Old churches have been converted to a wide variety of different uses
Edinburgh has lots of churches – and there used to be even more. Many church buildings have closed over the years. And while some have been bulldozed and replaced by other buildings, many have survived and been converted to other uses.
And some – like West Register House in Charlotte Square or the nearby Ghillie Dhu at the West End – have become so familiar in their new guise that most people will not give the building’s origins a second thought.
West Register House, on the west side of Charlotte Square, was built as St George's Church in 1811-14 to serve as the Church of Scotland parish church for the western part of the New Town.
During its three years of construction, the cost of the building nearly doubled from £18,000 to £33,000. Its green copper dome is a prominent feature of the Edinburgh skyline.
In 1960 an appeal was launched for structural work required to support the dome, but then extensive dry rot was discovered. And in 1964 the congregation united with St Andrew's Church in George Street to form St Andrew's and St George's. The building was bought by Scottish Records Office and converted to a public record office, which meant gutting the interior and installing five storeys along with a two-storey entrance hall. Photo: Michael Gillen
Alien Rock indoor climbing centre at Pier Place, Newhaven, is housed in the former Newhaven St Andrew's Church, which was declared surplus to requirements by the Church of Scotland nearly 50 years ago.
The church was built in 1852 as Newhaven Free Church, enlarged in 1886 and became Newhaven St Andrew's in 1929.
In 1974 the congregation was united with Newhaven-on-Forth Church to form Newhaven Parish Church and the building in Pier Place was sold.
Two decades later, it became Alien Rock, Scotland's first dedicated indoor climbing centre, which has been operating since 1994. Photo: Ian Georgeson
The Queen's Hall in Clerk Street on Edinburgh's South Side has been a popular performance venue since 1979, but it started life as Hope Park Chapel in 1824.
It was renamed Newington Parish Church in 1834 and became Newington and St Leonard's Parish Church in 1932, when a large new hall was built at the rear of the church.
Depopulation of the area led to a decline in numbers and the church was dissolved in 1976.
The building was bought by the Scottish Philharmonic Society and converted to a performance venue. It was officially opened in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II, after whom it is named. Photo: Ian Rutherford
The Eric Liddell Community, which offers specialist dementia day care, was set up by the local churches at Holy Corner in Morningside in 1980 - and its base is the former North Morningside Parish Church.
Originally known as the Eric Liddell Centre - it changed its name last year - the building is named after the 1924 Olympic 400m gold medalist, Scottish Rugby international and committed missionary whose story is told in the film Chariots of Fire.
The North Morningside building was opened in 1863 and the hall next door in 1954. In 1980 the congregation merged with Morningside Congregational Church to form Morningside United Church in their building across the road. at Holy Corner in Morningside Photo: Tony Marsh