Yester Parish Church, Gifford

Yester Parish Church is a stone church with a T-shaped plan located at a road junction behind the village war memorial in Gifford. Its facade features arched windows and classic Scottish church design, with a surrounding churchyard containing graves and headstones.

The building was constructed in 1708, replacing an earlier chapel dating from 1241 whose ruins survive in the woods near Yester House southwest of the village. This replacement marks an important shift in the church's location and structure over more than 4 centuries.

The church serves the communities of Yester, Bolton, and Saltoun as a regular gathering space for worship and religious ceremonies. It functions as a social focal point where villagers come together to practice their faith and maintain local traditions.

The church and churchyard are typically accessible during daylight hours as it sits prominently at the road junction in the village center. Information about current services and events can be found through local parish websites which serve the three connected communities.

The churchyard contains graves of several Marquesses of Tweeddale and Admiral Lord John Hay, who served as Admiral of the Fleet from 1827 to 1916. These burials reflect the historical connection between the parish and prominent local families.

Location: East Lothian

Location: Yester

Location: Gifford

Website: https://yesterboltonsaltounchurch.org

GPS coordinates: 55.90380,-2.74558

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:03