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The congregation of Edinburgh Arthur Street Relief first began in 1825 when a large number of people left Edinburgh Cowgate Chapel and formed into a Relief congregation. Meetings of the group initially took place in the Caledonian Theatre until January 1827 when a new church was opened in Brighton Street, additionally in that year James Turnbull, the first minister of the congregation, was ordained. The feu duty and bond interest on the Brighton Street Church soon proved to be too high and consequently the congregation moved to new premises in Arthur Street. In 1841, it had become apparent that Arthur Street Relief Church was facing serious financial difficulties in connection with the church building, and the decision was taken to dissolve the congregation and depose the minister. The congregation however left the Arthur Street premises to worship for a time in the Waterloo Rooms and the Freemason's Hall and instead of dissolution, a union was established in 1842 with the congregation of Roxburgh Terrace. The newly united charge successfully secured a three year lease on the Arthur Street Church and consequently the united charge continued under the name of Arthur Street Relief. In 1847 Arthur Street Relief Church became Arthur Street United Presbyterian Church. Following the union of the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland, Arthur Street United Presbyterian became Arthur Street United Free Church and in 1919, on the retiral of James Milroy, minister of Arthur Street since 1894, a union was established with the New College Settlement in the Pleasance. The united congregation assumed the name of Pleasance United Free Church. Upon the 1929 union of the United Free Church of Scotland and the Church of Scotland, Pleasance United Free became Pleasance Church of Scotland and in 1953 a union was established with Charteris Memorial under the name of Edinburgh Charteris-Pleasance. After the local union the former Pleasance church was sold. Further union followed in 1969 with Buccleuch and with Nicolson Street to form the session of Edinburgh Kirk o' Field. This congregation is under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. |