Church Overview

As Edinburgh expanded in the late 19th century the numbers of “mission churches” in the city grew substantially, built by different denominations to service the needs of the various new and emerging neighbourhood communities. James Augustine Smith, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, was asked by residents in the north west of the city to provide a new Roman Catholic church to serve their spiritual needs, so the archdiocese bought “Edgehill”, a substantial house and grounds on Ravelston Terrace. The building was refurbished and Archbishop Smith celebrated the first mass in what had once been the house’s dining room on St Andrew’s Day 1901.

The new parish priest, Father Hugh P Considine, and his congregation then set about building their new church in its grounds. Unlike many of the contemporary “tin tabernacles” built as mission churches during this time, St Andrew’s was constructed almost entirely of wood, in an unmistakable Arts & Crafts style. The 600 seater church, with its bright red roof and ridge tiles, was built for a total cost of £850 and it hosted its first service on Sunday 27th April 1902. It was intended as a temporary structure, while further funds were raised to build a stone church, but such was the quality of the workmanship of those that built it, this charming little church has remained in use ever since.

Its timber-lined interior possesses some typically Arts and Crafts wrought iron light fittings and a grand open queenpost roof held aloft on decorated wooden columns. There is a 17th century German polychromed statue of The Madonna and Child positioned to left of its west window. This window also contains a central panel of stained glass created and installed by its artist Felix McCulloch in 1960. The church’s original carved oak altarpiece and war memorial sit near the main entrance. There is also a shrine dedicated to Our Lady in the garden outside.

The parish of St Andrew’s Ravelston was canonically merged with St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in 2018. 

Services

Sundays at 10.30am and 12pm (Latin Tridentine Mass) – Mondays to Fridays at 6pm

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.