Monday March 16th 2026
St Andrew's Kirk Ports, North Berwick
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A local charity has launched an online survey as part of its campaign to save a picturesque ruin in the heart of North Berwick.
St Andrew’s Kirk Ports is a scheduled monument of national importance, located minutes from the town’s High Street.
Sitting in an attractive graveyard, the building is in a dilapidated state and its condition is deteriorating. While East Lothian Council maintains the grounds, the local authority does not have funds to invest in works beyond essential safety measures.
Registered charity NB Heritage is leading a campaign to secure a future for the kirk and graveyard. The volunteer-run charity has been working with the council to find an effective way of conserving the kirk and making it available as a community asset.
Olwyn Owen, Chair of NB Heritage, said: “The distinctive bell-shaped tower roof was removed for health and safety reasons in 2011, and the interior has since been fenced off. The kirk is continuing to deteriorate and action is needed to avoid this historic building being lost to our community. This is your opportunity to help shape that future and we look forward to hearing your views.”
NB Heritage is hosting its survey on East Lothian Council’s consultation hub. All responses will be passed to the group for analysis after the survey closes on 23 April 2026. The charity will present the results to the council to inform next steps.
East Lothian Council Leader Councillor Norman Hampshire said: “St Andrew’s Kirk Ports is an important part of North Berwick’s history. While we do all we can to maintain the graveyard and ensure the area is safe, we do not have the funds to commit to any further works. NB Heritage is passionate about the town and, as a registered charity, can potentially harness resources and grants that would not be available to the council. However, the first step is to gauge what the community values about the space and their views for its future, which is what the group aims to do with this survey.”
St Andrew’s Kirk was built between 1658 and 1664 as a replacement to the original parish church, the remains of which are located on Anchor Green by the Scottish Seabird Centre. The growing congregation moved to the new St Andrew Blackadder Church in 1883, which remains in use today.
The survey is available online at www.eastlothianconsultations.co.uk until 23 April 2026.
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