St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
St Giles' was the mediaeval parish church of Edinburgh, founded with the burgh in the 12th century. It was subdivided after the Reformation and was a Cathedral during the 17th century. After falling into decay, it was repaired and remodelled by William Burn in the 1830s. In the 1880s the interior was re-united by William Hay.
A programme of repairs was initiated in 1974 and over twelve years the low roofs were re-leaded, the crown spire and weather-cock restored and repairs to the stonework and windows begun. The Thistle Chapel undercroft and adjacent rooms were converted into what is now the Lower Aisle, linked to the church by a new sandstone stair in the South Choir Aisle. Originally conceived as part of a major project to create a new 'East Hall' by excavating beneath the whole eastern part of the church, this is now unlikely to be realised.
Important changes were made to the interior. A new Sanctuary arrangement was established with the Holy Table beneath the low vault of the crossing tower. Art works include a West window by Leifur Breidfjurd commemorating Robert Burns, six tiny windows in the Lower Aisle by Christian Shaw, a handrail by Alan Dawson and lettercutting by Dick Reid.
