How about a tale of faith, resilience, and community spirit? It all began with a simple desire. Granton Baptist Church started with women wanting a Sunday School.
Granton Baptist Church stands as a testament to the enduring power of community and faith. Its origins trace back to 1939. The District Women’s Auxiliary planted the seeds. They saw a growing population with many young families. They wrote to the Baptist Union for help starting a Sunday School and a Women’s Meeting. The Baptist Union readily agreed. They saw Granton and Pilton as prime areas for outreach. A small group eagerly organized the building of a church.
Edinburgh Corporation had sites earmarked for churches. Granton Baptist Church obtained one of these sites. It wasn’t the one originally identified. Before the church even existed, a congregation began to form. They met in homes and other locations. A Building Fund was created to finance the new church. Donations and gifts poured in.
Marshall Street Baptist Church contributed to the fund. This church closed in 1943. The contribution came from the sale of their building. Rev Francis Johnstone founded that church. Granton Baptist Church was briefly known as ‘Francis Johnstone Memorial’. World War I memorial windows from Marshall Street are now in Granton Baptist Church.
The church opened as the ‘New Baptist Church Hall’ on May 4, 1940. It was on the site of the present church in Crewe Road Gardens. The hall was a wooden hut. It may have been a henhouse originally. Peter Bryan, the first minister, was inducted on December 14, 1940.
The new church’s construction cost £12,000. It was largely covered by the sale of Marshall Street Baptist Church. The church was a memorial to Rev Francis Johnstone. A tablet from Marshall Street Church commemorates him. The new building opened on December 20, 1952. The stained-glass windows memorialize those from Marshall Street Church. They died in World War I. The new church seated about 250 people. There was also a separate hall. There were boiler house problems. The new building was next to ‘The Hut’, rotated by 90 degrees.
A manse was purchased in Grigor Gardens in 1958. By 1961, ‘The Hut’ had outlived its purpose. A new hall was needed. A Hall fund was started. January 1971 marked an emotional farewell to “The Hut.” It was demolished. A new hall was developed. It opened on March 24, 1972. This building served the church for twenty years. A bigger hall holding 350 seats was built. It still stands today.
Construction of the present church began in 1991. The building opened in 1992. It cost £375,000. The present church building was dedicated on October 10, 1992.
The 1952 building was named McCallum Hall. The 1972 addition was named Barnes Hall. Both were named after former pastors.
In the late 1940s, the church had Lifeboys. It also had a Young Worshippers League and the Band of Hope for children. The women of the church sent gifts to church members serving in the forces during World War II. The everyman’s meeting had a cricket club. They initially played at Silverknowes. Later, they played in West Pilton Circus.
In 1989, the church conducted a ‘Pilton for Christ’ campaign. It was in West Pilton Park. They worked with the Old Kirk at West Pilton. They also collaborated with the West Pilton Christian Centre and the Scripture Union.
Over the years, the women of the congregation ran the church. They kept everything clean. They provided events to raise funds. They arranged functions and events for the Manse Fund, Building Fund, and Missionary Fund. Pastors have come and gone. Each one played a part in the church’s growth. The members were faithful and committed. Mrs Ena Hall was the church organist from 1941 to 1980.
Today, Granton Baptist Church continues to serve its community. It offers social and spiritual groups for all ages. The church extends a warm welcome to all. So, as you stand here, remember the story of Granton Baptist Church. It is a story of faith, community, and enduring spirit.