St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh

The Parish Church of Saint Cuthbert, which is associated with the Church of Scotland, is a part of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. It's located to the east of Lothian Road in the central area of Edinburgh, right at the base of the Castle Rock's western side, near the western end of Princes Street. Unlike the newer Saint John's Church, Saint Cuthbert's is situated below street level, making it less visible from the north. The church is surrounded by a churchyard, which serves as a green space in the city center and visually connects with Princes Street Gardens on its eastern side.

The churchyard is quite impressive and contains numerous noteworthy monuments, including one dedicated to John Grant of Kilgraston (located near Perth) and a three-bay Gothic mausoleum for the Gordons of Cluny, designed by David Bryce.

One peculiar feature of the churchyard is its western side, where Lothian Road was expanded over it in 1930 by the City Architect, Ebenezer James MacRae. This expansion was done on pillars due to the significant difference in height, allowing the graves to remain beneath the road surface. As a result, the eastern sidewalk now passes over these graves.

The founding date of the first Saint Cuthbert's church is uncertain. Some sources suggest it was established in the late 17th century, possibly during Saint Cuthbert's lifetime or shortly after. Others link it to Queen Margaret's arrival in Scotland in 1069. The parish may have originally covered all of Edinburgh before Saint Giles' parish split from it in the 12th century. The church is first mentioned in a 1128 charter when David I granted it to Holyrood Abbey.