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History

Our story so far...

The church community was founded in 1802 by John Aikman, and in 1861 moved from its ‘dark, dingy, comfortless’ first home (sold to make way for the Museum in Chambers Street) into the present building, expressing by its architecture the imaginative, forward-looking, unconventional spirit well suited to the congregation’s independent principles. 

The Church has changed with the times. Unions with a number of  congregations have led to several changes of name and to a constantly revitalised congregation. In 1941 Augustine united with Brighton Street EU (Evangelical Union) to become Augustine-Bristo. In 1979 Augustine-Bristo united with Hope Park & Buccleuch EU to become Augustine Congregational Church. In 1992 Augustine united with Dalkeith Road URC (United Reform Church) to become Augustine United Congregational & URC. In 2000 the whole Scottish Congregational Church united with the United Reformed Church. In 2005 Augustine URC united with Dalry URC and became Augustine United Church, a member of the United Reformed Church. In 2009 the Metropolitan Community Church of Edinburgh merged into AUC.

Historic Scotland/Heritage Lottery Funded Restoration

Photo by BungieAlterations have been made to the building. The entrance has been restored to its original central position and the doors glazed, opening up the Church to the life of the City. The foyer was extended, the pulpit removed and the pews were replaced by chairs, allowing us to create a flexible, open area suitable alike for worship, for public meetings and for concerts. With generous grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust, with the remainder being raised from within the congregation, the exterior of the building has been renovated and the building made fully accessible. The Ingham wind organ was replaced by a modern electronic instrument, installed within the earlier wooden case and using the pipes as a sounding box. The opportunity was also taken to display to better advantage two stained-glass windows which had been installed in the gallery in 1903 as memorials to the famed preacher, William Lindsay Alexander, minister of the church 1835–77, and to his wife Mary. The windows are thought to be the work of the noted glass painter R. Burns. A window in St Giles also commemorates Dr and Mrs Alexander.

 

The Challenge of Our Heritage

This volume brings together in accessible form the history of our congregation. Seen through the eyes of members active in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the challenges and joys of a city-centre congregation remain remarkably similar.

To access 'The Challenge of Our Heritage' see the related documents section to the right of the screen.