image copyright Rachel Windsor

Once known as the Kirk of Our Lady, South Leith Church is believed to have been founded in 1483, although some people say that it dates back even further than that, since a chapel associated with the nearby Preceptory of St Anthony is known to have been built on this site. The church was part of the parish of Restalrig until the destruction of Restalrig Church left the parish without a home and the parish of South Leith was formed.  Like North Leith, South Leith parish had unusual freedom over its patronage, funded as it was by the local trade incorporations.  South Leith Church never really recovered from the damages done by the English army in 1560, with the first significant rebuilding work taking place in 1614.   Robert Mylne built the dutch steeple which remained until 1836, and more work was undertaken in 1848 by Thomas Hamilton. Halls were built on Duke Street, which were later found to be unsuitable, and when the church reintegrated with a part of its former congregation, the Kirkgate Church on nearby Henderson Street, the decision was made to demolish the old church and build new halls on that site. These halls are closeby to the church, on the other side of the Newkirkgate shopping development.