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history |
Edinburgh Eyre Place Secession congregation began life in the shape of a breach from the Relief congregation worshipping in Carubbers Close in 1825. The breakaway group worshipped initially in Richmond Court, but in April 1825 removed themselves to the Freemason's Hall in Niddry, their old place of worship was put up for sale, however they declined to buy it believing that eventually it would prove to be too small to accommodate them. Sermon was requested from the Relief Presbytery in 1825 and although no minister was inducted, Mr Alexander Laurie ministered to the congregation until 1828. In 1829 the restidents in Stockbridge petitioned the Secession Presbytery of Edinburgh requesting sermon, which was granted unanimously. The first minister ws inducted on 7th October 1829 and by that time the congregation had become known as St Bernard's Church, Stockbridge. In 1847 the Secession and Relief churches united to form the United Presbyterian Church, and the charge at Stockbridge took the name Dean Street United Presbyterian Church at that time. A further move took place in 1861 when the congregation moved to Queen Street Hall and the charge became Queen Street United Presbyterian Church, and a third move came in 1881 to a new church built in Eyre Place, when once again the name of the congregation changed, this time to Eyre Place United Presbyterian. In 1900, upon the union between the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, Eyre Place United Presbyterian became Edinburgh Davidson Eyre Place United Free Church, and following the 1929 union between the United Free Church and the Church of Scotland, the congregation took the simpler name of Edinburgh, Davidson 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. |