Scottish Church History

A brief summary of the ins-and-outs of Scottish Church history may help to explain the denominational labels.

The question of who should select ministers sparked off the creation of the Secession and Relief Churches, which broke away from the Church of Scotland during the 18th Century. The Secession Churches then split over the question of whether it was lawful for Christians to take the Burgess Oath – hence the ‘Burghers’ and ‘Antiburghers’. In 1820 most of the Burghers and Antiburghers reunited as the ’United Associate’ or ‘United Secession’, and in 1847 merged with the Relief Church as the United Presbyterians. Meanwhile, in 1843, the Free Church had broken from the Church of Scotland at the ‘Disruption’. 1900 saw the creation of the United Free Church by a merger of the United Presbyterians with most of the Free Church. Finally, an Act of Parliament (1921) freed the Church of Scotland from state control and paved the way for reunion with (most of) the United Free Church.

The  below information is taken from the booklet entitled Parish Guide which was prepared by Andrew Bethune and published by Mayfield Salisbury Church in 1996.

Mayfield Church was established in 1875 as a Free Church congregation in the developing suburbs of Newington, the nearest Free Churches to the north being Buccleuch and Newington (now the Queen’s Hall).

The congregation first met in Clare Hall School at 18 Minto Street, later moving to Mayfield Road into what is now the Lower Hall at Mayfield Salisbury Church (opened 1876). The church, The designed by the renowned Scottish architect, Hippolyte Blanc, opened in 1879, but the spire was not completed until 1895. Known as ‘Mayfield North’ from 1929 to 1957, then ‘Mayfield & Fountainhall’ from 1957 to 1968, then 'Mayfield Church' from 1968 to 1993 when it became Mayfield Salisbury.

MAYFIELD 100 1875 to 1975
This booklet was produced in 1975 to mark the centenary of Mayfield Church. It was entitled 'A selection of historical notes, recollections and illustrations to record the Centenary of Mayfield Church.' It was edited by J.A.R.Moffat and published by the Publications Committee, Mayfield Church, Edinburgh 1975. It can be download and read in its entirety here in low quality (1MB) or here in medium quality (8.5MB recommended!)

 

MEMORIES OF MAYFIELD
Sheriff Nigel Thomson C.B.E. (1926-2011)

NIgel Thomson's fascinating booklet of recollections and photographs of earlier times at Mayfield Church can be downloaded and read in its entirety here: Memories of Mayfield

MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
1975 onwards– Some more recent history - Revd Ralph Smith

As described above, Mayfield Free Church was established in 1875, and the above gives details of the many changes which ocurred up until the centenary in 1975.

The following article gives brief details of some more recent changes

It was in January 1993 that Salisbury Church joined with Mayfield, under the present name of ‘Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church". The Salisbury building, on the corner of Grange Road and Causewayside, was sold, but the Salisbury War Memorials were installed in the North Transept of Mayfield Salisbury, and their Morris window placed and illuminated in the South Transept. They also brought with them their fine Victorian Communion table, lectern and font, all of which have been recently restored and are now back in use. Images of the war memorials, the window and the Communion table can be found in the Gallery. The money raised from the sale of Salisbury church and manse was used partly to provide help in housing the former Salisbury minister, the Revd Brian Casebow, who with his wife retired to Cupar.

In recent years there have also been changes in the original Mayfield buildings. The original manse on West Mayfield, ‘Church House’, the ground floor of which is used as meeting rooms with the Church Officer’s flat above, has had the flat extended to make it more suitable for family living. In the church itself an Allen 3-manual digital organ replaced the pipe organ in 1996. In 1997 a new extension and vestibule were constructed for the entrance on West Mayfield. 

2009, however, was the big year. An ambitious programme of ‘Renovation and Renewal’ was undertaken. For five months the congregation worshipped at the Methodist church in Nicolson Square while the sanctuary at Mayfield Salisbury was completely refurbished. It was rewired, relit and the sound system updated. The pews were removed, shortened, cleaned, and replaced so as to allow wider aisles. The whole interior was re-painted, the flooring sanded and re-varnished, and the aisles re-carpeted. The apse ceiling was re-boarded and painted in traditional dark blue with gold stars.

