St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh. Inside is the Thistle Chapel of 1911, which belongs to the Order of the Thistle.
Edinburgh and the Lothians
Christian Dating Edinburgh: Meet Christian Singles in Edinburgh
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Where Knox preached, faith now takes intention
John Knox preached at St Giles' on the Royal Mile from 1559 until his death in 1572, and the High Kirk is still called the cradle of Presbyterianism. Every May the Church of Scotland's General Assembly, the Kirk's highest court, meets in the Assembly Hall on the Mound.
And yet Edinburgh is the least Christian of the eight cities we cover. Scotland's Census 2022 found 56.4% of residents have no religion, against 30.1% who are Christian: 13.5% Church of Scotland, 10.1% Roman Catholic and 6.5% from other churches. Meeting a fellow believer here rarely happens by accident. It takes a little intention, and that is what Christian dating in Edinburgh is for.
Kirk, Episcopal and Baptist
Spires that shape the skyline
Three churches Edinburgh Christians know well, each from a different tradition.
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
Sir George Gilbert Scott's cathedral on Palmerston Place, consecrated in 1879. Its three spires dominate the West End; the two western ones are nicknamed Barbara and Mary after the sisters who gave the land.
Charlotte Chapel
An evangelical Baptist church founded in 1808, which moved in 2016 into the former St George's West Church on Shandwick Place.
Settled in your faith and ready to meet?
Edinburgh members aged 35 to 5483%
Edinburgh members aged 55 or over17%
Edinburgh members under 350%
Edinburgh: from our member records.
Edinburgh members are mostly women aged 35 to 54, with one or two a little older. If you are a Christian man in the Lothians, this is a city to look at closely. Women may want to widen the search west to Glasgow as well, or look at Christian singles across the UK.
Our guide to Christian dating rules covers the questions believers ask most, from courtship to kissing, with the main views set out fairly.
Riverside walks and garden views
The Water of Leith Walkway is a free riverside path through Dean Village and Stockbridge, running on towards the Botanics and down to Leith. It suits a first meeting that might turn into a long walk. Start in Stockbridge, follow the water through Dean Village, and you will have covered a good stretch of the city and a good deal of conversation before either of you notices the time.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Inverleith dates from 1670. Its 70-acre garden is free to enter (the glasshouses charge), and the Terrace Café looks out to the castle. Arrange to meet at the café, and decide over a pot of tea whether to walk the gardens together.
- Old Town
- Royal Mile
- West End
- Stockbridge
- Dean Village
- Inverleith
- Leith
Edinburgh dating questions
How do I meet Christian singles in Edinburgh?
Get involved in a church that has people your age, say yes to invitations, and join a Christian dating site so the believers outside your own congregation can find you too.
Is there Christian speed dating in Edinburgh?
Your own congregation is a good place to ask. For where else to look, see our guide to meeting Christian singles.
I am Episcopalian. Can I meet someone from the Kirk?
Of course. Every tradition is welcome on Christian Love. Say on your profile where you worship and how much that matters to you, so the right people can find you.
Should I date someone who is not a Christian?
Christians disagree. Many point to 2 Corinthians 6:14 on not being unequally yoked and only date believers; others feel free to date someone open to faith. Pray about it and talk with your own church. Christian Love exists for those who would rather start with shared faith.
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