St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church

St Mary Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic church in Leith, a district of Edinburgh. It stands on Constitution Street and belongs to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The building was designed in 1854 by E. W. Pugin and Joseph Hansom in the Gothic style. It has over twenty stained glass windows and a side altar dedicated to Mary Star of the Sea, the patron saint of Leith since the 12th century. The church is a Category B listed building. The site has layers of history uncovered during archaeological work for a new church hall in 2004. Remains of Balmerino House, built in 1631, were found along with a small burial ground dating to the 16th and 17th centuries. Artefacts included 13th to 14th-century pottery from an old well and clay tobacco pipe waste from around 1630–40. The church originally lacked a chancel and north aisle, which were added in 1900 and 1912 respectively. Inside, the church features Gothic architecture with its stained glass windows and side altar. The surroundings include the modern church hall and traces of the old Balmerino House. The parish is part of Cluster 5 in Edinburgh, which includes Holy Cross, St Margaret Mary’s and St Margaret (DM). The Oblate Centre of Mission Edinburgh also includes St John Ogilvie’s Church in Wester Hailes.