The stained glass windows are a particular feature of the building and a rolling programme of restoration on them was begun. In 2010 Dr Elizabeth Cumming collaborated with others in putting together a most beautiful book, ‘Thy Story in Glass’, detailing their history and biblical significance. This is available from the church office, price £5.00, all profits going to the Renovation Fund. The lower hall, which had been the first worship space from 1875-79, was also rewired, re-lit, re-painted and new radiators were installed. Then in 2010 the manse received a much-needed restructuring of the kitchen and rear ground floor area, new bathroom and shower room, and was repainted inside and out. All this work was accomplished with remarkable efficiency and as near to time and budget as anyone could hope for. Credit is thus due to members of the congregation who supervised, and organised, were hands on, and gave of their time and skill voluntarily to what was a most successful project.

In August 2018 the Upper Hall was refurbished and re-named the 'Bill McDondald Hall' in memory of Revd Dr William J G McDonald (1924-2015) and a lectureship was set up in his memory, the first lecture being given in October 2018 by his son-in-law, previously a BBC correspondent, Allan Little. An artilce oin the opening of the hall can be found here.

1975 onwards - Revd Ralph Smith, 25/09/10

MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
1975 onwards– Some more recent history - Revd Ralph Smith

As described above, Mayfield Free Church was established in 1875, and the above gives details of the many changes which ocurred up until the centenary in 1975.

The following article gives brief details of some more recent changes

It was in January 1993 that Salisbury Church joined with Mayfield, under the present name of ‘Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church". The Salisbury building, on the corner of Grange Road and Causewayside, was sold, but the Salisbury War Memorials were installed in the North Transept of Mayfield Salisbury, and their Morris window placed and illuminated in the South Transept. They also brought with them their fine Victorian Communion table, lectern and font, all of which have been recently restored and are now back in use. Images of the war memorials, the window and the Communion table can be found in the Gallery. The money raised from the sale of Salisbury church and manse was used partly to provide help in housing the former Salisbury minister, the Revd Brian Casebow, who with his wife retired to Cupar.

In recent years there have also been changes in the original Mayfield buildings. The original manse on West Mayfield, ‘Church House’, the ground floor of which is used as meeting rooms with the Church Officer’s flat above, has had the flat extended to make it more suitable for family living. In the church itself an Allen 3-manual digital organ replaced the pipe organ in 1996. In 1997 a new extension and vestibule were constructed for the entrance on West Mayfield. 

2009, however, was the big year. An ambitious programme of ‘Renovation and Renewal’ was undertaken. For five months the congregation worshipped at the Methodist church in Nicolson Square while the sanctuary at Mayfield Salisbury was completely refurbished. It was rewired, relit and the sound system updated. The pews were removed, shortened, cleaned, and replaced so as to allow wider aisles. The whole interior was re-painted, the flooring sanded and re-varnished, and the aisles re-carpeted. The apse ceiling was re-boarded and painted in traditional dark blue with gold stars.

The stained glass windows are a particular feature of the building and a rolling programme of restoration on them was begun. In 2010 Dr Elizabeth Cumming collaborated with others in putting together a most beautiful book, ‘Thy Story in Glass’, detailing their history and biblical significance. This is available from the church office, price £5.00, all profits going to the Renovation Fund. The lower hall, which had been the first worship space from 1875-79, was also rewired, re-lit, re-painted and new radiators were installed. Then in 2010 the manse received a much-needed restructuring of the kitchen and rear ground floor area, new bathroom and shower room, and was repainted inside and out. All this work was accomplished with remarkable efficiency and as near to time and budget as anyone could hope for. Credit is thus due to members of the congregation who supervised, and organised, were hands on, and gave of their time and skill voluntarily to what was a most successful project.

In August 2018 the Upper Hall was refurbished and re-named the 'Bill McDondald Hall' in memory of Revd Dr William J G McDonald (1924-2015) and a lectureship was set up in his memory, the first lecture being given in October 2018 by his son-in-law, previously a BBC correspondent, Allan Little. An artilce oin the opening of the hall can be found here.

People
The Church is people so who have been and are the people here? The roll call is far too long to list. What follows are just some of the more conspicuous names.

Ministers The Very Revd Dr William J G McDonald (Bill), who was the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1989-90, following his immediate predecessor at Mayfield, the Very Revd Professor Jim Whyte, was minister here for 33 very distinguished years, from May 1959 until his retirement in November 1992. More details can be found of both these men in the article on 'Our Moderators'.

