The history of Old Saint Paul’s is a fascinating one. It’s one of the most historic churches in Edinburgh. In the heart of the Old Town, the church stands as a testament to the strength of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a faith that thrived in the face of persecution and conflict.
Old Saint Paul’s is a story of resilience, a congregation that survived the turbulent history of Scotland – a story that began with a group of Episcopalians who broke away from the more established St Giles’ Cathedral. As the last bishop at St Giles’, Alexander Rose, found himself unable to accept the governance of the newly established Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1689, he left the Cathedral, many of his followers at his side.
A breakaway group founded a new church, Old Saint Paul’s, in an unlikely location – a wool store. This was no ordinary chapel tucked away in Carrubber’s Close, but the birth of a faith that would become a beacon of hope and resilience for the Episcopalians in the heart of Edinburgh. The story of Old St Paul’s is intertwined with the Jacobite Risings. The congregation was deeply involved in the Jacobite struggle, supporting James Stuart and his descendants. They played an active role in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745 and members of the congregation brought news of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s victory at Prestonpans to Edinburgh, shutting the town gates against the Hanoverian army. This faith community, known as ‘Piskies’, was not only brave but also creative, navigating oppressive laws and restrictions to continue their worship.
The current building you see today was built in 1883, designed by Hay and Henderson in the Early English style. Much later, over a century after its founding, the church was renamed Old St Paul’s in 1884 to distinguish it from another church with the same name. Today, its high altar, with its seven lamps, represents the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The reredos, designed by Hay and Henderson, tells the story of the crucifixion, with St Paul and St Columba flanking Christ. The Martyrs’ Cross, a small iron cross housed in the chapel, evokes a somber past – a reminder of the last object condemned criminals would see before execution. The church also houses a painting by Alison Watt, a celebrated Scottish artist, in the Memorial Chapel built in 1926 to commemorate those who lost their lives in the First World War.
The history of Old St Paul’s is a fascinating one, blending faith, resilience, and the tumultuous events that shaped Scotland. It’s a story of a congregation that stood firm against adversity, a church that became a haven of hope and faith in the heart of Edinburgh. And as you stand in the presence of this church, a tangible connection to the past echoes through its walls.