Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

John Henderson, 1850. Simple rectangular-plan Gothic church with N aisle, vestry to NE and porch to S. Squared and stugged honey-coloured sandstone with ashlar dressings and margins. Pointed-arch door, trefoil-headed lancets, hoodmoulds, moulded labelstops; eaves cornice, saw-toothed coped buttresses, fleur-de-lis finials, base course.

S ELEVATION: 4-bay nave with lower 2-bay chancel at E end. Gabled stone porch to outer left; diagonal buttresses framing entrance; moulded pointed arch carried on sandstone colonettes; blind lancet in gablehead; cross finial. 2 small paired in E returns. Red and black Minton tiles with fleur-de-lis and lion motif. Chamfered door surround with datestone AD 1850 above keystone; studded wooden door. 3 symmetrical bays to right with lancets divided by buttresses. Lower 2 bays of chancel to outer right recessed; 2-light windows under eaves with colonette mullions.

E ELEVATION: gable with 3-light East window; diagonal buttresses. Recessed to right is E return of N aisle; small 2-light lancet at centre.

W ELEVATION: gable with 2-light traceried window at centre; diagonal buttresses. Gable capped by gabletted bellcote of 2 pointed arches with pierced quatrefoil in spandrel. W return of porch recessed to left.

N ELEVATION: 5-bay asymmetrical; gabled N aisle to outer left with porch entrance on W side at re-entrant angle between taller penultimate bay and aisle. 3 symmetrical bays to outer right, lancets divided by buttresses. 2-light window in N gable; cross finial; set-back buttresses. Lean-to porch with pointed arch, studded door, small 2-light lancets on N return.

Diamond-pane leaded lights, (windows now all with grilles). Graded grey slate roof, saw-tooth ashlar coping to skews; fleur-de-lis iron ridge cresting. Truncated coped ridge stack on N side.

INTERIOR: 1850 with later additions and remodelling in 1883. Chancel arch painted with psalm text(now faded), 'I will wash my hands in innocence and join the procession round your altar O Lord'. Ribbed ceiling painted deep blue with stars. Stone altar under E window, painted and giled with foliage capitals; painted medallions of the pelican and conquering lamb. Minton tiles. Gothic sedilia, piscina and easter sepulchre. Stained glass of various dates. Organ by Hamilton of Edinburgh at N side of the chancel, repositioned in 1883 from original position at NE end of chancel. Gothic pulpit at SE corner of nave. Stone font at W end. Stained glass memorial windows. Brass corona chandeliers.

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such. The church was built and endowed by Lord and Lady Aberdour as the chapel of the Dalmahoy estate, but from the beginning was used for public worship. It was designed by John Henderson and consecrated by Bishop Terrot on the 24th September 1850. Alterations to the interior of the church were carried out in 1883 by Alice Countess of Morton in memory of her niece Evelyn Cavendish. These included enlarging the vestry, adding heating and adding a new font. The cross-slab of coarse sandstone to the NE of the church is a scheduled monument; it came from Tormain Hill. The former church choirmaster's house and choir school, also designed by John Henderson, are listed separately. Ratho Park Hotel was the former manse of St Mary's Episcopal Church and was designed by John Henderson. It was delisted in 1992.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.