Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details Name: | Barclay Church | Town, district or village: | Bruntsfield | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | Clerk of Works: Alex Tod. Sculptor: Pearce. Cost: £8,000.
Re-seating and alterations in 1880 EDINBURGH.—The Barclay Free Church was reopened on Sunday after internal renovation and alterations. The whole of the seats in the area, which formerly had an upward slope to the pulpit, have been placed upon a level floor, and a new choir seat constructed. The pulpit has been lowered, and reconstructed of Caen stone, ornately panelled, while the reredos at the back of it has been considerably enlarged. The elders' seat below the pulpit is now separated from the area pews by a carved rail of pitch-pine, with quatrefoil ornamentation. The heating and ventilating arrangements have also been overhauled. Instead of hot air, the church is now to be heated with hot-water pipes—4,400 feet of which have been introduced, chiefly in coils in the passages and corridors. Fresh air will be introduced into the building through a system of pipes capable of regulation, the vitiated air being carried off into the tower. This part of the work has been effected under the direction of Dr Russel and Dr Smart. The other alterations have been carried out from plans by Mr Pilkington, the architect of the building. The cost has been over £500. [Building News 1 October 1880 p398]
Cost of spire reconstruction £38,000 | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | Barclay Bruntsfield Church | Yes | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Church | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | Barclay Terrace | Yes | |  | 1, Wright's Houses | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1861 | | | Competition held for church |  | October 1861 | | | Premium awarded to winner |  | 1862 | | Design exhibited | Competition design (MacGibbon) |  | 1862 | | | Building work commenced |  | 1863 | | Design exhibited | Pilkington design exhibited; also Campbell Douglas & Stevenson design exhibited |  | 23 August 1864 | | | Topping out ceremony held |  | 29 December 1864 | | | First service held |  | 1880 | | | Church reseated |  | 1891 | | | Church halls |  | 1896 | | | Organ case |  | 1966 | 1969 | Repair | |  | 1976 | | Reconstruction | Spire reconstruction |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes |  | Barclay Bruntsfield Congregational Board | Cleint for spire reconstruction |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Allen, Nic (ed.) | | Scottish Architects in Conservation | | | P127 |  | Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M | 1984 | Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd | p255 |  | Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts | 1863 | | | | 700 (Campbell Douglas & Stevenson) |  | Leitch, Rev Graham | | 'Rhinoceroses and giraffes': an architectural guide to Barclay Church, Edinburgh | | | |  | RIBA | 1980 | Directory of Practices 1980 | | | |  | RSA | 1862 | | | | 690 |  | RSA | 1863 | | | | 333, 713. Also 785 Campbell Douglas design (1st prize)785 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 5 July 1862 | XX | | |  | Builder | 2 May 1891 | LX | | Halls |  | Building News | 20 September 1864 | | | |  | Building News | 1 October 1880 | | | For reseating by Pilkington |  | Edinburgh Evening Courant | 30 December 1864 | | | |  | Scotsman | 17 February 1865 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 26720 | |
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