Before us stands St Davids Broomhouse Church a testament to faith and community. Its story begins not in grand architecture but in a humble wooden hut. This wasn’t always a church. In 1957 a small congregation worshipped in a simple structure on Broomhouse Bank. This was before the official founding of St Davids. This wooden hut became affectionately known as “the Old Hut”. It served as a spiritual home until something bigger was built.
The Church of Scotland saw a need for a dedicated church in Broomhouse. A new site was acquired in 1959. The land? It was once home to the old Saughton farmhouse. A significant change in location and status. The building of the new St Davids Broomhouse Church was an act of faith and community effort. The foundation stone was laid in 1963. Finally the new church and halls were dedicated in 1965. A momentous occasion for the Broomhouse community.
Initially part of St Nicolas Sighthill parish St Davids Broomhouse became independent in 1957. This happened after Edinburgh Presbytery agreed both Sighthill and Broomhouse deserved their own church.The congregation merged with St David’s Morrison Street in 1961. This merger was a short-lived event though. The church continued to thrive serving as a vital centre for worship and community life. Sadly by 2024 it had closed its doors. This was part of a larger restructuring within the Church of Scotland. A sad end to a story of resilience and growth.
St Davids Broomhouse Church is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a narrative of adaptation transformation and the enduring power of faith. It shows a journey from a simple wooden hut to a dedicated place of worship. A place that served a community for many years. A place still remembered.