Ernie’s introduction to Granton Churches

At the moment we have seven churches in the central part of Granton. They are:

In addition, one other church, outside the central part of Granton, will be mentioned:

(Click on one of these links to go down this page to the section about that church.)

During the 1930s they were eight different Christian denominations. In the 1990s there were nine altogether. At the present moment there are seven.

All the churches except for three are situated along Boswall Parkway, from one end to the other. We start at the eastern end with the Granton Parish church. This church has an eventful and colourful history. Granton originated back in 1845, becoming a village surrounding the harbour. As the community started to grow, a Christian presence was needed as most of the people were god-fearing. They first had services of worship in an upper room of the Parish school in Granton Square. So began the life of Granton Parish church. When the room became inadequate for the needs of the growing community, the Duke of Buccleuch donated the money to build a church for the people, still close to Granton Square in 1877.

The church flourished during the coming years. So when Granton became bigger with the influx of more people coming into the area in the 1930’s the church again became too small. The decision was made by the members and board of the church to build another one. This time away from the Square and to where it stands today on Boswall Parkway. This was 1934.

Because of the continuing growth of Granton various denominations became interested in planting churches in the area for the various classes and culture of people moving into the area. Just along from the Parish church moving west we come to the Congregational church. After discussion and planning with the Town Council it was built in 1936. When many years later they formed a union with the Methodist church further along Boswall Parkway, this hall was taken over by the Seventh Day Adventists in 2004.

During the following year of 1937 on the western end of Boswall Parkway the Methodist church started their presence within the community of Granton. Stemming from their Mission Hall in Tollcross a group of members were called to go to Granton and evangelise there. At this site the group through the church set up a rest home for older people beside the church. Due to dwindling numbers of the congregation and also of the Congregational church nearby it was decided in 2001 that the two churches should unite keeping the Methodist church as the main hall. The decision was to sell off the Congregational hall which was to the Seventh Day Adventists.

In 1939 the Catholic Church wanted and needed to serve the increasing number of Catholics within the area. So they formed a church in between the Methodist and Congregational church on Boswall Parkway. This church was dedicated to St Margaret Mary, a French nun in the 17th century who had revelations and visions of Jesus Christ.

Just down from the Methodist rest home on Royston Mains Place a new church was formed in 1941. This was St David’s Episcopal Church of Scotland - they wanted to serve this growing community too. They started off as a Mission Church which was dedicated to St David of Scotland. The church is still in active use, although much upgraded.

Next to the church was St David’s House, built to house the minister. It was later used by Franciscan Friars who called it ‘The Friary’. The church hall was built some years after the church, and it and the Friary were sold in recent years to the local medical group and demolished to make way for the Crewe Road Medical Centre.

For a long period of time this church was led just by the members of the church until in recent times they got a minister. He is a Granton man who left the area but has returned to it.

In 1936 the Salvation Army also put down roots within the growing community of Granton. The original building on Wardieburn Drive was rebuilt for a more modern hall. Their outreach in the area was mostly for the children but also served the elderly and families in a practical way. This is still the case today.

Further on in 1940 the Baptists wanted to reach out also for the people of Granton. They set up on Crewe Road North in the local school hut where they first began their services in June of that year. This became known affectionately as “The Hut”. It was only till December of 1952 when a more permanent church was built. Then twenty years on in 1972 a new hall was added onto it. A new sanctuary was added on in 1992 again after a twenty year gap. This is a vibrant church trying to reach out to all families around the area of Granton.

One can think that the Parish church was the first church in Granton but this would be very much mistaken. As back as 1874 the Free Church began to hold services in a corrugated iron hut on the corner of Granton Road and Wardie Crescent till the time came for a more permanent church to be found. After various changes of hands they became in 1929 what is now the Inverleith Church at the top of Granton Road on the Ferry Road.

It is very surprising that within such a small area as Granton that there has been a big religious influence placed here by many different denominations. With having so many competing against each other with their creeds and beliefs one would think that Granton had cause to have so much need of a spiritual presence. Yes, Granton was a growing and thriving community and to meet the needs of the incoming people one had to have a spiritual presence. And with the diversity of people coming into the area it would be hard to have so many churches being able to get on within the small proximity of each other. However, despite their differences of creed and belief each church has had a role to play within the whole community.

Even at the present time the churches are still around though not as strong as they once were at the beginning. Times change and to go along with the changes the churches have to go along with them. The approach now is for all the churches to get together in unity to try and regain all what has been lost spiritually over the years. They have formed a group, GCT (Granton Churches Together), the main aim of which to unify the outreach of Jesus Christ within the whole area. Now with the Waterfront and even more people coming into Granton it is more important than ever that the area should have a strong religious presence within the entire community.