History of the Building
Construction
The church was built in two years at a cost of £18,000. The foundations were laid in March 1816 and the completed building was consecrated on Maundy Thursday, 19 March 1818.
The site, which was a market garden, was bought from the Town Council. The owners of property on the north side of Princes Street obtained in 1816 a private Act of Parliament, which prohibited the erection of any further buildings on the south side and secured their open view of the castle.
The church was designed by William Burn, one of the foremost architects of his day. He chose the revived perpendicular gothic style, which was just becoming fashionable at that time. His design consisted originally of seven bays with five windows on each side, a flat east end with rose-type tracery at the apex of the window, and a tower at the west end surmounted by an open lantern.
During construction the design was extended by one bay, giving eight bays with six windows on each side. The work was nearly completed when in January 1818 a great storm blew down the open lantern, which was never replaced.
The Interior
The most notable internal feature was the plaster ceiling vault, which is derived from King Henry VII's chapel in Westminster Abbey.
The Baptistry was situated at the southwest corner, a small vestry in the north east corner and a porch in the south east corner. The latter two had balconies above them. The organ and choir were at balcony level in the tower
The main seating in the nave was in box pews. In 1828 a full width balcony was installed across the west end to provide additional seating.
1856-1889
The original east window was painted. In 1856-7 this was taken out and replaced with stained glass.
In 1857-61 ten of the aisle windows were infilled with stained glass, the work of Ballantine and Allan of Edinburgh, two of the pioneers of the re-discovery of the technique of making stained glass.
In 1867 a new door was inserted into the north west corner onto Princes Street, and the east end balconies were removed. In addition, the box pews were removed and replaced with the present neo-perpendicular style pews, pulpit and wall panelling.
In 1874 the last two windows were infilled with stained glass.
1882 saw a substantial modification to the original building. The east wall was taken down and the present chancel built with a room underneath and a vestry on the north side. All this was within the original walled burial ground.
In 1889 the reredos was installed behind the high altar as a memorial to Admiral Sir William Edmonstone. A Gothic Triptych in Caen stone, it was carved by James Kerr.
The coats of arms installed at clerestory level are on the north side those of Rectors of St John's and on the south side those of Bishops of the Diocese of Edinburgh. This practice was discontinued in 1949.
The twentieth century
In 1912 a rood screen (including its cross above) was erected between the chancel and the nave. (The rood screen was removed in 1974 but the suspended cross is still there.) At the same time the 1828 west gallery was removed, so restoring the west end to its original form as seen today. In addition, the font was embellished by the addition of a wooden carved pinnacled spire as a cover.
The need for a church hall had been felt for many years but the proposal to build it outside the dormitory on the south side was opposed by the City Council. After litigation permission was given to proceed and the hall was dedicated in 1916.
In 1918 changes were made to the reredos and altar. Steps were removed to lower the altar and so reveal the bottom of the reredos.
In 1931 the chancel was further embellished when the Sanctuary Lamp was dedicated. Designed by Sir David Young Cameron, it is unorthodox in its large size.
In 1919 it was proposed to roof over the whole dormitory to create a chapel, but this was opposed by the owner of one of the graves. In the 1930s a reduced version of this idea was revived and the present chapel was constructed within part of the dormitory and dedicated in 1935.
In 1937 space below the church was excavated and converted into rooms for various church activities. During the Second World War, they were used as rest rooms for service personnel in transit. Between 1940 and 1942 over 6000 service personnel slept there and were cared for by members of the congregation. For the remainder of the war they were used only during the day as rest rooms.
During 1982-3 the church was re-ordered. The Chancel area was extended into the Nave to contain a new communion table, which was made by Christopher Holmes from a Borders oak. The Baptistry at the west end of the church became the Church Office and a new kitchen and disabled toilet were made in the former Vestry area at the west end of the hall.
In 1985 a ten-year programme of cleaning and restoration was undertaken with funding from church members, Historic Scotland and other public bodies. In addition to significant repairs, the windows were removed and sent to Salisbury Cathedral Works Department to be repaired, re-glazed, re-leaded and cleaned and the exterior surface of the stonework was cleaned.
This story of change has not been completed. Various projects are under active consideration, all of which have the aim of helping the congregation fulfil St John's mission in the new century.
Jeremy Jameson
Building >> History