   Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. 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: | | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | Free St Stephen's Church | Yes | | | St Stephen's Free Church | Yes | |
Street Addresses| The following street addresses are associated with this building: | | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Comely Bank Road | Yes | | | East Fettes Avenue | Yes | |
Events| The following date-based events are associated with this building: | | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1900 | | Competition held | |
PeopleDesign and Construction
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this building: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Academy Architecture | 1900 | | part 1 | | p102 (Scott & Lorne Campbell); p75 (Mcarthy & Watson design); p74 (Maidman's design) | | Academy Architecture | 1901 | | part 1 | | p72 | | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1900 | | | | 578 (J B Wilson design) | | RSA | 1900 | | | | 507, 565 (Maidman's design), 522 (McArthy & Watson's design) | | RSA | 1901 | | | | 623 |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this building: | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 27 January 1900 | 78 | | page 91. | | Building News | 25 October 1901 | | | p550 | | Building News | 24 January 1902 | | | p127 and illustration including plan |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this building: | | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | 25 January 1900 | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 48534 | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA 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. The Builder, Vol. 78, 27 January 1900, page 91. (Courtesy of Robert Hill) |