St Nicholas Parish Church

This Category B listed church sits prominently in Lanark's town centre

St Nicholas Church was built in 1774 on the site of an earlier 12th century chapel. Within the steeple is the 'Toun's great bell', the oldest bell in Europe, believed to date from 1130 when it was housed in the old St Kentigern's Church. It was recast in 1659, 1740 and 1983. An inscription on the side of the old bell read:

"I did for thrice centirues hing,
And unto Lanark people ring"

When the church was recently refurbished, there were skeletons found which possibly date back to William Wallace's era. An 8 foot statue of William Wallace stands proudly on the front façade of the Church above the main door. The statue was a gift to the town, sculpted in 1822 by local sculptor Robert Forrest, and is based on an ancient drawing of William Wallace.