He was followed by the Revd Alexander W Young (Sandy). Born in Stirling in 1959, Sandy graduated from Glasgow University in 1986. He joined us with his wife, Pamela, and their 2 daughters, from Ardrossan in September 1993, as the first minister of the newly created Mayfield Salisbury Church, and the union was fused very amicably under his guidance.

In 1999 Sandy Young left to become Hospital Chaplain to the principal Edinburgh hospitals. In 2000, the Revd Scott S. McKenna was appointed and through preaching and leadership conducted an outstanding teaching and spiritual ministry, until his call to Ayr in 2019.

In January 2021, the Revd Dr Sandy Forsyth was appointed our Minister and continues the good work of his predecessors.

There have also been many Assistants and Associate Ministers over the years: Vernon Stone, Bill Henney, Alistair Heron, Douglas Aitken, Alison Matheson, John Wells, George Munro; and Pastoral Assistants including Joe Ritchie, Jean Cochrane, Hamish McIntosh, Nancy Mills, Margaret Nuttall, Fergus McPherson, Sheila Wallace,  Philip Hacking, Sheila Bryer and Kay McIntosh. The congregation continues to be particularly well served by our pastoral staff. In many years also there have been students for the ministry attached for short periods; several of whom have gone on to notable ministries of their own.

The church has also always emphasised the importance of children and young people. Youth specialists have numbered Fiona Fidgin, Bruce Sinclair, Angus Adams and Hillary Leslie.

Organists since 1969 have been: Norman Shires, Philip Hacking, Methven Aitken, Damien Mason,  Dr John Willmett, Dorien Schouten and today Kate Pearson.

Their work has been supplemented by Choir Directors: Marjorie Turkington, Christine Bethune, Hugh Macdonald, and today Walter Thomson (the well-known conductor of the Jubilo Choir, and founder of "the Show Stoppers").

Church Officers have been John Kennedy, David Beath, George Sword, William Frier, CSM Lawrence Porteous, John Mabon, Samuel Hay, James Manson, Robert Turnbull, Wilfred Batty, David Stewart and Robert Nicoll. Today's Officer is William Mearns whose new title "Church Manager" indicates that his function has extended well beyond the role of "the minister's man". Today the church office is high-tech, where William manages the web site and prints out beautiful material which demonstrates that the church is a thoroughly modern and professionally run organisation Quite a change from 1980, when the gift of an overhead projector for Sunday School use drew gasps of admiration when demonstrated to the Kirk Session!

There are many photographs of the church as it is today on the Gallery

1975 onwards - Revd Ralph Smith, 25/09/10

The Fountainhall congregation originated in 1828 when 75 members left old Bristo (Burgher / United Associate) Church in a dispute over the appointment of Revd. William Peddie as successor to his father. Presbytery allowed them to become a separate congregation at first called ‘Society of Worshippers in Bethel Chapel’. Later that year the fledgling congregation purchased the large Cowgate Episcopal Chapel, and lumbered themselves with a huge debt that was not cleared for 40 years.

Cowgate Chapel, shown a photograph below, is now St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

They then moved to a smaller and more economical building in Infirmary Street in 1856.

Migration of the city centre population to the suburbs and limited space available for expansion seems to have prompted another move in 1897 to a new church in Fountainhall Road.

Later, congregational numbers suffered from the curtailment of its hinter land following the opening of Reid Memorial Church in 1935. So on Sunday 4 May 1958 Fountainhall church joined with Mayfield North church to become Mayfield & Fountainhall. After union with Mayfield the Fountainhall Road building was used as a Christian education and training centre. it was demolished in 1975 to make way for the Newington Library.

In December 1847 three young United Presbyterians purchased Duncan Street Baptist Chapel, and by March 1848 a United Presbyterian congregation was officially formed to serve the growing suburb of Newington. The new congregation prospered, and by 1863 moved to its new church (Newington church, later Newington South church, later still Salisbury church) at the corner of Grange Road and Causewayside. In 1877 some members had also helped to establish Rosehill Church (now Priestfield Church)

In the nineteenth century Newington South Church employed a ‘missionary’ to work among the slums of Causewayside. James Goodfellow, missionary from the 1850s to 1890s has written of his experiences in a book ‘The Print of His Shoes’. Following union with Hope Park in 1940, the congregation used thesalisburyChurch.jpg Newington South building. In 1959 the name ‘Salisbury’ replaced ‘Newington South & Hope Park’. The mission hall (95 Causewayside), acquired from St Catherine’s in 1942, was sold in 1980 to the Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped.

