St Mary's Cathedral is on Palmerston Place in Edinburgh, 1 mile southwest of the City centre.

The Nave of St Mary's opened in 1897, with the Twin Towers at the main entrance completed in 1917. This is an Episcopal Protestant Cathedral, seat of the Bishop of Edinburgh. Postcode: EH12 5AW

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Scottish Rulers tried to keep Bishops out of Scottish Churches from the Reformation in the 1500s.

Scotland and England merged into Great Britain in 1707, leading to Churches of all Faiths being built.

The historic St Giles from the 1100s on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh centre, serves as the top Protestant Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, completed in 1814 on York Place in Edinburgh centre, serves as the the top Catholic Church in Scotland.

Construction of St Mary's Episcopal was funded by the spinster sisters Barbara and Mary Walker in 1873. They owned Drumsheugh Estate with the Cathedral being built on Estate land.

Easter Coates House of Drumsheugh Estate is situated to the north of the Cathedral. The sisters were granddaughters of Rev George Walker, an Episcopal Minister in the 1700s.

St Mary's was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English Gothic Revival Architect that specialized in Churches and Cathedrals.

The Foundation Stone was laid on the 21st May 1874 containing a copy of the Trust Deed, Edinburgh Post Office Directory, Newspapers, and Coins.

The Twin Spires at the southwest side main entrance are known as Barbara and Mary, after the Walker Sisters. Work on the Spires began in 1913 with completion in 1917.

Twelve Bells are located in the 270ft high Central Tower for change ringing. The Central Tower can be seen from most parts of Edinburgh centre.

St Mary's is open to the public free of charge, donations allowed.

For more information on the History of Scotland Churches and Cathedrals, view the St Giles Cathedral Page.

For a list of the top Cathedrals in Scotland to visit, view the page Scotland Cathedrals.