If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
Old St Paul’s is Edinburgh’s oldest Episcopal congregation (founded in 1689), worshipping today in a distinctive late-19th/early-20th-century church on Jeffrey Street just off the Royal Mile.
Because the church developed over multiple building phases—and sits in a dense, historic Old Town setting—its fabric has required periodic restoration and alteration to keep it structurally sound and fit for worship. Historic records note major restoration campaigns beginning in the late 1800s, followed by further building works into the early 1900s and 1920s.
Documented works include a restoration in 1878, further restoration in 1881–1883, and additional work to the south end of the nave (1889–1892). The church was then expanded with the Seabury aisle (1904–1906), and later works in 1924–1926 added the Warriors’ Chapel and the Calvary Stair/entrance, reflecting a continued programme of repair, improvement, and sensitive adaptation over time.
Old St Paul’s is a rare, living link to the origins of Scottish Episcopalianism in Edinburgh, with a history shaped by persecution, survival, and renewal. Preserving the building safeguards significant architecture and memorial features (including its prominent War Memorial Chapel and Calvary Stair) and keeps this heritage accessible as an active place of worship and community life.
If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
