Book Label - St Leonard's PSA Brotherhood - St Paul's United Free Church First Class Prize

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent, England

St Leonard's Brotherhood

First Class Prize

PSA Brotherhoods

Thank you to James Morton-Robertson for allowing me to reproduce this label which was attached to a book that his grandfather won as a prize in 1909.

The prize was awarded by St Leonard's PSA Brotherhood.

I was interested to learn, from the Internet, that many churches had PSA Brotherhoods, sometimes described as 'Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Brotherhoods'. Many began in the late 1900s. Some continued to the 1960s.

They were often inter-denominational, or were designed to bring into the church on Sunday afternoons those not committed to any place of worship. Some promoted practical Christianity in everyday life, teetotalism, providing subsidised books

St Paul's United Free Church

This book label refers to St Paul's United Free Church. James Morton-Robertson wrote:

"I’ve looked up this church on the internet and the only reference seems to be a photo held by the Edinburgh College of Art. Any ideas?"

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent, England: August 2, 2009

In fact a page on the Scran web site that includes the Edinburgh College of Art's photo describes the church as

"a sturdy classical building of 1836. ... built for Miss Agnes Hunter of Glencorse as a gift to a congregation which eventually became part of the United Free Church. ... demolished between 1969 and 1984."

There is also a page on the RCAHMS Canmore web site that gives the address of the church as 30 St Leonard's Street, now the site of St Leonard's Police Station.

This page refers to, but does not illustrate, seven photos of the church and two other related items all held in the Search Room of the RCAHMS (Royal Commission on Ancient & Historic Monuments in Scotland).

Peter Stubbs: August 7, 2009

Answer

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

St Paul's Church

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for providing more info about St Mark's church in response to the request above from James Morton-Robertson.

Brian wrote:

"St Paul's Church already appears on one of the photos on the EdinPhoto web site. Here it is.

You can just see its front – set back a bit on the far left of the photo next to St Cuthberts ‘store’ which was directly opposite the east end of Rankeillor Street.

The new St Leonards police station entrance is roughly where the greengrocer's shop door is on the bottom right, on the corner of St Leonards Lane.

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: August 8, 2009

Answer

Andy Duff

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia

St Paul's Church

Thank you to Andy Duff, Australia, who wrote:

"I saw the write up on St Paul's church. This brings back memories as we had to attend this for schools services when we we at Jimmie Clark's school.

If memory serves me correctly, the school lunch hall was at the back of the church with entry down the right-hand side of the church.

Thanks to Bryan Gourlay for finding this photo on the web site."

Andy Duff, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia: August 9, 2009

Answer

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

St Paul's Church

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who wrote again saying:

"It looks like the Canmore site is amiss in giving the '30 St Leonards Street' address for St Paul's church.

My great grandfather, David Gourlay, was living at No 30 in 1899 – and the 1881 census shows 42 people living there.

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: August 9, 2009

Street Number

I've checked the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directory for 1930-31. It doesn't give any street number for St Paul's church, but it shows that St Paul's church was located between Nos 30 (mentioned above by Bryan Gourlay) and 32, St Leonard's Street.

Peter Stubbs: August 9, 2009