St John's Church, Oxgangs Demolition

Christine Vincentti posted these two photographs.

I have written about the closure of  St John's Church in previous blogs; if you wish to read them just click on the index links to St John's Church,

Seeing these photographs of the demolition in process took my breath away.

Although members of the community will be aware that this might happen one day, whether you were prepared for this or not, it will come as a shock and a very poignant and sad day for many.

Detailed below I have included an extract of some comments which the Reverend Orr's daughter, Lesley Orr, made on a previous blog post by me; it records in a few words quite beautifully what the church meant to many; it will leave a gap in people's lives in all senses of the word:

'I still live near Edinburgh, and have revisited St John's on occasion over the years. There are still many old (and getting older...) familiar faces who have been in Oxgangs since the early days, and there is always such a warm welcome from these good friends. People remember my parents with such love and enduring affection - and it means a lot to us to read about the positive impression and impact they made on folk who were not directly involved in the church.


Apart from the emotional connection I feel with the building, which holds so many happy memories, and which has been the space where so many significant markers in my life happened (I was the first baby baptised in St John's - in the hut which was used before the Riach building was opened - and was married there too) I love the clean and elegant lines, the combination of warmth and light, the fantastic chancel space. It speaks so eloquently of the spirit of optimism, hope for the future, participation of all, and community building which characterised the best of Oxgangs in the 1960s and 70s...'