image copyright Rachel Windsor

North Leith Parish Church was once known as St Ninian’s, and stood at the end of the old bridge across the Water of Leith.   St Ninian’s Chapel, pronounced in Scots as St Ringan’s Chapel, was completed in 1497. It was part of Holyrood parish until 1606, and since the parishioners had built their own church, the patronage belonged to them. The present building was built in 1813 by William Burn and stands on Madeira Street.   The new church building was very much the project of the minister, David Johnston, who joined the parish in 1760 and worked tirelessly for the people of Leith and Newhaven until his death in 1820 at the age of 90.  He was succeeded as minister by his assistant, the Reverend Ireland, and they are buried close together in the cemetery by Coburg Street.

The church halls were built on Great Wellington Street in 1886, and a new hall built behind the church in 1987. The former manse site was sold to the council, and became Leith Town Hall (now known as Leith Theatre) and Library.