Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Leslie Grahame Thomson, 1937-38. Cruciform plan Church of Scotland Church in Scottish Arts and Crafts tradition. Tower projects to S at W end of nave; semicircular apse at E end. Gables swept at eaves. Parabolic and depressed arched openings; main entrances with deep splayed reveals. Slightly rock-faced irregular coursed pink Craigmillar sandstone with contrasting darker pink rock-faced sandstone dressings. Long and short dressings to most openings; stone eaves course.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 2 semicircular-plan steps, up to central entrance with depressed arch and deep splayed reveals; 2-leaf timber door with applied metal fretwork motifs incorporating various Christian symbols. Parabolic-arched window above; arrowhead opening at apex of gable. Tower set back to right makes composition asymmetrical.

TOWER: 3 stages; 2 semicircular-plan steps, up to entrance with depressed arch to S side; 2-leaf timber door with applied metal fretwork motifs. Single parabolic-arched window on alternate levels to E and W sides; top stage corbelled out slightly; single parabolic arched louvred dormer window with curved coped gable head to each side. Boldly projecting eaves; piended ogee roof surmounted by lead cross with bi-directional arms.

NAVE: 6 bays; 2 westernmost to S side occupied by tower; otherwise divided by short coped butresses and with single parabolic arched window (apart from that to W of N side, which has entrance with depressed arch).

TRANSEPTS: both are single bay deep with parabolic-arched window and outer butress to Wside; parabolic-arched window to each gable end (that to N gable has depressed-arched entrance to left); arrowhead opening above. S transept has small extension projecting forward to right of gable end: depressed arched entrance with pair of 2-light mullion windows to right to W side; pair of mullion windows to E side; S transept adjoins part of late 20th century brick hall (built to replace 1959 structure).

APSE: semicircular- plan with central parabolic-arched window. Steps down to small cellar below.

Multi-pane leaded windows to main body of church; some with pivot-opening sections; stained glass windows along S side of nave and to S transept. Graded grey slate roof; single tall coped wallhead stack to E side of N transept.

INTERIOR: open-hall nave with parabolic arched roof rendered with stippled plasterwork and lit by row of circular lights along apex. Stained glass windows to apse and S side of church from 1950's and 60's by William Wilson and Abbey Studios. Original fixed lectern and font both with decorative plaster panels.

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such. Fine example of interwar church architecture with striking parabolic arches inside; remarkably similar to John F Matthew?s slightly earlier parish church at Granton (1936).

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.