Central Church, Edinburgh
Denomination: Baptist
Address: Central Hall, 2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh, EH3 9BP
Local Authority: Edinburgh
Listing: B
Church Website
Venue Hire
Church Overview
This delightful Beaux Arts style three storey city block, with attic above and its distinctive domed circular corner tower, was built for the local Methodist congregation by the respected architectural firm of Dunn & Findlay from 1899-1901. Its parade of shops on the ground floor were designed to provide a regular rental income to support the various activities of the Methodist congregation in the grand “Central Hall” and other rooms above.
The balcony level was partitioned in 1936 by the firm of Maclennan and Cunningham and the interior still possesses significant high-end early-20th century artistic details, including striking tiling, stained glass and copper and brass fittings. By 1940, the building above street level had a seating capacity of almost 1200, a large schoolroom and 18 other meeting rooms.
In 2011. following a merger of several Edinburgh Methodist congregations, the Morningside Baptist Church (est. 1894) purchased the building, renaming it “The Central Church.” A major refurbishment was begun in 2012 and the main auditorium can now comfortably host 675 people. The congregation now gathers at the West Tolcross site, holds its regular services there and operates community events, outreach activities and a popular café in part of the building and hires out spaces and facilities elsewhere inside for meetings, conferences, concerts, weddings, exhibitions, Edinburgh Festival and Fringe events and other purposes.
Services
Most Sundays at 9.15am, 10.30am and 7pm. Last Sunday of the month sees the congregation gathering for outreach activities in communities across Edinburgh.
Opening Arrangements
Open by arrangement. Café open Mon-Tues from 10-4
Image Gallery
Click image to open gallery.
Disclaimer
The information about churches on the Scotland’s Churches Trust website has been provided by the congregations/owners or taken from the Historic Environment Scotland listings and other published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please reach out to the church directly on its own website. This information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.