St. Stephen's Church, Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
Saint Stephen's Church is located in the New Town
of Edinburgh
, Scotland
, at the bottom of Saint Vincent Street. It was built in 1827-1828, to a design by architect William Henry Playfair
(1789–1857).
The first minister of the church was Dr William Muir, who opened an evening school in the large vaulted cellars of the church for the education of the illiterate.
The interior was altered in 1956, the congregation having declined. A major fundraising effort was organised led by the then Minister, the Rev A. Ian Dunlop. This was one of the first subdivisions of major buildings in Edinburgh, with the reconstructed church occupying effectively the gallery level accessed by the main staircase from Howe Street, and a number of halls (including a main hall with fully fitted stage etc) and meeting rooms formed below. These halls have over the years hosted a number of events including Festival Fringe shows. During the reconstruction the church fittings by architect David Rhind
(1808–1883) were kept, as was the organ by Willis
, which was re-built on the "gallery" level.
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
of 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
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, at the bottom of Saint Vincent Street. It was built in 1827-1828, to a design by architect William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
(1789–1857).
The first minister of the church was Dr William Muir, who opened an evening school in the large vaulted cellars of the church for the education of the illiterate.
The interior was altered in 1956, the congregation having declined. A major fundraising effort was organised led by the then Minister, the Rev A. Ian Dunlop. This was one of the first subdivisions of major buildings in Edinburgh, with the reconstructed church occupying effectively the gallery level accessed by the main staircase from Howe Street, and a number of halls (including a main hall with fully fitted stage etc) and meeting rooms formed below. These halls have over the years hosted a number of events including Festival Fringe shows. During the reconstruction the church fittings by architect David Rhind
David Rhind
David Rhind was a Scottish architect, born in Edinburgh in 1808 to parents John Rhind and his wife Marion Anderson. David Rhind was married twice, to Emily Shoubridge in 1840, then Mary Jane Sackville-Pearson in 1845...
(1808–1883) were kept, as was the organ by Willis
Henry Willis & Sons
thumb|250px|St Bees Priory organ, the last major instrument to be personally supervised by "Father" Henry Willis, 1899Henry Willis & Sons is a British firm of pipe organ builders founded in 1845 in Liverpool. Although most of their installations have been in the UK, examples can be found in other...
, which was re-built on the "gallery" level.