Whispers of history linger here at the Gillis Centre. This unassuming building holds centuries of stories. From its origins as Whitehouse a 15th-century dwelling it hosted prominent literary figures. Principal Robertson penned his History and Reign of Charles V within these very walls. John Home crafted his tragedy Douglas here. Even Hugh Blair wrote his Lectures within these rooms.
The Gillis Centre wasn’t always a conference center. In 1834 it transformed into St Margaret’s Convent. This marked the first post-Reformation convent in Scotland. Bishop James Gillis himself oversaw its establishment. Eleven sisters including Ann Agnes Trail and Margaret Clapperton formed the initial community. They arrived from Chavagnes France the Mother House of the Ursulines. The convent educated young women. It thrived for over 150 years.
The beautiful chapel designed by James Gillespie Graham with influence from A W N Pugin opened in 1835. Archibald Macpherson added to it later. It’s a Category A listed building. That means it’s of national or international importance. The convent buildings themselves were designed by the same architects along with E W Pugin. The chapel housed a relic of St Margaret of Scotland for years. It was later moved to St Margaret’s Memorial Church in Dunfermline.
St Margaret’s Convent later became Gillis College in 1986. It served as the seminary for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Seminarians came from across the Province of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Sadly it closed in 1993. Students then went to Scotus College in Bearsden.
Today the Gillis Centre stands as a testament to its varied past. It houses diocesan offices a theological library. It also hosts conferences and provides accommodation. St Mary’s University even uses it for postgraduate courses. The Gillis Centre’s story is one of transformation and resilience a vibrant chapter in Edinburgh’s rich history. The echoes of nuns scholars and priests still resonate within its walls.