St. Stephen's Church, Edinburgh

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St Stephen's, Edinburgh

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 lead 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 effectvely 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.