Gazing upon St Mark’s reveals a story of resilience. It is a testament to faith in the heart of Edinburgh. St Mark’s, an Episcopal church, rose from the shadows of the Penal Laws. These laws followed the Jacobite risings of the 18th century.
St Mark’s stands proudly surrounded by its graveyard. Burials still take place here. Ashes find their final resting place in this consecrated ground. The graveyard whispers stories of generations past.
The building itself is a sight to behold. It boasts a Category B listing. The Neo Classical design resembles a villa. A semi-circular Doric arched porch commands attention. Atop it sits a flat-topped dome. This dome cleverly conceals a cupola lantern. It bathes the inner vestibule and stairwell with light.
Colonel and Mrs Robert Haliburton along with Mr and Mrs James Rutherford funded the original chapel. Builder Robert Gray constructed it swiftly. They leased the land from the Marquis of Abercorn in 1825. St Mark’s opened its doors on May 19 1826. Bishop Sandford consecrated it on August 21 1828.
Initially the church had a square layout. It was designed for Episcopalian worship. The nave included balconies on three sides. These balconies offered a unique vantage point.
In 1892, Hay & Henderson altered St Mark’s. The side galleries vanished. The ceiling gained reinforcement. A chancel was added to the south. The north facade windows transformed from sash to Venetian style.
In 1919, a Lady Chapel honored the 48 congregants lost in the Great War. It featured an altar with a white marble slab. Black pillars supported it. A tabernacle for the Reserved Sacrament stood above. A simple oak reredos stood behind the chapel. Members of the congregation carved the oak screen’s panels.
Tragedy struck in 1967. A fire erupted in the boiler room. It devoured the floor at the church’s rear. The altar candles reportedly melted from the heat. The Lady Chapel was then removed.
Changes followed the fire. The altar was moved forward in the chancel. The floor was leveled. Altar rails were relocated. The pulpit was replaced with two lecterns.
In the basement, a vestry and stone-lined chapel emerged. Alex and Ian Miller, congregants, spearheaded the work. The Crypt Chapel hosts Thursday morning eucharist during winter.
A meeting room, kitchen, and accessible toilet were added in 1990. The Tom Muirhead Room also took shape in the basement. Campbell & Arnott served as architects.
Ballantine & Sons crafted the pictorial stained glass windows in 1882. They adorn the east and west of the nave. Renaissance borders characterize their style. One depicts the Good Samaritan. The other shows David and Jonathan’s bond.
The stained glass above the altar was a 1919 gift. It portrays Christ crucified with Mary and St John. It replaced an 1872 window. This earlier window moved to the nave’s back. It is believed the fire destroyed it later.
David Hamilton of Edinburgh built the organ in 1828. It originally resided in the rear gallery. Ingram of Edinburgh moved it to the chancel in 1899. Ronald Smith replaced the water-powered mechanism with an electric motor in 1972. In 2007, the organ was replaced with a Wyvern digital organ.
The sacristy lamp memorializes F/SGT Hamish Ian Sandison. He died in an air accident in 1946 with nine crew members. His war grave lies in the churchyard.
The side altar from St Andrews Church, Niddrie arrived in 1903. A plaque honors the 65 congregants who perished in the World Wars.
Essential external repairs concluded in 2006. The landmark dome returned to its original splendor. It had been covered in asphalt for five decades. The Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland supported the project.
St Mark’s stands as a beacon of history and faith. Its walls echo with stories of survival and community. Its beauty is a testament to enduring spirit.