Church Overview

Work began on this beautiful little suburban Edinburgh church in November 1912 and it was consecrated just over a year later in December 1913. The Romanesque church was the work of celebrated local architect John More Dick Peddie, and local stone quarried from Corstorphine was used in its construction. Much of this material has been shaped by the stonemasons in a “random rubble” fashion, with the exception of the four pillars and the archways in the crossing of the church, between chancel and nave.

The building is constructed in the form of a Greek Cross, with a chancel, and adjoining vestry, nave, and two transepts and a truncated bell tower over the crossing (funds to complete Peddie’s vision for a taller bell tower were never found). The pulpit and certain furnishings were gifted as part of a bequest by parishioner Helen Zina Blackburn in 1930 and some of the other furniture in the church was relocated from the Catholic Apostolic Church in Mansfield Place (now the Mansfield Traquair Centre) when it closed in the 1950s.

There are some large paintings by the artist William Hole. portraying scenes from the life of Christ, in the transepts and icons in the sanctuary that came from the icon workshop of the Orthodox Parish of the Dormition at Kondopoga in northern Russia, that had, at one time, some links with Holy Cross. There are also some beautifully embroidered kneelers, made by members of the congregation.

Three beautiful stained glass windows also add to the overall warmth and colour of the church. The great east window, designed by renowned artist Christopher Webb, was dedicated in October 1930, depict further scenes from the life of Christ above three roundels containing images of the Holy Cross and St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral along with St Columba and St Cuthbert. On the south wall of the nave are two bright, abstract windows, installed in 1990, by the Scottish artists Patrick Ross-Smith. When the sunlight shines through these windows on bright mornings, the nave is often bathed in the shimmering blue, red and yellow beams emanating from these delightful modern windows.

Services

Sundays at 9am and 10.30am | Wednesdays at 9.30am and 10.30am | First Friday of each month at 2pm

Opening Arrangements

Open by arrangement.

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.