Stirling's principal parish church for more than 500 years.
In 1452, the town and it's wooden church were burned in revenge after King James II murdered the Earl of Douglas.
The present church developed in two stages. The first half was completed around 1470 and the Nave and Tower date in part from that period. The second half was completed around 1555.

A plaque on the floor marks the spot where the infant, King James VI was baptised in 1567. The child was christened in a gold font sent by Elizabeth of England. He was carried into the chapel by the Count of Brienne, as proxy for the king of France who was his godfather. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Savoy were also godparents.
The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of St. Andrews according to Roman Catholic rites while the Protestant lords stood outside the chapel. The boy's father sulked in his apartments and refused to attend the ceremony and festivities.

There are magnificent stained glass windows and one of Scotland's rare, surviving, medieval open timber roofs. Each craft guild formerly maintained an altar to its patron saint while wealthy burgesses built their own chapels. The vaulted Chapel of St. Andrew survives intact.

A dividing wall was built within the church after a 17th century dispute amongst the church's congregation. This was removed during the restoration in 1936.