BattlefieldsEdinburgh Riot at St Giles Cathedral 1637
English Civil War

Edinburgh Riot at St Giles Cathedral 1637

1637
Midlothian, Scotland
Also known as: St Giles Prayer Book Riot 1637 · Jenny Geddes riot Edinburgh 1637
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Midlothian, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royal church authority
Forces
bishop and dean
VS
Victor
Protesters
Forces
Edinburgh congregation
Outcome
Edinburgh congregation rioted against introduction of new Prayer Book; service abandoned; bishop assaulted; riots spread across Scotland
The Battle

History & Significance

The Edinburgh riot of 23 July 1637 launched the sequence of events leading to the Bishops Wars and ultimately the English Civil War. When the Dean of Edinburgh began reading the new Anglican Prayer Book a woman — traditionally identified as Jenny Geddes — threw her stool at him. The riot expelled the officiants and spread to other Scottish towns. Charles I refused to back down, leading to the National Covenant.

Casualties & Losses

Injuries in riot; no deaths at St Giles

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Midlothian

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Midlothian