Viewforth History

Viewforth Church as it is today began its story in 1872 when Fountainbridge Free Church, Edinburgh moved from its overcrowded premises to a newly built building on the corner of Viewforth and West Gilmore Place. The Rev. John Morgan had built up a congregation of over 1000 at Fountainbridge. He moved with his congregation to the new building and remained at Viewforth until his death in 1910 .

This new church, known at that time as Viewforth Free Church, was designed by the architect, Thomas Pilkington (1832-1899) whose other famous church design is Barclay Bruntsfield Church, Edinburgh - a short distance away from Viewforth, with whom we are now in a Parish Grouping.

A church hall was added in 1877 and the tower completed in the 1879. The same gales which destroyed the Tay Bridge knocked off three turrets from the tower in 1879 and although repairs were carried out the tower continually needed repairs over the years and it was finally taken down in 1976 because of its dangerous condition.

A dramatic event in the church's history was the destruction of the church building by fire in 1898. The church was rebuilt with a new interior design.

Viewforth Free Church has changed its name several times in the last 125 years reflecting changes in church organisation at national level as well as local parish changes:

Viewforth Free Church 1872
Viewforth United Free Church 1900
Viewforth Church of Scotland 1929
Viewforth St Oswald's 1957
Viewforth St David's and St Oswald's 1973
Viewforth Parish Church 1981