Basic Site Details

Name: St Stephen's UF Church
Town, district or village: Comely Bank
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: C listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Illustration in Academy Architecture 1901, pt 1 shows unbuilt tower and manse.

EDINBURGH. - The congregation that have hitherto met in St. Stephen's United Free Church in Wemyss-place have migrated to a new building erected at Comely Bank, which was dedicated on Saturday. Situated on the corner of East Fettes-avenue and Comely Bank-road, the new church building, which is built of red sandstone, and faced inside and without, occupies a commanding position. Erected from the design of Messrs. J. N. Scott and A. Lorne Campbell, architects, Edinburgh, the building comprises, in addition to the church proper, a hall seated for 300 persons, as well as sessions-house, vestry, ladies' room, kitchen, and cloak-room accommodation. The church, which is designed in the Later Gothic style, is cruciform in plan, and is seated for 700 persons. The main entrance gives access to a vestibule; from, which the church is entered by three doors. The nave arcade is lofty, with piers, and arches of stone, and clerestory over. Throughout the windows are traceried. The ceiling of the nave is supported by timber principals, the intervening spaces between which are finished in plaster, enriched by the introduction of intersecting moulded ribs, with bosses at the intersections. A simpler treatment has been applied to the ceilings of the transepts and choir, where the. rafters have been left exposed and finished plaster work formed in between. The pulpit, choir stalls, and Communion table and chair, all of which are executed in carved oak, are special donations; while another gift, in the form of an organ, is yet to be erected under the arch formed in the west wall. Unlike many new churches, St. Stephen's opens completed in every respect, even in that of the painting and decorating, which have been carried out in a scheme of warm colours. [Building News 25 October 1901 Page 550]

Cost approximately £8,000 excluding the manse

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 2Free St Stephen's ChurchYes 
Item 2 of 2St Stephen's Free ChurchYes 

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Comely Bank RoadYes 
Item 2 of 2East Fettes AvenueYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 11900 Competition held 

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 8Edward Charles Henry MaidmanArchitect 1900 Competition design - not successful
Item 2 of 8John Bennie WilsonArchitect 1900 Competition design - not successful
Item 3 of 8Alexander Lorne CampbellArchitectA1900 Won competition to secure job
Item 4 of 8J N Scott & A Lorne Campbell (or Scott & Campbell)Architectural practiceA1900 Won competition to secure job
Item 5 of 8John Nichol ScottArchitectA1900 Won competition to secure job
Item 6 of 8David McArthyArchitectB1900 Competition design - not successful
Item 7 of 8John WatsonArchitectB1900 Competition design - not successful
Item 8 of 8McArthy & WatsonArchitectural practiceB1900 Competition design - not successful

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Academy Architecture1900 part 1 p102 (Scott & Lorne Campbell); p75 (Mcarthy & Watson design); p74 (Maidman's design)
Item 2 of 5Academy Architecture1901 part 1 p72
Item 3 of 5Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1900   578 (J B Wilson design)
Item 4 of 5RSA1900   507, 565 (Maidman's design), 522 (McArthy & Watson's design)
Item 5 of 5RSA1901   623

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder27 January 190078 page 91.
Item 2 of 3Building News25 October 1901  p550
Item 3 of 3Building News24 January 1902  p127 and illustration including plan

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild 25 January 1900
Item 2 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register48534 
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Alexander Lorne Campbell: F v18 p75 no1210 (microfilm reel 12); John Nichol Scott: F v18 p91 no1219 (microfilm reel 12)

Images

© All rights reserved.   

© All rights reserved.  

© All rights reserved.   

© All rights reserved.  

© All rights reserved. The Builder, Vol. 78, 27 January 1900, page 91. (Courtesy of Robert Hill) 

© All rights reserved. The Builder, Vol. 78, 27 January 1900, page 91. (Courtesy of Robert Hill)