Faced with maintenance of a large building and a declining membership, Salisbury united with Mayfield in 1993. The first service was held in Mayfield, now Mayfield Salisbury, 7th February 1993. The buildings were sold to a local businessman and are currently a lighting showroom.

The oldest of the roots of Mayfield Salisbury church was the ‘New Association Congregation’, a breakaway in 1792 from Edinburgh’s first Antiburgher church. The dispute was over the choice of minister. The breakaway congregation erected a meeting house in a courtyard off Potterrow and worshipped there until 1867. The site is now occupied by the Edinburgh Mosque & Islamic Centre.

The carved stone now standing in the halls entrance at Mayfield Salisbury commenorates the founding of the Potterow Meeting House which was reached by a close or pend leading off Potterow.

In 1867 Potterrow United Presbyterian. Church, as it had become, moved to an elegant new church on the corner of Hope Park Terrace where its tower was a prominent landmark.

The Hope Park congregation then united with Newington South in 1940 bringing with them their minister, Revd. Robert Taylor, and more than doubling the congregation worshipping in what later woukld become Salisbury Church situated on the corner of Causwayside and Grange Road. Sadly, the Hope Park Church building was demolished in 1949.

The booklet MAYFIELD 100 - A selection of historical notes, recollections and illustrations to record the Centenary of Mayfield Church - Edited by J.A.R.Moffat, contains the follwing information on three men who became moderators -

In September 1968, The Very Revd Principal Hugh Watt, who was ‘our first’ Moderator in 1950, died in his 89th year; an outstanding churchman, an elder of Mayfield for 44 years and a friend and counsellor to young and old. It must have been a great joy for him to give the right hand of fellowship to his daughter Nancy when she became one of the first woman elders in 1967.

In 1963, Professor J.S. Stewart, who is a great-nephew of Mayfield’s first minister, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly. He asked Mr McDonald to be his senior chaplain and Mr. Mabon our Church Officer was his ‘Moderator’s Man’, taking over from Sergeant Porteous who had served so many past Moderators in that capacity. The congregation once again basked in the reflected glory of this huge honour to one of its elders, ‘our second’ Moderator.

In 1973 the Revd James G. Matheson, who had been one of our elders for 10 years, resigned from the Secretary of the Stewardship and Budget Committee of the Church of Scotland and left Edinburgh for the parish of Portree. A familiar figure in pulpit, on public platform and on television, it was not altogether a surprise when in 1974 he was nominated Moderator- Elect. It is therefore with excusable pride that within the first week of our second century we shall be able to record ‘our third’ Moderator.

TWO MORE RECENT MAYFIELD MODERATORS
Two of our ministers have been Moderators of the Church of Scotland in more recent years. The profiles given below are taken from The Church of Scotland Year Book (St Andrews Press) 1988 and 1989.

The Very Revd JAMES A. WHYTE MA LLD -  MODERATOR 1988

The Very Revd WILLIAM J. G. McDONALD MA BD DD -  MODERATOR 1989

The Very Revd JAMES A. WHYTE MA LLD
THE MODERATOR 1988

By The Reverend George D. Wilkie OBE BD
James Aitken Whyte grew up in the years between the wars in the Trinity district of Edinburgh. Along with his brothers (on elder and one younger) he was educated at Daniel Stewart’s College where he was Dux in 1937. During his school years a major influence on his life was the Scottish Schoolboys Club, which sought through Easter Camps and Sunday Discussion Groups to help boys ‘to discover for themselves and for the world the full meaning of the Christian Faith’.

By the time he went to Edinburgh University the idea of entering the ministry of the Church of Scotland was very much in his mind. He studied Philosophy under the twin giants of their day, Professor Kemp Smith and A.E. Taylor, obtaining in 1942 a First Class Honours degree. He was a keen member of the Student Christian Movement, and much of his understanding of the faith was hammered out in S.C.M. conferences, meetings and study groups. Indeed his contact with S.C.M. has been maintained throughout the years, in particular through the Presidency of the Christian Education Movement – the schools offshoot of the S.C.M.

