image copyright Rachel Windsor

The parish of Holyrood had been based in the chapel attached to the palace until it was used as a Catholic place of worship by James VII in 1687.  The congregation was then forced to move elsewhere, soon building their own premises on the Canongate at what would become Canongate Kirk.   The mercat or market cross used to stand in front of the church, it was removed to the churchyard when it was recognised as a traffic obstruction.