Church of the Holy Rude
About
The parish church of the Top of Town, on St John Street just below the castle. Its own site says King David I founded it in 1129 and that it is the second oldest building in Stirling after the castle. After a fire in 1405 the nave was rebuilt by 1451. James VI was crowned here on 29 July 1567, with John Knox preaching, according to Wikipedia. It is still a working Church of Scotland congregation, with a service every Sunday at 11:00. In the visitor season there is an entry charge and guided tours of about 30 to 40 minutes. The Valley Cemetery, laid out in 1851 as an extension of the churchyard, lies just to the north.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The nave rebuilt after the fire of 1405
- ✓Where James VI was crowned in 1567
- ✓Guided tours in the visitor season
- ✓The churchyard and the Valley Cemetery next to it
Tips
- →The 2026 visitor season runs from Wednesday 25 March to Sunday 1 November, 10:00 to 18:00, last admission 17:30.
- →The church's site gives two different lists of tour times, which disagree about Sunday mornings, so check on the day.
- →Sunday worship at 11:00 is open to all and is not a tourist visit.
Best Season
More Heritage Activities
Stirling Castle
Royal castle on its crag at the top of the Old Town: the Great Hall, the Royal Palace, the Chapel Royal and the regimental museum.
Activity
Bannockburn battlefield and monuments
Bannockburn battlefield and monuments
The 1314 battlefield, its rotunda and Bruce statue. The visitor centre is closed until mid-2028; the grounds stay open.
Cowane's Hospital
John Cowane's 17th-century almshouse beside the Holy Rude, with a coffee shop open daily.