Church Of The Holy Rude, St John Street, Stirling

The Church of the Holy Rude, located on St John Street in Stirling, is a cruciform church built between 1456 and around 1470. It features an oblong west tower and a five-bay nave supported by circular piers, with the exception of the eastmost pair, which are shafted. The aisles are vaulted and have a clerestory, and the original wooden roof remains intact. St Mary's Aisle, located at the northwest bay, was constructed in 1484 but was largely demolished in 1818. St Andrew's Aisle, situated in the angle of the north transept, predates 1483 and is a vaulted rectangle. The choir was built between 1507 and 1540 and is higher than the nave due to the steeply sloping site. It has three bays, vaulted aisles, and a triforium, which has been converted to a clerestory. The original wooden roof was lined on the inside in 1869. The presbytery is three-sided and has a pointed barrel vault. The tower was completed in 1529 under the direction of master mason John Couttis and features plain battlements, with the upper two stages set back on the north and south sides.

The church was divided in 1656, and the East Church underwent alterations in 1803 by James Millar of Stirling. The West Church was altered in 1818, which included the removal of the porch, St Mary's Aisle, Bowye's Aisle, and the west doorway, along with new tracery designed by James Gillespie Graham. Additions were made by J T Rochead in 1867, and further alterations to the East Church, including the clerestory, were carried out by James Collie from Bridge of Allan in 1869.

A restoration of the West Church took place from 1911 to 1914 under Dr Thomas Ross, which included the removal of the division wall and the completion of the crossing, transepts, and porch, with further work by James Miller of Glasgow from 1936 to 1940. The 17th-century pulpit was reconstructed during the 1911-14 restoration. The church has bells, including two by Chapman from 1781, one by Ouderogge from 1657, and another from the 15th century. The stained glass includes a chancel window in the East Church dedicated to the memory of John Cowane, depicting the 'Last Supper and Sermon on the Mount.' There are also windows by the Glasgow Society of the Sons of the Rock, commemorating their visit to Stirling in 1868, featuring 'Christ teaching in the Temple' among other scenes, both created by James Ballantine of Edinburgh. Additionally, there is a notable south transept window representing the Seasons by Douglas Strachan from 1945.