IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
Leith St. Andrew’s Parish Church has been a landmark on the corner of Easter Road and Lochend Road for over 140 years. It now faces a moment of transition as the Church of Scotland prepares to sell the building. Join Leith St. Andrew’s Trust for “The Heart of a Community”, a new exhibition at the church, celebrating its history, its role in the community to date and its future potential.
Local historian Dr. Julian Grant has collaborated with the church, congregation, and local community over the past four months to delve into the church’s archives and hear personal stories from people with a variety of long standing connections to the church.
Leith St Andrew’s Trust is very excited to announce a weeklong history exhibition of Leith St Andrew’s Parish church. We have been working closely with a local historian who has accumulated a wealth of historical information and fun facts through a collaborative effort with the church, congregation, and local community in the form of detailed archival document and photographic research, intriguing oral histories and much more. We will culminate the 4-month project with an event at the church which is free and promises a wealth of fascinating, local history.
The Heart of a Community will display the findings from this archival and oral history research in the church’s beautiful main sanctuary hall, which will be open to the public and free to enter during the times below. Although Leith St. Andrew’s Parish Church sadly closed its doors as a place of worship at the end of 2024, The Heart of a Community is a priceless opportunity to learn more about its heritage and to consider what the future could hold for this iconic building.
Dates and Times:
Mark your calendars for our gala opening reception, two weekends of open hours in our exhibition hall, as well as a very special panel discussion on the history of the building and its significance to the Leith community then, now and into the future:
- Launch Night: Friday 21st February, 6-9pm | Be the first to see the exhibition and meet the team behind the project.
- Exhibition Open House: 22nd and 23rd February, 12-3pm | Drop in at any point and explore at your leisure.
- Panel Event with Guest Speakers: 26th February, 7-9pm (free but ticketed via Eventbrite) | Join us for an evening discussion of church and community history with local experts.
- Exhibition Open House: 1st and 2nd March, 12-3pm | Drop in at any point and explore at your leisure.
Leith St. Andrew’s Trust invites you to join us in reflecting on the past, learning more about our own local history and helping to shape the future of Leith St. Andrew’s Parish Church at The Heart of the Community.
This event will be a lovely opportunity to see the exhibition space, meet our historian, trustees & volunteers, engage with other community members and enjoy learning more about the cultural heritage of this wonderful building.
We can’t wait to see you there.
