Welcome!

Welcome to the Web Site of the 2nd Linlithgow Co. of the Boys' Brigade. As you scan through the site, we hope you will learn much about the Company, its history and what it is about today. Before you start your 'tour' of the Company, however, let us tell you a bit about our 'Home'.

Home for us is the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Linlithgow, 18 miles West of Edinburgh, Scotland. We are part of the community of the ancient parish church of St Michael.

St. Michael's is one of the oldest churches in Scotland. Although its origins are lost in time, the earliest mention of the 'great church of Linlithgow' is in a charter by King David I of Scotland in 1138. Whatever the exact date of its founding, we do know that the present church of St Michael's was consecrated on 22nd May 1242. In nearly 800 years, St Michael's has seen Scottish history unfolding within its walls.

Picture of Church(Right) and Palace

In 1301 King Edward I of England used the church as a store.

In 1513 King James IV of Scotland prayed in St Katherine's Isle before going to his death at the battle of Flodden

On December 8th 1542, Mary Queen of Scots was born in the adjacent Palace and was christened in St Michael's. The bell, which rang out that day, still hangs in the bell tower. Her son, James VI of Scotland, inherited the English throne as well on the death in 1605 of Queen Elizabeth of England.

In 1645, as the Great Plague raged in Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh used part of the church for classes.

1787 saw Robert Burns describe the, by now Protestant, church as a 'poor pimping place'. Work was certainly required to return the church to its former glory.

The 19th and 20th centuries saw a great deal of restoration work and St Michael's is now a magnificent church and its Royal connections remain through its present Minister, Rev J.L. Paterson who is a Chaplain to HM The Queen in Scotland.

In October 1978, at the behest of the Minister, the 2nd Linlithgow Co. of the Boys' Brigade was formed.

Please access St Michael's own web site for more information on the Church which is open daily at Easter and from May to September as well as every Sunday morning.

Meantime, check out the rest of this site to learn about us.