The History of St Andrew’s and St George’s Church

A decent handsome church

Two churches, St Andrew’s and St George’s, were planned as principal elements in what was then one of the largest urban building schemes ever conceived - the New Town of Edinburgh. James Craig’s plan of 1767 for the First New Town laid out a grid pattern of streets reflecting classical order and rationalism. It was the age of the Scottish Enlightenment, and Edinburgh was becoming internationally renowned as the centre of new philosophy and thought.

The Town Council held a competition for a design for the eastern church, St Andrew’s, which was won by Captain Andrew Frazer and Robert Kay. The church was founded in 1781 and opened in 1784.

The Disruption

In 1843 one of the most significant events in Scotland of the 19th century took place in St Andrew’s Church - the Disruption. Fuelled by increasing concern and resentment about the Civil Courts’ infringements on the liberties of the Church of Scotland, around one third of the ministers present at the annual General Assembly walked out, cheered by onlookers outside, and constituted the Free Church of Scotland.

The union of two congregations

In 1964 the congregation of St George’s Church in Charlotte Square, at the western end of the New Town, was united with St Andrew’s, forming St Andrew’s and St George’s. The parish today constitutes the whole of James Craig’s First New Town and a small part of the early 19th century Second New Town of Edinburgh.

New ministry in the New Town of Edinburgh

St Andrew’s and St George’s history has been characterised by service to people, especially the poor. The doors of the “decent handsome church” specified in 1781, remain open daily. We welcome not only those living in the New Town, but the whole wider community of the city centre. We are also open to people in many parts of the world, with whom God’s love and fellowship are shared in both practical and spiritual ways.