St John's, Edinburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church |
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| The Parish Church of Saint John the Evangelist | |
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| Location | 1A Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2AB |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Website | Website of the church |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Dedicated | 19 March 1818 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | William Burn |
| Architectural type | Neo-gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1816 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Edinburgh |
The Church of St John the Evangelist is a Scottish Episcopal church. It is located in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. You can find it at the west end of Princes Street, where it meets Lothian Road. This church is very important and is protected as a category A listed building.
Contents
Building St John's Church
The church was officially named St John's Chapel on Maundy Thursday in 1818. Its construction started in 1816. The architect who designed it was William Burn. He was only 25 years old when he created the plans for this beautiful building.
How the Church Began
The church's community started in 1792. This was when Daniel Sandford came to Edinburgh. He wanted to lead services similar to those in the Church of England. In 1797, the group moved to Charlotte Chapel. This chapel was rebuilt to be larger in 1811.
To pay for a new church, they sold shares. A banker named Sir William Forbes was a key supporter. After the new church was planned, Charlotte Chapel was sold to another church group.
Important Leaders and Changes
Edward Bannerman Ramsay joined St John's as a curate in 1827. A curate is a church assistant. He became the minister in 1830, taking over from Bishop Sandford. He stayed until he passed away in 1872. He also served as Dean from 1846.
The main worship area and the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) were built later. This happened between 1879 and 1882. The architects were Peddie & Kinnear. The vestry (a room for clergy robes) and the church hall were added in 1915–16. These were designed by John More Dick Peddie and Forbes Smith.
A special memorial for war was added in 1919. It was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. He also designed new ceiling vaults in 1926. This was done when Lothian Road was made wider.
St John's Church holds services every day. It is one of the few Episcopal churches in Scotland that still has a weekly service called Matins.
Inside St John's Church
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The ceiling inside the church looks like a plaster vault. This design was inspired by the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey.
Stained Glass and Art
Most of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by Ballantine. However, the large window at the east end was created by William Raphael Eginton.
The morning chapel, a smaller worship area, was furnished in 1935. This work was done by Walker Todd.
Recent Additions
An extension was added to the south-east side of the church in 2018.
Rectors of St John's Church
Here is a list of the main ministers, called rectors, who have served St John's Church:
- 1804–1830: Daniel Sandford
- 1830–1872: Edward Bannerman Ramsay
- 1873–1883: Daniel Fox Sandford
- 1883–1909: George James Cowley-Brown
- 1909–1919: George Frederick Terry
- 1919–1926: James Geoffrey Gordon
- 1927–1939: Charles Henry Ritchie
- 1940–1947: Sidney Harvie-Clark
- 1947–1961: David Brownfield Porter
- 1962–1969: Keith Appleby Arnold
- 1969–1981: Aeneas Mackintosh
- 1982–1997: Neville Chamberlain
- 1998–2012: John Andrew Armes
- 2013–present: Markus Dünzkofer (started on February 11, 2013)
Memorials and Notable Burials
Many important people are remembered at St John's Church. Some have memorials inside, and others are buried in the church's graveyard.
Memorials Inside the Church
- General Sir John Campbell, 2nd Baronet of New Brunswick, Canada
- Sir Henry Raeburn, a famous painter
- Dean Edward Bannerman Ramsay has a tall Celtic cross memorial. It was made by Robert Rowand Anderson in 1878. It faces Princes Street and has bronze designs by Skidmore.
- John Stuart Stuart-Forbes (1849–1876), also known as J. S. Hiley. He died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in North America. His plaque is on the left side as you enter the church. It says: "In Memory of John Stuart Stuart Forbes 7th Regt. United States Cavalry. Born at Rugby 28th May 1849. Killed in Action 25th June 1876."
People Buried in the Graveyard
The graveyard at St John's is the final resting place for many notable individuals.
