Greyfriars Kirk
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Greyfriars was the first church in Edinburgh built after the Reformation and was completed in 1620.
Dr Lindsay Alexander preached then to about 1,000. There have been several internal developments, denominational and church unions in the later 1900s/early 2000s; the congregation is increasingly inclusive and progressive.
Augustine United Church, is in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Due to the topography of the area, bridges (viaducts) were built. George IV Bridge crossed a marshy, unhealthy area to the south of the spur of rock which runs down from Edinburgh Castle (Royal Mile). Once this wet area was reclaimed and developed, it became home to working people, who had earlier lived (with their animals) beneath the wealthy merchants and academics in cramped conditions on the Royal Mile.
The first church building (1802) nearby was founded by Revd John Aikman, and was under what is now the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street. Aikman, with brothers Robert and James Haldane, was a churchman, independent of the Church of Scotland, who freely preached the gospel, assisted the poor, founded Sunday Schools and churches. (Most later became Congregational.) However, Aikman’s building was ‘dark, dingy and comfortless’.
After construction of the new George IV Bridge (1832), Augustine was opened in 1861 (designed by Messrs Hay of Liverpool) Completion was not without difficulty, requiring internal reinforcements due to the weight of the hammer beam roof and slates The building has four storeys; externally it is ornate and the upper tower and spire are in the style of the Giralda tower of Seville Cathedral.
Prominent professional, wealthy classes and academics originally came to hear Dr Lindsay Alexander, first Minister in this building and a renowned orator, preaching. Two stained glass windows (by designer Robert Burns) are dedicated to Alexander and his wife, Mary. Backlighted, they are now at ground level.
The church was named after Augustine of Hippo, who Dr Alexander frequently quoted. A church organ was installed in 1863, later changed to an organ by AE Ingham in 1929; then in 1994 an electronic Bradford organ was installed. Augustine was listed a Category B building by Historic Scotland in 1970.
Ministry was, for its time, rather progressive The building nowadays accommodates Christian related organisations, hosting many community groups. Radicalism continues as the congregation engages with the wider community, is becoming increasingly inclusive, and encourages freedom of thought and progressive Christianity.