Athelstaneford Parish Kirk

Athelstaneford Parish Kirk from the South

Athelstaneford Parish Kirk lies towards the west end of the village of Athelstaneford, in East Lothian, which in turn lies five miles south of North Berwick. Athelstaneford was built on a ridge offering open views to the north, and from the rear of the church it is possible to enjoy the broad views to North Berwick, to the Forth Estuary, and to Fife beyond.

From the North West From the South East Pulpit

The church you see today is little altered from the church that was built here in 1780, to serve the spiritual needs of the planned model village then being developed by Sir David Kinloch of Gilmerton. It was built on the site of an earlier church (or possibly more than one).

The Nave

Window in North Transept

The first record of a church existing on this site was in 1176, when Ada, the mother of William I, built what was called the Ecclesia de Elstaneford here.

Athelstaneford Parish Kirk is cruxiform in shape with a long nave being barely balanced by a small semi-octagonal apse-like chancel. There are three magnificent stained glass windows in the church, made by C.E Kempe at the beginning of the 1900s. The window in the north transept is especially beautiful.

The kirk is intimately linked with the story of the founding of Scotland's flag, the Saltire. A doocot to the north west of the church dating back to 1583 is now home to the Flag Heritage Centre, giving visitors an audio visual presentation of one version of the story of the founding of the Saltire. In the graveyard to the south east of the kirk is a memorial to the founding of the flag.

Interior, from the Nave