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In 1843, at the time of the Disruption, Alexander W. Brown, minister of the chapel-of-ease in West Claremont Street, and the majority of his congregation, adhered to the Free Church and organised themselves into St Bernard's Free Church congregation. Worship took place for a time in Tanfield Hall, until a brick church in Silvermills was built and ready for occupation. The brick church was later replaced in 1856 when a new church was erected on the same site. Mr Brown, minister of St Bernard's Free Church, established five Sunday Schools in the area and additionally taught classes for local young men and women. This activity led to the establishment of a Primary School which aimed to provide, 'a classical and commercial education, based on religious principles' , open to children of parents of all denominations. The deacon's court paid the fees for the very poor attending the school and the establishment was eventually taken over entirely by the court, until it was discontinued in 1874. In 1900, upon the union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, Edinburgh St Bernard's Free Church became Edinburgh St Bernard's United Free Church and following the 1929 union between the United Free Church and the Church of Scotland, St Bernard's United Free was renamed Edinburgh St Bernard's South Church of Scotland. A number of years thereafter in 1945, Edinburgh St Bernard's South joined with the congregation of Edinburgh Davidson, under the name of Edinburgh St Bernard's-Davidson. After this local union the former Davidson Church and halls were used as the Church of Scotland Arts centre, until the buildings were sold in 1955. |