After three years’ study in New College, where he was President of the Theological Society, Professor Whyte became a chaplain in the Scots Guards and was stationed with the 1st Battalion in Italy. In 1948 he was called to Christ Church Dunollie in Oban, moving in 1952 to Mayfield (then Mayfield North) Church in Edinburgh. In 1958 he was appointed to the chair of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology in St Mary’s College, St. Andrews. He was principal of the College from 1978 to 1982, and in 1981 received the honorary degree of LL.D from the University of Dundee.

James Whyte is no cloistered academic. He sees theology as essentially practical and, while properly to be studied within the discipline of a university course, it must at the same time be firmly related to the needs of ordinary Christians and of the Christian Church. As well as fulfilling his pastoral responsibilities within the student community in St Andrews Professor Whyte has always found time to address elders’ meetings, lead Bible study, and speak to numerous conferences where lay people are to be found struggling with the issues of life and faith. He has also served on numerous Church committees and was Convener of the Inter-Church Relations Committee from 1974 to 1978.

The Moderatorial Year has been overshadowed by the tragic death of Mrs Whyte a few short weeks after the close of the Assembly. Although she had undergone major surgery in the months leading up to the Assembly, Mrs Whyte carried out all her duties – including the generous hospitality of the Moderator’s flat – with characteristic courage, cheerfulness and goodwill. In this she was surrounded and supported by her daughter and two sons and their young families. Mrs Whyte also played her part in the visit to the Irish Assembly immediately following our own, and indeed was actively supporting her husband a few days before her death.

In spite of this very great loss Professor Whyte has continued to fulfil all his major engagements with the graciousness, wisdom and friendliness which are the hallmark of the man. The Church expects a great deal from its Moderators nowadays and James Whyte has a quiet determination to fulfil all the duties of the office to which the Church has called him

The Very Revd WILLIAM J. G. McDONALD MA BD DD
MODERATOR 1989

By the Revd Ralph C. M. Smith MA STM Edinburgh

The Moderator disapproves of this Year Book! Not at all that he is a judgemental sort of person. But he hates the fact that it prints the statistics of congregational income and membership; because these can encourage false assumptions about the nature of church ‘success’. Of course his own congregation, Mayfield in Edinburgh where he has ministered for thirty years, is revealed as being quite exceptionally ‘successful’ in these terms; and his innate modesty would eschew any suggestion that the credit for this should go to him.

The visitor to Mayfield is struck by several things, if he came early enough to find a seat.: the crowds of children and young people; the relaxed and warm welcome from office-bearers; and, as he returns over the weeks, he notes the conduct of worship is always fresh, often unexpected, yet always right and ungimmicky; and that the congregation is made up of folk of many different theological persuasions. The latter are held together because worship embodies the centralities without being needlessly divisive.
Such leadership comes, of course, from the top – from the man of rare fluency, perception and wit, allied to a self-effacing sensitivity to the needs of those around him. It is remarkable that Bill McDonald should have succeeded as Moderator the man whom he succeeded at Mayfield, James Whyte. (James had left for a University chair, Bill might have done the same.) Remarkably again, Bill had followed James Whyte as dux of Daniel Stewart’s College, his Edinburgh school. Later he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery, and served in south-east Asia, obtaining there an understanding of Islam. On returning to Edinburgh he took a first in classics, followed by a BD with distinction, with post-graduate study with Jeremias in Germany.

Bill married Patricia Watson in 1952, a lady as lively and full of fun as himself. They have three of a family – Sheena, Roderick and Alison.

Bill shares his family’s enthusiasm for theatre and music. His preaching is an embodiment of the arts: an attempt not to explain the mysteries but to deepen them with a true sense of the numinous. His horizons are as wide as his taste in music – from Bruckner to Beiderbecke. And fresh air invigorates his relaxation – hill-walking and cycling around the parish (a practice developed long before it was ecologically fashionable, as witness the age of his bike!).

Bill has an effective ministry on radio also, thanks to a lively, informed mind, an arresting lightness of touch, and a generous spirituality.

