Archdeaconry of Lothian facts for kids

The Archdeaconry of Lothian was an important church area in Scotland a long time ago, during the medieval period. Think of it like a special district within a bigger church region called the diocese of St Andrews. It was one of two main archdeaconries in that diocese.

Basically, the Archdeaconry of Lothian covered the part of the diocese that was south of the River Forth. This area was led by an important church official called the Archdeacon of Lothian. This Archdeacon worked under the Bishop of St Andrews, who was the head of the entire diocese.

How it was Organized

During the medieval period, the Archdeaconry of Lothian was divided into three smaller church areas. These smaller areas were called deaneries. Each deanery was like a local group of churches and parishes. The three deaneries were:

• Linlithgow
• Haddington (sometimes called Lothian)
• Merse

The Deanery of Linlithgow

The Deanery of Linlithgow covered many different church parishes in its area. These parishes included places like Stirling, Penicuik, Lasswade, Edinburgh (with churches like St Giles' cathedral and St Cuthbert's), Linlithgow, Falkirk, and many others. It stretched across a wide region, helping to manage the local churches and their communities.

The Deanery of Lothian or Haddington

This deanery, often called Haddington, also included many parishes. Some of the places it covered were Dunbar, North Berwick, Haddington itself (with St Mary's), Tranent, Inveresk, and Crichton. This area was important for the church's daily activities and for serving the people in these towns and villages.

The Deanery of the Merse

The Deanery of the Merse was the third main section of the Archdeaconry. It included parishes in areas like Coldingham, Berwick, Duns, Greenlaw, Kelso, and Lauder. This deanery played a key role in the church's presence in the southern parts of the Archdeaconry of Lothian.