Venue hire

Whilst church services take priority – we are a growing congregation – it is pleasing that St Vincent’s is one of central Edinburgh’s smaller but highly prized venues for a wide range of meetings – learned societies, community council, book launches, bible studies and many more – and especially music making.

The Refectory (at the back of the church) has 35 folding chairs, whilst the Nave of the Church seats about 125 in the fixed pews, and in the gallery another 30. The Undercroft can seat at least 40 (but has no disabled access at present).

Practise, teach or rehearse in the Nave of church (includes use of Weinbach grand piano), in the Refectory (includes use of Blüthner upright piano) or in the Undercroft (no piano).

Concerts and events in the Nave of church can include use of refectory and kitchen as well as the Weinbach grand piano.

St Vincent’s has wi-fi throughout the building. The wi-fi code is beside the router in the Refectory.

The induction hearing loop covers both the Nave of the church and Undercroft.

Enquiries to the Property Convener: The Hon Barnaby Miln, PropertyConvener@stvincentschapel.org.uk

The hire of St Vincent’s is subject to the acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. These must be read and accepted before we can confirm a booking: https://www.stvincentschapel.org.uk/terms-conditions-of-hire-of-st-vincents/

Our Director of Music since May 2015 is Les Shankland. He gives organ, piano and basic music lessons.

Our Composer in Residence since March 2016 is Dr Harry Whalley. Harry is also Reader in Sound and Music at the University for the Creative Arts.

St Vincent’s is Venue Number 197 in the annual three-week-long Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the world’s largest arts festival. In 2024 this runs from 2nd August to 26th August.

Tim Macdonald’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance in August 2022

A talk by the National Galleries of Scotland on the origin of St Vincent’s late Victorian east window as part of the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in August 2021.

Record Store Day organised by VoxBox in St Stephen Street on 13th April 2019. About 650 people visited the church during the day-long event. The event was repeated on 23rd April 2022.

An exhibition of vestments as part of the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in August 2021.

A talk in the Undercoft of St Vincent’s on the art of embroidery as part of the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in August 2021.

St Vincent’s purchased this new Petrof Weinbach 7 feet grand piano in 2016.

St Vincent’s Petrof Weinbach grand piano in position for a recital.

Our Petrof Weinbach grand piano in place for a recital.

The Refectory at the back of the Nave, with the kitchen at the far end

St Vincent’s mellow Blüthner piano in the Refectory

Our Blüthner upright piano in the Refectory at the back of the church

St Vincent’s **Makin Westmoreland Sapphire organ**, installed in July 2021.

The Undercroft below the church is seen here prepared for a talk during the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in August 2021. Beyond can be seen a photographic exhibition.

In recent years the Undercroft has also been used as an artist’s studio and exhibition area, a covid-testing station, orchestra rehearsal space, for parties and gatherings and for some screen acting courses.

A gathering in the Undercroft following a Scottish Heraldry Society church service. The lighting has since been upgraded.

The Refectory set up as a recording studio for two days of Irish Folk Music in June 2015. — The Refectory set up as a recording studio.

The highly regarded The Edinburgh Quartet made St Vincent’s their year-round rehearsal home from November 2015 until January 2023. The Dunedin Consort and Hebrides Ensemble have rehearsed in St Vincent’s over several days.

The Gildas Quartet with Pete Furniss, clarinet, have performed Harry Whalley’s A Report To History at the first Composer in Residence concert on 22nd October 2016. The Artisan Trio performed Harry Whalley’s Pivot and Loop (2017) and Forever and Shall Be (2014) at the second Composer in Residence concert on 13th May 2017. The brilliant young pianist Svetoslav Todorov gave the first performance of Harry’s Leighton Contrasts on 21st February 2018.

The Hans Gál Society rehearsed the opera Song of the Night over two weeks in May and June 2017 for its first UK performance. Marc Corbett-Weaver gives an annual piano recital, usually on the first day of the Fringe in August. We were delighted that an EP recorded in the summer of 2015 in the Refectory by Darragh Quinn was launched at a highly successful concert at St Vincent’s in November 2015. This is available from https://lostarchitect.bandcamp.com

In May 2016 we were also delighted to learn of the release of Robbie Greig’s album, largely recorded in St Vincent’s in December 2015. This is available from https://robbiegreigandfriends.bandcamp.com Lizabett Russo’s album The Burning Mountain was launched with a concert on 10th December 2016. Kate and Raphael’s launch on 17th June 2017. Rachel Walker’s band Dowally recorded at track called St Vincent’s on their album in the summer of 2017. Here’s the link: https://dowally.bandcamp.com/track/st-vincents

Our well equipped kitchen is an extension to the Refectory.