Description

Circa 1843 with later additions. 2-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical severe classical church; later single storey halls adjoining to rear. Polished cream sandstone ashlar to principal elevation; rubble to sides; coursed rubble to hall at rear. Base course; cill course to 1st floor windows; corniced architraves to windows in outer bays; giant order pilaster quoins; giant order pilasters and pediment to advanced, central bay; deep cornice and parapet.

BAPTIST CHURCH: S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: central doorway; 2-leaf, panelled door; plate glass fanlight; engaged, square-section columns and cornice to doorpiece. Single window to 1st floor above; architrave with bracketed pediment; single, blind windows to outer ground floor bays; single windows above.

E AND W ELEVATIONS: 4-bay; bays to S correspond with principal elevation in materials and details with blind windows to both floors to E elevation and modern door to ground, blind window to 1st floor to W elevation. Single windows in 3 remaining bays to ground and 1st floor.

HALL: single storey hall, vestry, kitchen and WCs; doorways projecting from rear of church to E and W and facing S; further doorway to main hall to E elevation; panelled door; 4-pane fanlight.

12-pane, timber, sash and case windows to S elevation and hall; 3-pane, leaded windows to E and W elevations. Flat roof to church; grey slate piended roof to hall.

INTERIOR: recast 1888; simple hall with gallery to S; pulpit, panelling, pews and additional seating all of carved pine. CHANCEL AREA: raised platform with doors flanking to right and left; central pulpit and lectern; panelling to wall behind with round-arched panel behind pulpit; screens to sides of platform with carved balustrades; simple classical details throughout. Tiled baptismal font beneath moveable seating in front of chancel area. GALLERY: to rear of church (formerly to sides and rear) supported by slender stylised columns at ground; doors flanking to left and right leading to stone staircases to entrance hall; meeting room behind gallery above entrance hall. Square coffered ceiling.

Statement of Interest

Originally built as a Baptist church by the Misses Aspinal, the building was quickly sold to the United Presbyterian Church due to a shortage of members. In 1864 the Baptists of the Tabernacle Church in Leith Walk repurchased the Church and the halls for a total cost of ?1700. In 1888, during the ministry of William Tulloch, the interior was extensively altered; most significantly by the removal of the gallery from the sides of the Church.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17807140

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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