Basic Site Details

Name: St Andrew's Parish Church
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Location for the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843.

Original drawing for spire in private collection of Howard Colvin.

Frazer's design for an oval church with a Corinthian portico and a small tower and cupola was illustrated in the Scots Magazine, March 1781.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1St Andrew and St George ChurchYes 

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1George StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 101781 Competition results announced 
Item 2 of 1021 March 1781 Foundation stone 
Item 3 of 1017821785Build/construction 
Item 4 of 101787 Alterations and additionsSteeple built by Alexander Stevens. Supposedly designed by William Sibbald. However the steeple figures in a portrait of Frazer attributed to Alexander Nasmyth now at Houghton House, Norfolk and he may have been involved in the design.
Item 5 of 10After 1843  Drawings of proposed porches to east and west
Item 6 of 10After 192Before 194 Sketch plan of stairs of St Andrew's Church, George Street
Item 7 of 101953 Alterations and additionsAlterations to pulpit, redecoration and plaster ornament in vestibule.
Item 8 of 101973 Plans drawn upProposals Commissioned
Item 9 of 101976 Alteration/conversionConversion of cellar to undercroft
Item 10 of 101984 RestorationAlso design some furniture - by Jimmy Shepherd

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 11Robert Kay B1781 Competition design - not successful but Frazer gave him the prize money because he thought highly of the design.
Item 2 of 11Andrew Frazer (Major) or Andrew Fraser (Major) A17821785Frazer generously relinquished his prize for winning this competition in favour of a drawing master, Robert Kay whose design had been commended.
Item 3 of 11William Sibbald G1785 Received premium of 10 guineas for the best design of the steeple to be added to church.
Item 4 of 11Alexander Stevens senior H1787 Steeple built to design by Stevens
Item 5 of 11William Notman  After 1843 Drawings of proposed porches to east and west possibly by Notman
Item 6 of 11Thomas McCrae KAfter 192Before 194Sketch plan of stairs of St Andrew's Church, George Street - date unknown
Item 7 of 11Alexander Esmé Gordon (or Esmé Gordon) E1953 Alterations to pulpit, redecoration and plaster ornament in vestibule.
Item 8 of 11Ian McKerron Begg F19731976Conversion of cellar to undercroft
Item 9 of 11Robert Hurd & Partners (or R A Hurd & Partners) F19731976Conversion of cellar to undercroft
Item 10 of 11James ('Jimmy') Hunter Shepherd C1984 Restoration. Job architect and partner in charge. Designed some furniture for the church as well.
Item 11 of 11Robert Hurd & Partners (or R A Hurd & Partners) D1984 Restoration

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p55
Item 2 of 5Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp274
Item 3 of 5Hay, George1957The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843 Oxford: Clarendon Press 
Item 4 of 5St Andrews Church1884Notes on the History of St Andrew's Church, Edinburgh Edinburgh 
Item 5 of 5Youngson, A J1966The Making of Classical Edinburgh Edinburgh University Presspp82-5

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Caledonian Mercury21 March 1781   
Item 2 of 4Scots Magazine1 March 1781  p119
Item 3 of 4Scots Magazine4200s  p225
Item 4 of 4Scotsman25 October 1991  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Town Council Minutes1785-1787Also account of Hugh Buchan for building the church.
Item 2 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection EDD/195/8 (McCrae drawing)
Item 3 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNotman Collection Drawings Roll 24