Services
- Archives - access
- Archives - enquiries
- Archives - general information
- Births - historical searches
- Castles and historic houses
- Churches - tourist information
- Deaths - historical searches
- Family history and genealogy - general information
- Historic sites
- Industrial heritage
- Loans, donations bequests and sales
- Local and special collections
- Marriages - historical searches
- Memorials and monuments
Churches - tourist information
Discover some peaceful oases within West Lothian's thriving modern towns and villages.
West Lothian has a wealth of ancient and historic churches -
- Abercorn - hidden away within its peaceful churchyard on the Hopetoun estate
- St Michael's, Linlithgow (new window) - one of the finest mediaeval burgh churches in Scotland
- Mid Calder (new window) - Kirk of Calder - half a church for centuries, but what a half!
- Strathbrock (new window), Uphall - fine, 12th century church looking down over Uphall
- Torphichen (new window) - a lovely 18th century church attached to a mediaeval preceptory
- Bangour Village Church - one of the finest built in Scotland in the 20th century
Other churches, such as Ecclesmachan (new window), have much of interest both in their buildings and in their churchyards. A daughter of Robert Burns is buried in Whitburn South churchyard. St David's in Bathgate is a fine Italianate building, Livingston Old is a typical 18th century Prebysterian 'preaching box', Boghall Parish Church is strikingly modern, and St Peter's Episcopal Church in Linlithgow High Street is tiny but charming.
There are the ruins of pre-Reformation churches in Bathgate, East Calder, West Calder, and at Auldcathie near Winchburgh.
Opening times and times of worship
For information about opening times and services of worship, try the church's website (see on the right of this page); or consult the guidebook, 1000 Churches to Visit in Scotland, available in the West Lothian Local History Library in Blackburn.
History and architecture
For information on the history and architecture of local churches, visit the West Lothian Local History Library in Blackburn, or search the online local newspapers index (new window). For online information, try the RCAHMS (new window) website which holds information about most of West Lothian's places of worship.
Conservation and repair
For advice on conservation and repair of historic or listed buildings, contact the Council's conservation officer, Dr Stuart Eydmann, on 01506 775279.