St Machar's Cathedral

St Machar’s Cathedral is a historic parish church in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, with origins in the medieval period; the present building largely dates from the 14th to 16th centuries. It is one of Aberdeen’s best-known medieval churches.

The interior is noted for its painted wooden heraldic ceiling and medieval stonework; the building’s exterior features twin western towers and decorative pinnacles. The churchyard and carved grave slabs are also points of interest for visitors.

A church has stood on the site since the medieval era; the present structure was built and altered across the 14th to 16th centuries and was retained as a Church of Scotland parish church after the Reformation. Various restorations and repairs have taken place in subsequent centuries to preserve the fabric.

The cathedral sits in the Old Aberdeen district within the city of Aberdeen, close to the University of Aberdeen’s King’s College complex and not far from the River Don mouth on Scotland’s northeast coast.

• Heraldic ceiling: Contains a notable painted wooden heraldic ceiling with many carved and painted coats of arms dating from the late medieval to early modern period.
• Location note: Sits in Old Aberdeen adjacent to the University of Aberdeen's King's College buildings, making it easy to visit alongside the college quadrangle.