Acting on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has sold the Central Hall at Tollcross in Edinburgh city centre to Morningside Baptist Church for over £1 million.

Occupying a prominent position on the corner of Earl Grey Street and West Tollcross, the historic three storey category B listed property has a domed circular corner tower and seating for a congregation of 750.

David Maxwell, Commercial Surveyor, at Shepherd said: “Following much interest in this unique building, we are delighted to secure this sale, for a price well in excess of £1 million, to another Edinburgh-based church, thereby ensuring that the building will continue to be used as a place of worship.”

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In 1901 Edinburgh Methodist Mission made its permanent home at the newly completed Central Hall after worshipping at a number of other locations in the west end of Edinburgh since 1888. At this time Central Halls were being established in towns throughout the UK and Edinburgh’s was one of the first ‘steel framed’ buildings.

Central Halls were designed (unlike other churches) to be used as concert halls, cinemas and community activities as well as for Christian worship. From the start at the Edinburgh Central Hall, weekly activities were provided ‘to attract people into the premises and to improve them spiritually, morally and culturally once they were there’. This philosophy has not changed over the ensuing 110 years.

(GK/KMcA)