St Andrew's and St George's Parish Church serves Edinburgh's New
Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The
parish today constitutes the whole of the First New Town of Edinburgh
and a small part of the early 19th century Second New Town of
Edinburgh. The church building was completed in 1784, and is now
protected as a category A listed building.
Two churches, St Andrew’s and St George’s, were planned as
principal elements in 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 two churches
were intended to be built on Charlotte Square (originally to be named
St George Square), at the west end of George Street, and St Andrew
Square at the east end. However, Sir Lawrence Dundas, a wealthy
businessman, preferred the eastern site for his home and bought the
ground before Craig's plan could be implemented. St. Andrew's Church
had to be built part-way along George Street, and its place was taken
by Dundas House, designed by Sir William Chambers.
Not to be confused with
Photo 931, May 2011