Aberlady Parish Church

Medieval church built 1773 and then redesigned in 1886 by William Young at the request of the 10th Earl of Wemyss.

All that remains of the 15th-century church on this site is the square rubble-built tower. At some point the storey above the string course was used as a doocot, with flight-holes inserted on the southern face.

The body of the medieval church was rebuilt in 1773 and then recast in 1886 by architect William Young, who added two aisles on the south to match the post-Reformation Gosford and Ballencrieff burial aisles on the north. This addition was made at the request of the 10th Earl of Wemyss who wanted to make a more attractive building. The burial aisles incorporate fragments of 16th and 17th century masonry, as well as tracery later added to by Young. Built in squared and snecked sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings.

Stained glass designed by Edward Frampton and James Ballantine. The impressive pipe organ was transplanted from St Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Braemar in 1992. There are several interesting memorials throughout the church, including a deathbed effigy of Louisa Billingham, Countess of Wemyss, by John Rhind and a marble monument to Maria Margaretta de Younge, Lady Elibank, which may possibly be attributed to Antonio Canova.

The church also possesses a replica cast of an 8th-century cross found in the nearby manse garden and the kirkyard outside contains many interesting 18th century headstones and “table” tombs. Visitors will also see an original 18th century “Loupin-on stane” near the kirkyard gates, used by parishioners in a pre-mechanical age to mount their horses and carriages.

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Community Noticeboard

This is some community noticeboard copy.

Address
Kirk Stables, Main Street, Aberlady, EH32 0RB

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Website
https://aberlady-gullaneparishchurches.org.uk/

Services
Sunday: 11.15am

Opening Arrangements
By arrangement

Denomination Church of Scotland
Local Authority East Lothian
OS Reference NT 46179 79850
Listing A


Linked Churches

Gullane Parish Church

Gullane parish church, designed by Glasgow architect John Honeyman and completed in 1888, replaced an earlier 12thC building vacated in 1612.