St Patrick's Church, Edinburgh

Last updated

St Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's RC Church, Cowgate.JPG
Location map United Kingdom Edinburgh Central.png
Red pog.svg
St Patrick's Church
Location in Edinburgh
55°56′59″N3°11′05″W / 55.9498°N 3.1846°W / 55.9498; -3.1846
Location Old Town, Edinburgh
CountryUnited Kingdom
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website StPatricksParish.co.uk
History
Status Parish church
Dedication Saint Patrick
EventsFacade added in 1929
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationCategory B listed
Designated14 December 1970 [1]
Architect(s) John Baxter, James Graham Fairley and Reginald Fairlie
Style Neoclassical
Groundbreaking 1772
Completed1774
Construction cost£4,000
Administration
Province St Andrews and Edinburgh
Archdiocese St Andrews and Edinburgh
Deanery St Giles [2]

St Patrick's Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in the Cowgate part of Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built from 1771 to 1774, and became a Catholic church in 1856. The facade of the church was designed by Reginald Fairlie in 1929. It is situated between South Gray's Close and St Mary's Street north of Cowgate and south of the Royal Mile. It is a category B listed building. [3]

Contents

History

Interior St Patrick's Church interior - geograph.org.uk - 1339713.jpg
Interior

Before the Church

The first records of the site are property deeds from 1503 to 1531 when it was a waste strip of land. When Archbishop James Beaton built his palace a short distance west of the church in 1509, he also purchased much of this waste land. Later Mary Queen of Scots’ Italian servant Francisco de Busso owned part of it.

The north part of the church sites was owned, in the late 16th to early 17th centuries, by Dr John Naysmith, surgeon to James VI. The judge Sir James Elphinstone of Logie built ‘Elphinstone Court’ here in the 1670s. The Episcopal Congregation then bought most of the land in 1770 for the construction of the Cowgate Chapel which was built in 1771. [4] [5]

Construction

Designed by John Baxter, the original church was built from June 1772 to 1774 as a place of worship for the Scottish Episcopal Church. In 1818, the church building became part of the United Presbyterian Church. The Scottish Episcopal Church commissioned Alexander Runciman to produce a series of murals for the church. These were installed but covered over by the Presbyterian congregation. The murals were then forgotten until Duncan Macmillan discovered the murals' existence during the 1960s. [6] Since then, some of the murals have been recovered and remain on the east side of the apse and depict the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Elijah, Moses, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, and the Ascension of Jesus. [1] As of August 2018, the restoration of the murals remains underway. [6]

In 1856, the church was bought by the Apostolic Vicar of the Eastern District, Bishop James Gillis. The cost of £4,000 was borne half by the local congregation and half by the Catholic Church. On 3 August 1856, the church was opened in a Mass presided over by Bishop Gillis. [7]

Extensions

In 1898, the sanctuary for the church was remodelled and a new high altar was installed. It was designed by James Graham Fairley. [8] In 1921, the mortuary chapel was built in memory of the parishioners who died in World War I. From 1924 to 1925, two chapels were built in the church, the Lady Chapel and the Sacred Heart Chapel. In 1929, the front church facade was built. It was designed by Reginald Fairlie and included statues of St Patrick and St Brigid. [1]

Developments

In 2001, priests from the Redemptorists came to serve the parish. On 21 November 2014, after 13 years in Edinburgh, the Redemptorists left and the parish returned to the care of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. [9]

In September 2023, the church became home to a group of priests discerning community life in the Oratorian tradition.

Archaeology

Excavations in the grounds of the Church, were undertaken by Headland Archaeology from 2006 to 2007 on behalf of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh in advance of the construction of a hotel on part of the church grounds. These excavations reveled aspects of the development of the Cowgate.

It was found that flash floods swept through this part of Cowgate up until the development of the medieval town of Edinburgh in the 11th-12th centuries. In the 14th century, a substantial ditch, believed to be the medieval town boundary, was cut across the site. The ditch was a stinking rubbish dump full of human and animal waste. Later, the ditch was filled in and buildings were eventual built over the site in the 17th century onwards before the church was built. [4]

Notable persons

Parish

On 6 August 1875, Hibernian F.C. was founded at the Catholic Institute, commonly known as St. Mary's Street Halls, by St Patrick's Catholic Young Men Society (CYMS). The parish priest Fr Edward Joseph Hannan and Michael Whelahan from the parish's CYMS decided to create the football club. On 17 March 2013 (St Patrick's Day), a plaque commemorating this founding of the club was presented to the church by the Hibernian Supporters Club. [10]

The church has three Sunday Masses; they are at 9:00am, 11:00am and 4:30pm on Sunday. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowgate</span> Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 550 yards (500 m) southeast of Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street is part of the lower level of Edinburgh's Old Town, which lies below the elevated streets of South Bridge and George IV Bridge. It meets the Grassmarket at its west end and Holyrood Road to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark</span> Catholic archdiocese in England

The Archdiocese of Southwark is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in England. It is led by the Archbishop of Southwark. The archdiocese is part of the Metropolitan Province of Southwark, which covers the South of England. The Southwark archdiocese also makes up part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Catholic)</span> Church in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, also known as St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and the mother church of Scots Catholicism. The cathedral church is located at the East End of New Town in the city center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Paul's and St George's Church</span> Church in Edinburgh, Scotland

St Paul's and St George's Church is an evangelical church of the Scottish Episcopal Church in central Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located on the corner of Broughton Street and York Place in the east end of Edinburgh's New Town, and is protected as a category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church (St. Louis)</span>

St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock" Catholic Church is an historic Black Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1867. It is associated with the Redemptorist Order.

