St Mary’s Church, Haddington – A Glory of the Middle Ages

St Mary's Parish Church, Haddington

Sat 9 Sept 3pm & 4.30pm

Duration: 1 hour approx

Lecturer


Director

c08-st-marys-church-a-glory-of-the-middle-ages-photo-credit-robin-mitchell

Photo credit: Robin Mitchell

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of this wonderful building in the heart of East Lothian.

Art historian Lizzie Swarbrick leads an afternoon programme guiding visitors in a kinetic experience around St Mary’s, Haddington as it might have looked and sounded before the siege of Haddington in 1548.

Moving from the world of monsters and profanities outside the building into this little piece of heaven in East Lothian, Lizzie and award-winning vocal ensemble The Marian Consort will create a rich, immersive experience. Music from Scotland and the Continent is interwoven with discussions of spaces and artworks which would have made St Mary’s a dazzling and moving experience for pre-Reformation worshippers.

[Promenade tour. Some seats available for those unable to stand.]

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

The Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin is one of the great ecclesiastical buildings of mediaeval Scotland, founded in 1380 and known for centuries as "The Lamp of Lothian".

It was severely damaged in the 16th Century during Henry VIII's 'Rough Wooing' of Scotland, and after the Reformation only the nave was used as a parish church, with the choir and tower remaining roofless.

It was finally restored to its former glory in the 1970s, and is Scotland's longest church as well as one of its most beautiful, with a wonderfully warm, resonant acoustic.

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

Address

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington
EH41 4BZ

Getting there by bus

Several Edinburgh to Haddington routes to the Market Street bus stop. All drop off in the High St, approx. 5-8 mins walk from the church.

Getting there by train

Edinburgh to North Berwick service every hour. Nearest station is Drem. Taxi info on station notice board.

Getting there by car

Haddington is 20 miles East of Edinburgh along the A1 dual carriageway. Travelling East take the second exit to Haddington – St Mary’s is signposted from the main road. Look to the South, and you will see the old church tower in the distance.

Accessibility

Parking:

There is free on-street parking 100m from the church, on the road, and throughout the town.

Only disabled parking is allowed in the church grounds. There are 3 disabled spaces for blue badge holders. Please email [email protected] if you require one of these spaces. First come, first served.

UPDATE: There are no blue badge spaces left for 14/09 Royal Northern Sinfonia or 18/09 BBC SSO concerts.

Terrain:

Tarmac and gravel

Induction Loop:
Yes

Toilets:
Good male/female provision plus adapted toilet for disabled.

Wheelchair Access:

Access is via the North Side (side) door, available 30 minutes before concert. Press bell for assistance. Level access into venue.

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