Bill has served the Church in its big Committees and the Assembly Council. Now he takes very seriously the privilege and responsibility of representing the Church nationally and internationally. Afterwards he will return happily to the midst of the life and people of his parish.

Bill McDonald died on December 9, 2015. His Memorial Service, A Celebration of LIfe, took place at Mayfield Salisbury on January 8, 2016. 

A recording of a morning service at Mayfield Salisbury in 1992 led by Bill McDonald, at which one of the readers is Sheriff Nigel Thomson, may be listened to here.

THE MAYFIELD SALISBURY WINDOWS
'Thy Story in Glass'

Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church is blessed with a very fine collection of stained glass windows. This beautifully illustrated book written by Dr Elizabeth Cumming, with a foreword by Mark Bambrough and design by Alan Victor, is now availble. Copies can be obtained from the Church Office, price £5.00.

Photographs of many of the windows can be viewed in the Gallery on this website.

The Revd Dr John Ross (1842 – 1915)

See our John Ross page HERE.

Mayfield Parish Church

Mayfield Church was established in 1875 as a Free Church congregation in the developing suburbs of Newington to serve the rapid movement of the population to this area. The congregation met in a classroom at Clare Hall School before securing the present site on Mayfield Road/West Mayfield.

When the church opened in 1879, it was neither embellished with stained-glass windows nor adorned with its famous spire; there was no electricity, and the church was lit by gas. It was not until the second ministry in the 1880s that attention turned to fully completing the church after the building debt had been cleared. Generous gifts from wealthy members were forthcoming, and the structure was soon completed with the spire, clock, and bell from Mr. Johnston Stewart in 1895. The organ, a two-manual H.S. Vincent instrument with twenty-three speaking stops, was the gift of Mr. Harry W. Smith, who defrayed the £1,000 purchase. The organ wassited in the apse, with an off-set console beneath the pulpit, and proved a fashionable addition to the church in 1895.

The services of the precentor were retained after the installation of the pipe organ; Mr. William Geoghegan, who had led praise since the inception of the congregation in 1875 and received a salary of £40, subsequently raised to £52, became engaged as Choir Master. When he retired in 1910, either by coincidence or perhaps by the saving of his salary, the organ was rebuilt that year, with one additional stop, by Arthur E. Catlin.

There were other gifts that soon followed the organ, such as the installation of stained-glass windows in the apse in 1900, but it was thereafter determined that the position of the organ in the apse detracted from the inherent beauty of the building; however, the organ would remain in the apse until the 1930s, when the fourth minister, Mr. J.K. Thomson, promoted a renovation of the church. He suggested that the organ be resited to provide an uninterrupted view of the apse and its stained-glass windows. The organ was rebuilt and moved by Arthur E. Ingram to a specially constructed chamber in the south transept in 1932. Ingram also provided a new console, which was sited beneath the Stuart Memorial, and thereby allowed the apse to be fully revealed. The focal point of the church had changed from one of proclamation and grandeur to that of peace and mediation.

In 1959, the nearby Fountainhall Road Parish Church closed: its congregation had never regained its former strength after losing the hinterland of its parish to the Reid Memorial Church, and the congregation duly amalgamated with Mayfield. As a profound act of this union, the best parts of the 1897 Eustace Ingram organ of Fountainhall Road Parish Church were dismantled and incorporated with the Mayfield organ to create a Choir (or third manual) in 1962. By all accounts, this work by Henry Hilsdon produced a fine instrument, and the Mayfield organ, now with thirty-four speaking stops over three manuals, greatly enhanced worship. Fountainhall Road Parish Church was demolished in 1975 to make way for the Newington Library.

Regrettably, the Hilsdon rebuild only gave ten years of service as a fire inflicted considerable destruction to the roof of Mayfield Parish Church in 1969. The actual fabric of the building escaped without serious damage, but many of the fine internal features, including the organ console, were inevitably lost.

The newly-refurbished church with Rushworth & Dreaper Organ (1970)

However, this meant some improvements could be secured as part of the reconstruction stratagem. One such considered improvement was the moving of the organ to the rear gallery. By doing this, not only could the transepts be opened up, but a prominent position in the gallery would better reveal the qualities of the organ, flooding the nave with sound rather than speaking across the congregation into the north transept. The organ was once again rebuilt and moved, this time by Rushworth & Dreaper, in 1970. Another new console was provided and placed in the gallery. With choir members also re-located to this celestial position, an angelic effect of music and singing floating over the congregation was achieved whilst maintaining the apse as the focal point of the building; nevertheless, the gallery proved less popular with choir members, who felt divorced from proceedings, being able to neither see nor be seen.