Hibernian Park was the home ground of the Scottish football club Hibernian from 1880 until the club's dissolution in 1891. When the club was reformed in 1892, the club took out on a lease on a site which became known as Easter Road. Hibernian Park was also located in the Easter Road area; in fact, it was closer to Easter Road itself than the present stadium because it was on the site of what is now Bothwell Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald Fairlie</span> Scottish architect (1883–1952)

Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie LLD was a Scottish architect. He served as a commissioner of RCAHMS and on the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Patrick's Church (Quebec City)</span> Church in Quebec City, Quebec

St. Patrick's Church is the only English-speaking parish in the Archdiocese of Quebec, located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1832, the parish has occupied several different buildings as the population of English-speaking Catholics, primarily Irish, in Quebec City grew or declined.

The University of St Andrews Catholic Chaplaincy, known as Canmore, houses the Chaplaincy to Catholics at the University of St Andrews. The current chaplain is the Reverend Father Michael John Galbraith, who is also the Parish Priest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Robson</span>

Stephen Robson is the retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld. From 2012 to 2014 he was auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillis Centre</span> Church in Edinburgh, UK

Gillis Centre, formerly Gillis College and founded as St Margaret's Convent and School, is a complex of buildings situated close to the city centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. The history of the site can be traced back to the 15th century. The original building housed many literary figures of the eighteenth century, from 1834 it served as a convent and from 1986 to 1993 it was Gillis College, the seminary for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. It currently provides offices for the Curia of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church architecture in Scotland</span>

Church architecture in Scotland incorporates all church building within the modern borders of Scotland, from the earliest Christian structures in the sixth century until the present day. The early Christian churches for which there is evidence are basic masonry-built constructions on the west coast and islands. As Christianity spread, local churches tended to remain much simpler than their English counterparts. By the eighth century more sophisticated ashlar block-built buildings began to be constructed. From the eleventh century, there were larger and more ornate Romanesque buildings, as with Dunfermline Abbey and St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney. From the twelfth century the introduction of new monastic orders led to a boom in ecclesiastical building, often using English and Continental forms. From the thirteenth century elements of the European Gothic style began to appear in Scotland, culminating in buildings such as Glasgow Cathedral and the rebuilt Melrose Abbey. Renaissance influences can be seen in a move to a low-massive style that was probably influenced by contacts with Italy and the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacred Heart, Edinburgh</span> Catholic church in Edinburgh Scotland

Sacred Heart, Edinburgh, formally known as the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a Roman Catholic church run by the Society of Jesus, close to the city centre of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is situated in Lauriston, midway between the Grassmarket and Tollcross, on the edge of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. The church building was opened in 1860 and is a category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Joseph Hannan</span>

Canon Edward Joseph Hannan (1836–1891) was an Irish-born priest, mainly remembered as the founder of Hibernian Football Club in Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Edinburgh</span> Church in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

St Peter's Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in the Morningside district of Edinburgh, Scotland, within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, Leith</span> Church in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

St Mary Star of the Sea (Leith) Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated on Constitution Street in the Leith district and staffed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Joseph's Church, Edinburgh</span> Church in Broomhouse, Edinburgh

St Joseph's Church, Sighthill,, is a Roman Catholic church situated in Broomhouse, in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The parish boundary extends to Broomhouse, Parkhead, Saughton, Sighthill, Gorgie and further.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Monastery, Kinnoull</span> Monastery in Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland

St Mary's Monastery is an ecumenical Christian spirituality and retreat centre in Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland. It was built in 1868 by the Redemptorists. Until 1971, it also served as a novitiate for the Redemptorists. In 1870, the church and shrine, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, was built within the grounds. It is located on Hatton Road, to the east of Kinnoull, on the edge of Kinnoull Hill, overlooking the city of Perth. The building has been registered as a category B listed building by Historic Environment Scotland, and was the first Roman Catholic monastery established in Scotland since the Reformation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, Liverpool</span> Church in Liverpool, United Kingdom

Our Lady of the Annunciation Church is a Catholic parish church next to Bishop Eton Monastery in Childwall, Liverpool. It was built from 1857 to 1858 by the Redemptorists and was designed by E. W. Pugin. It is on the Woolton Road, opposite the Hope Park campus of Liverpool Hope University and close to Our Lady's Bishop Eton Primary School. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Albert's Catholic Chaplaincy, Edinburgh</span> Church in Edinburgh, Scotland

St Albert's Catholic Chaplaincy is the Roman Catholic chaplaincy for the University of Edinburgh. It started in 1931, when the Dominican Order moved into the house. It is located at 23 and 24 George Square, south of the city centre, and north of The Meadows. The original building is category A listed and the chapel, built in 2012, won an award for architectural excellence from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

References

  1. 1 2 3 5 South Gray's Close, St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Edinburgh from British Listed Buildings, retrieved 30 June 2016
  2. 1 2 Parishes from Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, retrieved 30 June 2016
  3. Edinburgh, Cowgate, St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church from Canmore, retrieved 30 June 2016
  4. 1 2 "Vol 42 (2011): Through the Cowgatelife in 15th-century Edinburgh as revealed by excavations at St Patrick's Church | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  5. Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.277
  6. 1 2 Miller, Phil (3 August 2018). "Hidden for 200 years: a unique Scottish artwork is being uncovered in an Edinburgh church". The Herald . Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  7. The Church from StPatricksParish.co.uk, retrieved 30 June 2016
  8. James Graham Fairley from Dictionary of Scottish Architects, retrieved 30 May 2021
  9. 13 years in Edinburgh came to an end from Redemptorists.co.uk, 3 January 2015, retrieved 9 March 2021
  10. Hibs’ Fans Present Plaque to St Patrick’s Parish Church from The Edinburgh Reporter, 18 March 2013, retrieved 30 June 2016