Saint Stephen's Comely Bank Church, Edinburgh, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Saint Stephen's Comely Bank Church stands at 10 Comely Bank Road in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, a short walk from the Water of Leith. It is a neighbourhood church rather than a major sight, and it makes a good starting point for thinking about how Scotland once approached marriage, a story that sets the country apart from its neighbours.

The story behind it

Scotland was long known for its distinctive marriage law, which rested on mutual consent rather than on a religious ceremony. Both regular and irregular marriages were legal. A regular marriage was the familiar church wedding. From 1834, ministers outside the established church were also allowed to conduct weddings, which widened who could marry a couple in a place of worship.

Irregular marriages came in three kinds. A couple could simply declare themselves married, even without witnesses, though that was hard to prove later. A promise of marriage followed by living together as a married pair also counted, but it needed proof such as a written promise or a sworn oath. And a couple who presented themselves in public as husband and wife could be treated as married by habit and repute. Irregular marriages were frowned upon and could bring a fine, yet they still carried inheritance rights and made the children legitimate.

What to look for

• Look at the church from Comely Bank Road and notice how its stonework sits among the surrounding terraces and tenements.
• Notice the main entrance and imagine the difference between a wedding held here and one declared privately, as Scots law once allowed.
• Look for any noticeboards outside, which usually show how the building is used by the local community today.
• Glance along the neighbouring streets of Comely Bank and Stockbridge, which have a village feel quite unlike the Old Town.

Tips for your visit

• Allow around 10 to 15 minutes for the church itself, longer if you want to wander the surrounding streets.
• Check current opening hours and whether visitors can go inside, as this is a working church and access may vary.
• Stockbridge is close by, with independent shops, cafes and the riverside path, so it is easy to pair this stop with a longer stroll.
• Daylight is best for seeing the exterior properly, and weekday mornings tend to be quieter.

See it on a quest

Romantic Edinburgh: True Love Escape Game passes this church as one stop on a longer route on foot through the area. As you arrive, the app tells you about the place, including the story of Scotland's unusual marriages, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. There is no guide and no fixed start time, and one ticket covers the whole group.