Despite these good intentions, by 1994, the organ required a substantial overhaul. It was determined unwise to spend significant sums of money due to its quality and technical shortcomings: the work in the 1970s had left the organ underpowered and its appearance was not considered becoming of Mayfield Parish Church. The organ of the recently-closed Salisbury Parish Church was available, but the united Session decided against moving the Salisbury organ: although robust in design, and having survived in a largely unaltered state, its parts were all towards the end of their life, and considerable renewal would have been necessary.

In its place, a three-manual Allen electronic organ was installed in the south transept in 1996. This left the organ of Salisbury Parish Church at the fate of its new owner, who chose to scrap it. By the end of 1996, both organs had been broken up, albeit for different reasons and by different people.

Two mutation ranks from the Mayfield organ endure at Corstorphine St. Anne’s Parish Church, having been added there by Ronald L. Smith in 1997.

After the removal of the pipe organ from Mayfield Parish Church, the gallery was restored to a spectator balcony, and both organist and choir returned to the front of the building. The choir is now happier to be back in the action.

 

Written by:
Calum N. Gubby Organist, Liberton Kirk, February 2018

With the assistance of:
Alan Buchan, Curator, Scottish Historic Organs Trust
David Stewart, Author, Organs in Edinburgh

George McDougall, Former Member, Salisbury Parish Church
William Mearns, Church Manager, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church

Rushworth & Dreaper Organ Specification
Mayfield Parish Church (1979)

Pedal:
Resultant Bass - 32
Open Diapason -16
Violone - 16
Bourdon -16
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Octave - 8
Bass Flute - 8
Trombone - 16

Choir:
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Hohl Flute - 8
Dulciana - 8
Viol d’Orchestre - 8
Lieblich Flute - 4
Piccolo - 2
Clarinet - 8
Tremulant

Great:
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Open Diapason - 16
Large Open Diapason - 8
Small Open Diapason - 8
Clarabella - 8
Harmonic Flute - 4
Principal - 4
Twelfth - 2
Fifteenth - 2
Trumpet - 8

Swell:
Violin Diapason - 8
Lieblich Gedact - 8
Viole de Gamba - 8
Voix Celeste - 8
Salicet - 4
Mixture - III
Double Horn - 16
Horn - 8
Oboe - 8
Tremulant

Couplers:
Swell to Great
Swell to Choir
Swell Octave to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell Octave
Swell Suboctave to Great
Swell Suboctave
Choir to Great
Choir to Pedal
Choir Octave
Choir Suboctave
Swell Octave to Pedal


Accessories:
4 thumb pistons to Great
4 thumb pistons to Swell
3 thumb pistons to Choir
Thumb pistons for Sw-Pd, Gt-Pd, Sw-Gt
4 composition pedals to Pedal
4 additional composition pedals
Gt-Pd toe piston

Details:
Console type: Detached
Action: Electro-Pneumatic
Blower: Electric
Compass: 61/30

Written by:
Calum N. Gubby Organist, Liberton Kirk, February 2018

With the assistance of:
Alan Buchan, Curator, Scottish Historic Organs Trust
David Stewart, Author, Organs in Edinburgh

George McDougall, Former Member, Salisbury Parish Church
William Mearns, Church Manager, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church

Salisbury Parish Church
The story of the Salisbury Parish Church organ is far less adventurous: it was never moved from its original position and only received one major rebuild in its life, although some alterations to its casing in 1950s resulted in its unusual appearance.

Newington United Presbyterian Church, as it was originally known, installed a three-manual Wadsworth organ with twenty-seven speaking stops in 1883.

The organ was soon rebuilt with two additional stops in 1904; pneumatic actions were fitted, and a new console, which incorporated the keyboards and drawstops from the old console, was also installed. The fixtures were provided by Blackett & Howden, but the work was subcontracted to Scovell & Lewis.

