St Columba's Catholic Church, Edinburgh facts for kids

St Columba's Church is a Roman Catholic church. It is located in the Newington area of Edinburgh, Scotland.

History of St Columba's Church

Building the Church

The first stone for St Columba's Church was placed on April 23, 1889. The church officially opened its doors on November 17, 1889.

Who Designed the Church?

The church was designed by an architect named Rhoderic Cameron. He used a classic Renaissance style for the building. This style often includes grand shapes and details inspired by ancient Roman and Greek buildings.

Special Features of the Church

One cool thing about the church is its collection of statues. You can find these statues in special spaces called window niches. In 1927, Reginald Fairlie added more parts to the church. He designed the presbytery, which is where the priest lives, and a church hall.

St Columba's Church is also a special building. It is known as a Category B listed building in Scotland. This means it is important because of its history or architecture.

The Church Organ

In 1997, a large pipe organ was installed in the church. It was made by Matthew Copley. This type of organ has two manuals, which are like keyboards.

How the Parish Works

Church Groups in Edinburgh

Since 2017, Catholic churches in Edinburgh have worked together in groups. These groups are called clusters. They help churches share resources and work more closely.

St Columba's Church is part of Cluster 4. This group also includes three other churches: St Peter's, Sacred Heart, and St Mark's.

The Ordinariate Group

A special group called the Edinburgh Group of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham also meets at St Columba's. This group is for people who used to be part of the Church of England but are now Catholic. They keep some of their old traditions.

More Information

• St Columba's Church Official Website: http://www.stcolumbasrcedinburgh.org.uk/