The Faw Kirk is what gave Falkirk its name. Traditionally, there was a church on the site from the 6th century. The name Eglais Bhreac or Egglesbreth, meaning spotted church was known from the 11th century, a reference to the speckled stone the church was built from. Later it was recorded under a Latin version of the name's meaning - Varia Capella. It later became known as the Faw Kirk - faw meaning speckled. This finally became Falkirk. A new church was erected around 1450, with various additions and changes made in the following centuries, although some small parts of the c 1450 church still remain. A new tower was erected in 1738. This church served the town until 1810, when it was deemed that a new building was needed. The tower was retained. The new church building was opened in 1811. Virtually all the gravestones in the Old Parish Kirkyard were removed by 1961, it having been decided that only ‘important' gravestones, such as ones from the First Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and a few others, be retained.

All remaining headstones and memorials in the churchyard, and inside the building, were photographed in October 2023. Inscriptions were taken from the publication "Falkirk Parish Churchyard" which draws primarily from a survey carried out for Falkirk Town Council prior to the final phase of clearance in 1961, and includes a detailed history of the church and the churchyard. [Bailey, G., Falkirk Parish Churchyard (Falkirk, Scotland: Falkirk Local History Society)]

There is limited parking at the churchyard, however paid public parking next to the Asda grocery store is only a couple of minutes walk away.