A survey of the organ in 1994 found that the Great Trumpet and Choir Cor Anglais were of a later date than the rest of the organ, and are thought to be the additions by Scovell & Lewis in 1904. The organ was overhauled by Rushworth & Dreaper in 1958, when it was resolved to redesign the organ case to allow more light in from the window behind. A subsequent overhaul was discharged by Ronald L. Smith in 1972.

Due to high maintenance costs, Salisbury Parish Church closed in 1993. The congregation united with Mayfield Parish Church on February 7th, 1993 under the name Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church. The former Salisbury Parish Church was sold to a foam manufacturer, and latterly converted to a lighting showroom by Cotterell & Co.

The consideration to move the Salisbury organ, largely unaltered but for renewal and modernization of its parts, demonstrated its merit, and highlights the frequently overlooked value of maintaining the original design of an organ and preserving it from those who seek to make ‘improvements’.

It is unfortunate that the Salisbury organ could not also be incorporated with the existing organ of Mayfield, perhaps even to create a four-manual instrument had the Mayfield organ been more worthwhile, or simply moved unaltered to Mayfield.

Written by:
Calum N. Gubby Organist, Liberton Kirk, February 2018

With the assistance of:
Alan Buchan, Curator, Scottish Historic Organs Trust
David Stewart, Author, Organs in Edinburgh

George McDougall, Former Member, Salisbury Parish Church
William Mearns, Church Manager, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church

Wadsworth Organ Specification
Salisbury Parish Church (1979)

Pedal:
Principal -16
Sub Bass -16
Violoncello - 8
Flute Bass - 8

Great:
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Open Diapason - 8
Hohl Flute - 8
Gamba - 8
Principal - 4
Twelfth and Fifteenth
Trumpet - 8

Swell:
Lieblich Gedact - 8
Geigen Diapason - 8
Gamba - 8
Rohr Flote - 8
Celeste - 8
Rohr Flote - 4
Octave - 4
Mixture - III
Horn - 8
Oboe - 8
Vox Humana - 8

Choir:
Lieblich Gedact - 8
Dulciana - 8
Lieblich Gedact - 8
Piccolo - 2
Clarionet - 8
Cor Anglais - 8

Couplers:
Swell to Great
Swell to Choir
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Swell Octave
Swell Suboctave

Accessories:
4, 3, 2 composition pedals
Great to Pedal toe piston

Details:
Console type: Detached
Stop type: Draw Stop
Action: Tracker Pneumatic
Blower: Electric

Rushworth & Dreaper Organ Specification
Mayfield Parish Church (1979)

Pedal:
Resultant Bass - 32
Open Diapason -16
Violone - 16
Bourdon -16
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Octave - 8
Bass Flute - 8
Trombone - 16

Choir:
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Hohl Flute - 8
Dulciana - 8
Viol d’Orchestre - 8
Lieblich Flute - 4
Piccolo - 2
Clarinet - 8
Tremulant

Great:
Lieblich Bourdon - 16
Open Diapason - 16
Large Open Diapason - 8
Small Open Diapason - 8
Clarabella - 8
Harmonic Flute - 4
Principal - 4
Twelfth - 2
Fifteenth - 2
Trumpet - 8

Swell:
Violin Diapason - 8
Lieblich Gedact - 8
Viole de Gamba - 8
Voix Celeste - 8
Salicet - 4
Mixture - III
Double Horn - 16
Horn - 8
Oboe - 8
Tremulant

Couplers:
Swell to Great
Swell to Choir
Swell Octave to Great
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell Octave
Swell Suboctave to Great
Swell Suboctave
Choir to Great
Choir to Pedal
Choir Octave
Choir Suboctave
Swell Octave to Pedal


Accessories:
4 thumb pistons to Great
4 thumb pistons to Swell
3 thumb pistons to Choir
Thumb pistons for Sw-Pd, Gt-Pd, Sw-Gt
4 composition pedals to Pedal
4 additional composition pedals
Gt-Pd toe piston

Details:
Console type: Detached
Action: Electro-Pneumatic
Blower: Electric
Compass: 61/30

Written by:
Calum N. Gubby Organist, Liberton Kirk, February 2018

With the assistance of:
Alan Buchan, Curator, Scottish Historic Organs Trust
David Stewart, Author, Organs in Edinburgh

George McDougall, Former Member, Salisbury Parish Church
William Mearns, Church Manager, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church