About
St Augustine’s Church, set on the historic city walls, is an ancient place of worship with a history stretching back to 546AD, when St Columba founded a monastery on this site. For over 1,500 years, there has been continuous worship on this footprint, with the present church dating from 1872, built in Planter’s Gothic style by Bishop William Alexander, husband of the renowned hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander.
Inside, visitors can admire fine stained glass, an open beam roof, and historic features including the McCombe Stone (1689) and a marble memorial to Robert Boyd (1831). The church is also linked to several well-known hymns, including All Things Bright and Beautiful and Once in Royal David’s City.
Outside, the churchyard—the oldest in the city—offers a chance to explore centuries of history, with a graveyard board guiding visitors to notable burials, including the Alexander family and connections to wider Irish and international history. The oldest legible gravestone, the Carrec Stone, dates from 1567.
Often described as an “oasis of peace” in the heart of a busy city, the church and its award-winning gardens provide a calm and welcoming space to pause, explore, and reflect.
