Church

St Patrick, Edinburgh

St Patrick, Edinburgh

St Patrick’s is a Category B Roman Catholic parish church at 5 South Gray’s Close, between the Cowgate and the High Street, Edinburgh, in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

Location
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
County
City of Edinburgh
City / town
Edinburgh
Address
South Gray's Close, High Street, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, EH1 1TQ
Postcode
EH1 1TQ
Built
1772–74; additions 1898 and 1929
Architect
John Baxter junior; James Graham Fairley (1898); Reginald Fairlie (1929 façade)
Denomination
Catholic Church
Dedication
Patrick
Diocese
St Andrews and Edinburgh
Parish
St Patrick, Edinburgh
Grade
Category B
Style
Neoclassical
Materials
Cream sandstone polished ashlar to the south front
Opening hours
St Patrick’s is open 7 days a week, from 8am until 7pm in the winter (closing at 6pm on Sundays) and until 9pm in the summer.
Access
Level access to the main areas. Non-accessible toilets in church

Overview

Historic Environment Scotland lists 5 South Gray’s Close, St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, at Category B (LB27498; added 14 December 1970). The original church is by John Baxter junior, 1772–74, with later additions by James Graham Fairley (1898) and a 1929 triumphal-arch entrance elevation by Reginald Fairlie. It was built as a Qualified Episcopal chapel; in 1818 it became a United Presbyterian congregation (shown on the first-edition OS as Cowgate Church, seating 1,700); the UP congregation sold it to the Roman Catholic Church in 1856 for £4,300. HES notes notable interior murals by Alexander Runciman. HES Category B listing cannot be stored on the list-entry field used for Historic England and Cadw URLs.

Further Information