St Martin's Kirk, Haddington

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St Martin's Kirk

East Lothian

St Martin's Kirk, Haddington 03.jpg
St Martin's Kirk, Haddington
Type: Former church
Location
Grid reference: NT52107394
Location: 55°57’22"N, 2°46’7"W
Town: Haddington
History
Address: Nungate
Built 12th century
Former church
Information
Condition: Roofless
Owned by: Historic Scotland
Website: St Martin's Kirk, Haddington

St Michael's Kirk is a ruined church in Haddington, East Lothian. It was built in connection with the foundation in 1178 of a Cistercian abbey here, which was founded by Countess Ada. The church was built around the time of the foundation and is the oldest standing building in Haddington today.

The twelfth century, in which the church was built, was that in which the present parochial system was established, and therefore St Martin’s Kirk stands as a very rare memorial of that change in the Church in Scotland. It is today ruined and roofless, in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, but a fine Romanesque ruin for all that.

John Knox may have attended services in St Martin’s as a boy. The church’s chancel was destroyed during the Reformation in 1560, of which Knox was the primary architect.

Outside links

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