St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh

St Margaret's Chapel
The south façade of the chapel
55°56′55″N 3°12′00″W / 55.9486638°N 3.2001294°W / 55.9486638; -3.2001294Coordinates: 55°56′55″N 3°12′00″W / 55.9486638°N 3.2001294°W / 55.9486638; -3.2001294
OS grid reference	NT252735
Location	Edinburgh Castle
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Non-denominational
History
Founded	12th century
Founder(s)	David I of Scotland
Dedication	Saint Margaret of Scotland
Dedicated	Rededicated on 16 November 1993
Architecture
Heritage designation	Category A listed building
Designated	14 December 1970
Style	Romanesque
Administration
Parish	Canongate

St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland. An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building. It was constructed in the 12th century, but fell into disuse after the Reformation. In the 19th century the chapel was restored and today is cared for by the St Margaret's Chapel Guild.

Saint Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045 – 16 November 1093) was an English princess of the House of Wessex, the sister of Edgar Ætheling. Margaret and her family fled to Scotland following the Norman conquest of England of 1066. Around 1070 Margaret married Malcolm III of Scotland. She was a pious woman, and among many charitable works she established a ferry across the Firth of Forth for pilgrims travelling to Dunfermline Abbey. According to the Life of Saint Margaret, attributed to Turgot of Durham, she died at Edinburgh Castle in 1093, just days after receiving the news of her husband's death in battle. In 1250 she was canonised by Pope Innocent IV.

It was originally thought that St Margaret herself worshipped in this small chapel, but the style of the architecture indicates that it was built during the reign of David I, her fourth son, who ruled from 1124–1153. The chapel formed part of a larger building, located to the north, which contained the castle's royal lodgings.