St Columba's-by-the-Castle
Encyclopedia
St Columba's-by-the-Castle is a congregation of the Scottish Episcopal Church
in central Edinburgh
, Scotland
. The church is located close to Edinburgh Castle
, on the south slope of Castle Hill, and is protected as a category B listed building.
The church was constructed in 1846–1847 in an Early English Gothic style, to designs by architect John Henderson. Stone for the building was brought from the palace of Mary of Guise
, 16th-century queen regent of Scotland, on the Royal Mile
. Its layout was inspired by the reforms of Anglican worship arising from the Oxford Movement
.
St Columba's-by-the-Castle is part of a local ecumenical partnership
(LEP) with Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
(Church of Scotland
) and Augustine United Church
(United Reformed Church
). It is also part of Edinburgh Churches Together
and Action of Churches Together in Scotland
.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
in central 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...
. The church is located close to Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
, on the south slope of Castle Hill, and is protected as a category B listed building.
The church was constructed in 1846–1847 in an Early English Gothic style, to designs by architect John Henderson. Stone for the building was brought from the palace of Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
, 16th-century queen regent of Scotland, on the Royal Mile
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland.As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle...
. Its layout was inspired by the reforms of Anglican worship arising from the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
.
St Columba's-by-the-Castle is part of a local ecumenical partnership
Local ecumenical partnership
In England and Wales, a local ecumenical partnership is a partnership between churches of different denominations. First piloted in 1964, over 850 now exist to promote unity between different Christian denominations....
(LEP) with Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
Greyfriars Kirk
Greyfriars Kirk, today Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk, is a parish kirk of the Church of Scotland in central Edinburgh, Scotland...
(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....
) and Augustine United Church
Augustine United Church
Augustine United Church in Edinburgh, Scotland is part of the United Reformed Church and is part of a local ecumenical partnership with St Columba's-by-the-Castle and Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk ....
(United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
). It is also part of Edinburgh Churches Together
Edinburgh Churches Together
Edinburgh Churches Together brings together Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal Church, the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, Religious Society of Friends and the United Reformed Church....
and Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Action of Churches Together in Scotland is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. It is the successor to the former Scottish Council of Churches...
.