Holyrood Abbey Church
Encyclopedia
Holyrood Abbey Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland
in Edinburgh
, Scotland. It is based in a late-Victorian
church building on London Road, Abbeyhill
, around 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north of Holyrood Abbey
. The church building was opened in December 1900 as Abbeyhill United Free Church.
The 12th-century Holyrood Abbey served as the parish church of the Canongate
until the construction of the Kirk of the Canongate
in 1688. Following the Disruption of 1843
in the Church of Scotland, part of the congregation of the Kirk of the Canongate left to form Holyrood Free Church. A new building was constructed by them on Abbey Strand, in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In 1915 this congregation united with Abbeyhill United Free Church, henceforth using the London Road church buildings. When the United Free Church of Scotland
united with the Church of Scotland
in 1929, the London Road congregation were known thereafter as Holyrood Abbey Church.
The former Holyrood United Free Church building adjacent to the Palace was used for many years as a storeroom, but in 2003 was extensively renovated and reopened as The Queen's Gallery
, for art exhibitions from the Royal Collection
.
The Abbeyhill building was designed by R M Cameron, and is protected as a category B listed building. The building was extensively upgraded in 2006–2007.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland. It is based in a late-Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
church building on London Road, Abbeyhill
Abbeyhill
Abbeyhill is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.As with many other city suburbs, the area has varying definitions. Generally it may be taken to mean the part of town lying between Holyrood Park to the south, Meadowbank to the east; Calton Hill and Leith to the north; and the yards of...
, around 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north of Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
. The church building was opened in December 1900 as Abbeyhill United Free Church.
The 12th-century Holyrood Abbey served as the parish church of the Canongate
Canongate
The Canongate is a small district at the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.The name derives from the main street running through the area: called Canongate without the definite article, "the". Canongate forms the lower, eastern half of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's historic Old Town....
until the construction of the Kirk of the Canongate
Kirk of the Canongate
The Kirk of the Canongate, or Canongate Kirk, serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh's Old Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The parish includes the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. It is also the parish church of Edinburgh Castle, even...
in 1688. Following the Disruption of 1843
Disruption of 1843
The Disruption of 1843 was a schism within the established Church of Scotland, in which 450 ministers of the Church broke away, over the issue of the Church's relationship with the State, to form the Free Church of Scotland...
in the Church of Scotland, part of the congregation of the Kirk of the Canongate left to form Holyrood Free Church. A new building was constructed by them on Abbey Strand, in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In 1915 this congregation united with Abbeyhill United Free Church, henceforth using the London Road church buildings. When the United Free Church of Scotland
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
united with the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in 1929, the London Road congregation were known thereafter as Holyrood Abbey Church.
The former Holyrood United Free Church building adjacent to the Palace was used for many years as a storeroom, but in 2003 was extensively renovated and reopened as The Queen's Gallery
Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh
The Queen's Gallery is an art gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. It forms part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse complex. It was opened in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II, and exhibits works from the Royal Collection...
, for art exhibitions from the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
.
The Abbeyhill building was designed by R M Cameron, and is protected as a category B listed building. The building was extensively upgraded in 2006–2007.