St Ninians Church
• Central and West •
St. Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland. It is located approximately one mile south of the city centre. During the Siege of Stirling Castle, part of the 1745 Jacobite rising, the church was used to store munitions and this blew up when the Jacobites began retreating on 1 February 1746.
The Siege of Stirling Castle and St Ninians Church
During the Siege of Stirling Castle in 1746, the Jacobites had been using the nearby church of St Ninians to store munitions, well they had until it blew up during the retreat. Despite later claims that the explosion was deliberate, it seems more likely the explosion was due to carelessness when moving the stores.
John Cameron, minister to Lochiel's regiment, was passing the church in a carriage with Murray of Broughton's wife when it blew up; she was thrown from the chaise and concussed, while nine townspeople and a number of Jacobites were buried in the ruins.
The steeple was the only part left standing after the explosion on 1 February, it was later restored and can be seen standing to this day.
Visitor Information
The new St. Ninian’s Church in Stirling is open to the public. Dating from 1751 the church sits a little north of the original Parish Church of which the steeple (1734) and surrounding graveyard remain. Extended/altered 1886, and 1937.
Getting There
Location
St Ninian's Old Church
Kirk Wynd
St Ninians
Stirling
FK7 9AY
What3Words reference
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