1822 - Parish population in the southern division was recorded as 20,250 and half of them had no place of worship. The northern division situation was similar and so the Kirk Session resolved to build two more Chapels of Ease.  

1823 - Stockbridge Chapel opened. This is now part of Kirk O’ Field.  

1824 - Hope Park Chapel in Clerk Street opened. This is now the Queen’s Hall.  

1831 - An existing Chapel in Gardiner’s Crescent bought for £2,500. It was named St David’s out of respect for Dr David Dickson, the senior Minister at St Cuthbert’s, and it served a local population of 2000. As the number of parish residents increased, many new churches were formed as Chapels of Ease.  

1837- The Charity Work-house now had 539 people working at various trades. There was a school attached for nearly 200 pauper children and also a sewing school. Out-of-door poor also received payments.  

1867 - Charity Work-house removed when the Caledonian Railway was built.The poor were taken to a mansion about a mile and a half from St Cuthbert’s. This building is now the oldest part of the Western General Hospital 

James MacGregor 

1883 - At this time, Dr James MacGregor was the Minister, respected and loved by his congregation. His colleague, Andrew Wallace Williamson, was a "prodigy" of 26 years old. The two men were of different generations and tastes.  

One was a Highlander and the other a Lowlander; one full of humour, the other serious and solemn but together "they pedalled the bike of St Cuthbert’s for 27 years and remained friendly".  

Both men later became Moderators of the General Assembly. They created an immense and lively congregation which threw itself into the project of a new Church building.  

1893 - Parish population recorded as 65,243.  

New beginnings 

1894 - 11th July. Day of dedication for the new Church. The architect was Mr Hippolyte J. Blanc. His building retained the 1775 tower and the 1789 steeple. Mr Blanc’s Church building is the present day Parish Church of St Cuthbert, the ‘Kirk below the Castle’.  

He was also the architect responsible for the designs used during the 1887-91 renovation of Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall.  

If you are researching your family history, or are interested in finding out more about the history of St Cuthbert's Church or Parish, you can find information on available resources HERE