On a dreary winter morning in East Lothian, the doors of St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk, were wide open, with bright flowers welcoming visitors in.
For centuries, St Mary’s has been a place that people have travelled to; once a medieval pilgrimage site dedicated to the Virgin Mary – famously visited barefoot by the future Pope Pius II -Whitekirk has drawn visitors seeking healing, prayer and connection. This sense of movement towards St Mary’s still continues today, and these stories of coming together at St Mary’s shone through in conversations with past congregation members and the local community.
At the start of February, more than 200 people came through the doors of Whitekirk for our ReACH open day. Some arriving with stories ready to share: folders containing precious photographs, carefully folded newspaper clippings, old church newsletters and pamphlets. Others stepped inside for the first time, having passed the church countless times on the road, and curious to see what lay within.
Visitors shared wedding stories – walking down the aisle themselves or watching their loved ones standing at the altar as they sat in the front pews. Others remembered baptisms, holding their children at the font, and took the opportunity to find their names in the cradle roll. There were loud joyful stories of Christmas services where the church was filled with the collective voice of the congregation singing advent hymns, Sunday school crafts in preparation for the Spring fete. There were quiet stories, too, of reflection and stillness, candlelight glowing in the window on a snowy Christmas Eve, and funerals of loved ones.
For many, Whitekirk is woven into the fabric of family life. Children once acting mischievously in the rafters, capturing pigeons to sell on at school. Games of hide and seek amongst the gravestones and the thrill of ringing the bell in the tower. The regular seats where parents sat each Sunday, later occupied by their children, now grown. One visitor described the church as a ‘marker’ – a place holding life’s milestones.
More recent memories also filled the space. Admiration for the acoustics during the Lammermuir concerts and moments shared at the weekly prayer group. Underpinning many reflections was a sense of hope and curiosity about what may come next under the care of Whitekirk New Life Trust.
Through each of the stories, what struck me the most was the sense of continuity. Across generations, people have gravitated towards this church, seeking faith, family, music, memory or belonging. Whilst the reasons may differ, the act of coming together at Whitekirk remains.
As churches across Scotland navigate change, these lived experiences remind us why they matter. The heritage recording can tell us one part of the story, and the people who have passed through the doors can tell us another. These experiences give the church building its identity.
The Whitekirk New Life Trust are working to secure the future of St Mary’s as a place of worship and community gathering. We are hugely grateful to the Whitekirk New Life Trust for their support, generosity and collaboration in making our research possible. Their team helped to facilitate the day, welcomed visitors and even provided delicious baked goods so that we could continue conversations over tea and cake.
On that grey February morning, the church was, once again, what it always has been: a place that people come to and will carry with them long after they leave.
You can now explore material from the Whitekirk case study on our dedicated case study page, including heritage highlights, oral history excerpts and a new interactive gallery bringing together memories and heritage from across the church.
Written by Dr Emily Johnston, Community Officer for Research in Action on Church Heritage
