Barclay Viewforth Church

{{Short description|Church in Edinburgh, Scotland}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox church  |name = Barclay Viewforth Church |image = Barclay Church.jpg |caption = Barclay Church |dedication = |denomination = Church of Scotland |churchmanship =  |parish = Barclay Viewforth |deanery = |archdeaconry = |diocese = |province =  |archbishop = |bishop = |dean = |priest = |vicar = |rector = |pastor =  |website = [http://www.barclayviewforth.org.uk/ Barclay Viewforth Church] |coordinates = {{coord|55|56|26|N|3|12|12|W}} }} thumb|Barclay Bruntsfield Church spire, Edinburgh thumb|The church halls of Barclay Viewforth Church '''Barclay Viewforth Church''' is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=sct-admin |date=2017-09-24 |title=Barclay Viewforth Church, Edinburgh |url=https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/barclay-viewforth-church-edinburgh/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Scotlands Churches Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==

Located at the border between the Bruntsfield and Tollcross areas of the city at the junction of Barclay Place and Wright's Houses, it was designed by Frederick Thomas Pilkington (1832–98) – starting in 1862<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=203860|title=Basic Site Details: Barclay Church|work=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|accessdate=3 February 2017}}</ref> and completed in 1864 – mainly from a bequest of £10,000<ref>The Three Great Roads, Drew Easton</ref> left by Miss Mary Barclay of Carlton Terrace<ref>Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1850</ref> for the building of a church for the Free Church of Scotland. The first minister of the congregation was Rev Dr James Hood Wilson, DD, the first service of public worship being held on 23 December 1864. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1895. Wilson was replaced by Rev Dr William Macallum Clow in 1897.<ref>Ewing, William ''Annals of the Free Church''</ref>

The church remained part of the Free Church of Scotland until 1900 when the majority of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland united to form the United Free Church of Scotland, and subsequently joined the Church of Scotland in 1929 when the majority of the United Free Church joined the Church of Scotland.

Barclay Church united with Bruntsfield Church (Leamington Terrace) in 1965. The Bruntsfield Church building is now used by an independent church and is known as Bruntsfield Evangelical Church. The church was renamed as "Barclay-Bruntsfield Church" until 1980 when it reverted to its original name after united with Chalmers-Lauriston Church (59-61 Lauriston Place). Chalmers-Lauriston Church was purchased by the City of Edinburgh Council and sold to the Arab Social League for use as a cultural centre, but has remained derelict until the late 2010s when it was converted to a Mosque. Barclay united with Viewforth Church in 2009. Other churches which have been subsumed into the parish of Barclay Viewforth through earlier unions include West Port Church. It is currently in a Parish Grouping with St Catherine's-Argyle Parish Church in Marchmont.

The Barclay Viewforth Church also hosts the [https://eccc.org.uk/en/about-eccc/ Edinburgh Chinese Christian Church], a Chinese church consisting of a Cantonese-speaking congregation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-17|title=Welcome Home – Edinburgh Chinese Christian Church|url=https://eccc.org.uk/|access-date=2022-01-31|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Architecture==

The Church, along with the Halls and Church Officer's House at the rear, are category A listed by Historic Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB26720|title=1 WRIGHT'S HOUSES, BARCLAY-BRUNTSFIELD CHURCH AND CHURCH HALL (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND) LB26720|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=3 February 2017}}</ref> The spire, which at {{convert|250|ft|m}} high is a landmark in the city skyline, is one of the tallest church spires in Edinburgh.

Internally, the church has seating on the ground floor with two tiers of galleries in the heart shaped auditorium, which originally had seating for 1,200. The organ was installed in 1896 by R. Hope-Jones and has been twice rebuilt. The marble pulpit (also by Pilkington) holds a prominent location under the organ pipes with a central view over the nave.<ref name=":0" />

The church halls to the east were skillfully added in 1891. They are designed by Sydney Mitchell in a complementary style to Pilkington's original and built in matching stone.<ref>''Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh''; by John Gifford, Colin McWilliam, David Walker</ref>

== Congregational history ==

* Barclay Viewforth Parish Church (2009-) ** Barclay Parish Church (1980–2009) *** Barclay Bruntsfield Parish Church (1967–80) **** Barclay Parish Church (1929–67), formerly Barclay United Free Church (1900–29), formerly '''Barclay Free Church''' (1864–1900) **** Bruntsfield Parish Church (1929–67), formerly Bruntsfield United Free Church (1900–29), formerly Viewforth United Presbyterian Church (1847–1900), formerly '''Viewforth Relief Church''' (1818–47) *** Chalmers Lauriston Parish Church (1958–80) **** Chalmers Parish Church (1929–58), formerly Chalmers United Free Church (1900–29), formerly Chalmers' Territorial Free Church (c1880-1900), formerly '''West Port Free Church''' (1847-c1880) **** Lauriston Parish Church (1929–58), formerly Lauriston Place United Free Church (1900–29), formerly Lauriston Place United Presbyterian Church (1859–1900), formerly Portsburgh United Presbyterian Church (1847–59), formerly Portsburgh United Secession Church (1820–47), formerly '''Portsburgh Burgher Church''' (1791–1820) ** Viewforth Parish Church (1973–2009) *** St David's Viewforth Parish Church (1929–73), formerly '''St David's Parish Church''' (1836–1929), formerly Gardner Crescent Chapel (1831–36) *** Viewforth St Oswald's Parish Church (1957–73) **** Viewforth Parish Church (1929–57), formerly Viewforth United Free Church (1900–29), formerly '''Viewforth Free Church''' (1872–1900) **** '''St Oswald's Parish Church''' (1907–57), formerly St Mark's Chapel (1890–1907)

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Barclay Church, Edinburgh}} *[http://www.barclayviewforth.org.uk/ Barclay Viewforth Church of Scotland Website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041210144638/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraries/artsphere/architects/pilkington/barclaychurchbw.html Edinburgh City Council architects site] {{Religious sites in Edinburgh}} {{coord|55|56|25.71|N|3|12|12.51|W|display=title}}

Barclay Viewforth Category:Category A listed buildings in Edinburgh Category:Churches completed in 1864 Category:1864 establishments in Scotland

Barclay Viewforth Church

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