---
title: "Torphichen Kirk & Preceptory"
description: "Located in Torphichen, Lothian. Built Preceptory C13–C15; kirk 1756. Grade A. Gothic style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Historic Scotland","Lothian","Torphichen","Category A","Knights Hospitaller","Gothic"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/torphichen-kirk-preceptory-torphichen"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:55:30.313Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-09T12:29:49.608Z"
location: "Torphichen, Lothian"
country: "Scotland"
county: "Lothian"
town: "Torphichen"
address: "Torphichen, Lothian, EH48 4NB"
postcode: "EH48 4NB"
built: "Preceptory C13–C15; kirk 1756"
denomination: "Historic Scotland"
grade: "A"
style: "Gothic"
materials: "Ashlar preceptory with corbie-step gables; coursed rubble kirk with slated roof"
website: "https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/torphichen-kirk"
openingHours: "Open April to September: weekends and bank holidays 1pm to 5pm (HS entry fees apply)."
parish: "Torphichen"
gridReference: "NS 969 725"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# Torphichen Kirk & Preceptory

Torphichen Preceptory and the adjoining parish kirk stand in Torphichen, West Lothian. The preceptory is Category A listed and a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland; the kirk of 1756 is Category B listed and still in ecclesiastical use.

## Overview

The preceptory was the only Scottish house of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. Historic Environment Scotland records a thirteenth- to fifteenth-century Gothic church, originally cruciform; the transepts and crossing (with tower over) remain, in ashlar with corbie-step gables, angle-buttresses, traceried windows and a square tower with polygonal stair-turret. The interior has ribbed vaults, built-up arches to the former nave and chancel, a tomb-recess and piscina. Traces of cloister and conventual buildings lie to the north. In 1563 Sir James Sandilands, the last preceptor, resigned the lands to the Crown and received them back as a temporal barony with the title Lord Torphichen.

Torphichen Kirk, listed separately, is a traditional T-plan church of 1756 that incorporates the north wall of the preceptory nave. It is coursed rubble, skew-gabled, with a slated roof, a bird-cage belfry (bell by John Meikle, 1700), round-headed windows and a forestair to the south arm. A later nineteenth-century addition stands at the west end. Lofts, pulpit and folding communion pews were installed in 1803. The kirk abuts the crossing of the preceptory church.

## Further Information

- [Historic Environment Scotland: Torphichen Preceptory LB14532](https://www.trove.scot/designation/LB14532)
- [Historic Environment Scotland: Torphichen Kirk LB14533](https://www.trove.scot/designation/LB14533)
- [HES visitor page: Torphichen Preceptory](https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torphichen-preceptory/)