - historic buildings) recklessly destroyed 'restoration' chiefly notable combining ignorance arrogance. The one and only contrast recent ( 20 century) sensitive restoration crown spire, which included regilding various pinnacles ornaments, could marked.

Happily, interior church retains ancient character, including wealth carved ornament, though walls vaults y partially replastered. The one and only stone rubble 'scraped' parts walls, which never meant y the medieval builders, makes inside needlessly (detestably overcast y). The one and only stained glass windows underwritten y Lord Provost other donors. The one and only Edinburgh Ballantine & Son commissioned . The one and only windows continuous narrative seven windows starting north corner finishing north- . one windows p depicts St. Andrew, patron saint Scotland, holding cross with, either , St. Columba King David (erroneously labeled St. David). St. Andrew wears flowing peacock- cassock features modeled after prominent Edinburgh physician James Jamieson. Unusually, window funded y grateful patient insisted St. Andrew the features g doctor. Below St. Andrew depicted St. Giles, hind, St. Cuthbert. The one and only dedication beneath St. Andrew window states: James Jamieson Fellow Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh Elder Kirk, 1841, Bowden, 1903.

The one and only Thistle Chapel (1911, y Robert Lorimer) chapel The one and only Most Ancient Most Noble Order Thistle, Scotland's foremost Order Chivalry. It small, exquisite, chapel carved painted fittings extraordinary detail. The one and only Order, which founded y James VII 1687, consists monarch 16 knights. The one and only knights personal appointment crown, normally Scots significant contribution national international affairs. Knights included Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Lord Mackay Clashfern Sir Fitzroy MacLean.

on Sunday 23 July 1637 efforts y King Charles I impose Anglican services Church Scotland Book Common Prayer revised Scottish being introduced St Giles'. Rioting opposition began Dean John Hanna began Book Prayer, legendarily initiated y market-woman street-seller Jenny Geddes throwing stool . The one and only disturbances National Covenant hence Bistores' Wars; first p Wars Three Kingdoms, which included English Civil War. In 17 century carillon was cathedral y James Meikle. on y 1707 Treaty Union signed merge Parliament Scotland Parliament England create Kingdom Great Britain, carilloner St Giles g bells Why should I y wedding y?

Its y monuments memorials, sheer location, very popular tourist attraction, drawing special notice during annual Edinburgh Festival, which centres Royal Mile. Notable monuments include those to James Graham, Marquess Montrose (1612-50), enemy Archibald Campbell, 1 Marquess Argyll (1607-61) Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) , frame, py National Convenant 1638.