Report on Visit to Whitekirk Church

Society members paid a visit to historic Whitekirk Church on 11th October. Volunteer, Sandra Thompson, had given a brief history of the important Church. The Church held its last Church of Scotland service in September 2021. It has been managed by the Whitekirk Church New Life Trust since 2025. A variety of activities still take place including music concerts and weddings. The sanctuary is open daily as a place for quiet reflection.
The site was initially linked to St Baldred. There was a holy spring (site now unknown) which attracted pilgrims from a wide area. The earliest documents date from 1128 when land revenues and tithes were granted to the Canons of Holyrood Abbey.
The Church became known for the healing powers of the Spring and the fine statue of Mary. Black Agnes visited to take the waters after being injured during a siege at Tantallon Castle. Another pilgrim was the Papal Nuncio who visited the Court of James 1 from Bruges. He had travelled to Scotland by boat, and he made a pilgrimage of Humility by walking through snow to the Church. A record is kept in the Vatican as he became Pope Pius II.
James IV gave money to build hostels for pilgrims. They were later demolished by William St Clair and the stone used to build the Tithe Bar which still stands in the village and is now a house.
A number of lepers lived in the area. They were able to watch services by climbing up the tower and watching from a window above the sanctuary.
During the Reformation the fine statues and decoration were removed. Cromwell’s army later stabled horses in the church when they besieged Tantallon.
The bell tower was used as a dovecot. A bell had been installed in the 1620s but it was lost. A new bell was installed in 1848.
The church was badly damaged by fire in February 1914. It was rumoured that the fire was set by suffragettes, but no one was ever charged. The church reopened in 1917.
The fire gave opportunity for reconstruction by the architect Lorimer who designed the altar, crypt and font. New windows were designed by Carl Parsons. The designs with Mary, St Andrew, St Luke and St Michael all show fine details e.g. a tiny mermaid by the Bass Rock in the image of St Andrew.
A vote of thanks was given by Society Events Organiser, Ian Hardie, before refreshments were enjoyed.

By Jacquie Bell