- The Rev Archibald Alison (1757–1839) and his son William Pulteney Alison (1790–1859)
- Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet (1766–1829)
- Lesley Baillie (1768–1843), who was the subject of Robert Burns' poem "Bonnie Lesley"
- Thomas Balfour (1810–1838), a Member of Parliament
- George Joseph Bell (1770–1843), a writer on law
- George Burnett, Lord Lyon (1822–1890)
- General Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet (1769–1843)
- William Campbell, Lord Skerrington (1855–1927), a judge
- Major General Nicholas Carnegie of Coates (died 1824)
- Sir James Clerk of Penicuik (1812–1870)
- James Donaldson (1751–1830), who started Donaldson's School for the Deaf
- Andrew Duncan (1773–1832)
- Daniel Ellis (botanist) (1772–1841)
- William Erskine (1773–1852), a historian
- Sir William Forbes's son George Forbes (died 1857)
- Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet (1788–1856), a philosopher
- Alexander Irving, Lord Newton (1766–1832), a law lord
- Thomas Kinnear (1796–1830), a banker
- Thomas Laycock (physiologist) (1812–1874)
- James Skene (died 1864) and his son William Forbes Skene (1805–1892), buried under the chapel
- Aeneas MacBean (1778–1857), a well-known lawyer
- Aeneas James George Mackay (1839–1911)
- Charles Kincaid Mackenzie, Lord Mackenzie (died 1938)
- General Anthony MacRae (1812–1868), with a bronze statue by Sir John Steell
- George Moir (1800–1870), a lawyer and writer
- John Shank More (1784–1861)
- Macvey Napier (1776–1847)
- Margaret Outram (1778–1863), wife of Benjamin Outram
- Bouverie Francis Primrose (1813–1898)
- Anne (1793–1825), sister of Stamford Raffles
- Dean Edward Bannerman Ramsay (buried separately from his memorial) and his brother Admiral Sir William Ramsay (1796–1871)
- Bishop Harry Reid (died 1943)
- Sir James Milles Riddell, 2nd Baronet (1787–1861)
- Anne Rutherford (mother of Sir Walter Scott)
- Daniel Rutherford (1749–1819), who discovered nitrogen (uncle of Sir Walter Scott)
- Daniel Fox Sandford (1831–1906), Bishop of Tasmania, son of the church's founder
- Catherine Sinclair (1800–1864), an author
- Sir John James Stuart of Allanbank (1779–1849)
- James Syme (1799–1870), a surgeon
- Peter Guthrie Tait (1831–1901) and his sons John Guthrie Tait (1861–1945) and William Archer Porter Tait (1866–1929). There is also a memorial to Frederick Guthrie Tait (buried in South Africa).
- William John Thomson RSA (1771–1845), an American-born artist
- James Walker (1781–1862), a civil engineer
- Bishop James Walker (1770–1841)
- Sir William Stuart Walker (1813–1896)
- George Young, Lord Young (1819–1907)
- Malvina Wells (1804–1887), the only known person buried in Edinburgh who was born enslaved.
Community and Festivals
Edinburgh City Centre Churches Together
St John's is part of a group called "Together." This group includes three churches in Edinburgh's New Town. They work together on various projects. The other churches are St Andrew's & St George's West and St Cuthbert's.
Just Festival
The church also hosts the Just Festival every August. This festival used to be called the Festival of Spirituality and Peace. It happens at the same time as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Ethiopian Tabot Discovery
An Ethiopian tabot was found in storage at St John's Church. A tabot is a replica of Moses' Tablets of Law. In February 2002, this important item was returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A Welcoming Church
In 2017, the Scottish Episcopal Church made a change. It allowed clergy, with their congregation's agreement, to welcome all people into marriage. St John's Church was the first Anglican church in the British Isles to hold such a ceremony in September of that year. The rector led the service.
See also
- St Kentigern's Church, Edinburgh (Union Canal), which started as a mission from St John's
