St Columba's-by-the-Castle

St Columba’s-by-the-Castle is a Scottish Episcopal church on the south slope of Castle Hill in central Edinburgh. It stands close to Edinburgh Castle and is listed at category B for its historic value. The building was completed in 1847 in Early English Gothic style by architect John Henderson. Stone for the walls came from the palace of Mary of Guise, a 16th-century queen regent who once lived on the Royal Mile. Its plan reflects the worship reforms of the Oxford Movement in the Anglican tradition. The church also belongs to local and national ecumenical groups. The church is worth a visit for its architecture and its role during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Each August it hosts performances organised by the promoter C venues. It forms part of a local ecumenical partnership with Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk and Augustine United Church. Edinburgh Churches Together and Action of Churches Together in Scotland also include the congregation. The building therefore links historic design with modern cultural use. Inside, the Early English Gothic interior shows tall lancet windows and pointed arches. The stonework, taken from Mary of Guise’s palace, gives the walls a warm, honey-coloured tone. During the Fringe, the space is rearranged to seat audiences for plays and concerts. The pews and furnishings remain simple, keeping the focus on the architecture and the music. From the church door, visitors look across to the castle and down the length of the Royal Mile.