Unchanging Story in Changing Times
For 100 years worship has been held in our congregation's "new" building. It was dedicated on 4th April 1908 and a programme of celebrations is being held throughout the coming year.
Although there had been a church in Colinton since 1095, the existing building at the end of the 19th century was no longer fit for purpose. Colinton had been an essentially rural village four miles from Edinburgh, with some industry based around the mills of the Water of Leith. But by then it had the beginnings of suburbia with more people and a new genre of people, business men from the City.
In 1906, the process was put in place to rebuild and extend the earlier 1771 church. The Architect Sydney Mitchell was appointed, the money was raised or promised and work began. What was conceived was a church built around the existing plan, but in the style of the then flowering Arts & Crafts movement.
The new building was dedicated on Saturday 4th April 1908 and has been used for Worship by the congregation of the Parish ever since. It has seen the rites of passage of the congregation, the baptisms of children (and adults), confirmations of membership in adulthood and many marriages over these almost one hundred years. That's in addition to innumerable special services marking the church's seasons, remembrance of those we have lost, thanksgiving for harvest, etc. For half of the century, it was also the main place of worship for the Army from the nearby barracks.
The building has seen many changes over the years as technology progressed, styles changed and the needs of the congregation developed. But the constant has always been the church as the meeting place for worship for the people of Colinton - an Unchanging Story in Changing Times.
What an opportunity! This important milestone needs to be recognised and to this end a programme of events celebrating our hundredth year is planned, culminating in a Grand Birthday Party and Edwardian Garden party on June 1st 2008. Just follow the links to learn more about these plans and also about the background to the new building and its construction.