Seton Collegiate Church

Seton Collegiate Church
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Seton Collegiate Church

Located a mile (1.5 km) southeast of Cockenzie, this late 15th Century church incorporates sections of an earlier parish church (1248). Despite a turbulent past, it survives in a remarkably complete form.

In 1470, Lord Seton founded a college of priests to pray for the souls of himself and his family. Ruins of the priest's accommodation can be seen. Succeeding members of the family extended the church through the 15th and early 16th century, until it fell into disuse following the reformation.

Defacing of the chapels and smashing of the windows and monuments took place post-Reformation. Further damage in the 18th century following the forfeiture of the Seton Estates following the failed Jacobite rebellion in 1715, the Setons having been staunch supporters of the Jacobite cause.

The Seton estates passed to the Earl of Wemyss, who restored the church to be the family burial place, and in 1948 the church passed into the care of Historic Environment Scotland.


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