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On 4 June 1816 a petition was presented to the Burgher Presbytery of Edinburgh from 62 inhabitants of Leith, requesting sermon. The list of applicants however included several elders and members of the Kirkgate Church and consequently the Presbytery rejected the request. The petition was withdrawn and at the next meeting of the Presbytery another was presented, signed by 113 people, all of whom stated that they were either from other denominations or from none at all, this second request for sermon was granted, in spite of objections from Kirkgate church, and the petitioners formed themselves into the congregation of Leith North Burgher Church. They initially used the buildings of North Leith Parish Church congregation, who had recently vacated the premises, until 1819 when their own church was opened in Coburg Street. After the move to Coburg Street, James Harper was ordained and served as minister here for 60 years. In later years the church was named after him. North Leith Burgher Church became North Leith United Associate in 1820 and in 1847 the congregation became part of the United Presbyterian Church. Following the union of the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland in 1900, Leith North United Presbyterian became Leith North, Coburg Street United Free Church and upon the 1929 union between the United Free Church of Scotland and the Church of Scotland, Leith North Coburg Street was renamed Leith Harper Memorial Church of Scotland. In 1940 Leith Harper Memorial was joined with the Church of Scotland congregation of St Ninian's, under the name of Leith St Ninian's Coburg Street. After the local union the Harper Memorial Church continued in use as the place of worship. Further union followed in 1962 with Leith St Nicholas to form the session of Leith St Ninian's Ferry Road, and in 1982 Leith St Ninian's Ferry Road was joined with North Leith and Bonnington, under the name of North Leith Church of Scotland. The congregation of North Leith sits under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. |