St Stephen's Church, Edinburgh

Saint Stephen's Church is located in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, at the bottom of Saint Vincent Street. It was built in 1827-1828, to a design by architect William Henry Playfair (1789–1857).

St Stephen's, Edinburgh

The first minister of the church was William Muir, who opened an evening school in the large vaulted cellars of the church for the education of the illiterate.

The interior was altered in 1956, the congregation having declined. A major fundraising effort was organised led by the then minister, the Revd A. Ian Dunlop. This was one of the first subdivisions of major buildings in Edinburgh, with the reconstructed church occupying effectively the gallery level accessed by the main staircase from Howe Street, and a number of halls (including a main hall with fully fitted stage etc.) and meeting rooms formed below. These halls have over the years hosted a number of events including Festival Fringe shows. During the reconstruction the church fittings by architect David Rhind (1808–1883) were kept, as was the organ by Willis, which was re-built on the "gallery" level.

On 27 June 2014, Leslie Benzies, a video game producer and at the time president of Rockstar North, announced a deal to purchase the church for over 500 thousand pounds.[1] He plans to preserve the building and create a trust composed of members of the community to manage it.[2]

However, in 2017, Philip Johnston, trustee for the Benzies Foundation announced, "We now believe we have taken this as far as we can". On 12 July 2017, Peter Schaufuss, founder of the English National Ballet School purchased the church from the Benzies Foundation, stating "I plan to make the Great Hall a world-class theatre, one that will attract productions from leading companies from around the world". Ground and basement areas, meanwhile, would be intended to find mixed commercial, cultural and community usage.[3]

Clock

The 162 feet (49 m) high tower has the longest clock pendulum in Europe.[4]

Performing space

St Stephen's has hosted a number of shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe over the years. From 2001 to 2007 it hosted Wolfgang Hoffman's Aurora Nova venue, with a number of dance shows.[5] Aurora Nova withdrew from the Fringe in 2008, citing costs and loss of sponsorship,[5] and the space was not used in 2008.[6] The space was revived in 2009, with The Arches at St Stephen's being planned for the 2009 festival.[7]

In 2014, the building was for sale, with considerable speculation that it could be converted it into an arts centre with spaces for live music, dance and theatre.[8]

References
  1. "Rockstar North chief buys St Stephen's Church". Edinburgh News. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. Phyllis Stephen (27 June 2014). "St Stephen's Church – future now assured". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  3. "Danish ballet legend buys historic St Stephen's Church". Edinburgh Evening News. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  4. Capital Walks in Edinburgh: The New Town. David Dick. Neil Wilson, 1996 ISBN 1897784201
  5. Rising cost forces Aurora Nova out of Edinburgh Festival Fringe
  6. Fringe programme 2008, St. Stephen's not listed as a venue.
  7. Fringe programme 2009
  8. Edinburgh’s St Stephen’s Church could be arts HQ

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