The Recent Years

By the late nineteenth century, Queensferry had four churches, the Parish Church, the United Presbyterian Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church and a Roman Catholic Church which was built in 1887 and stood behind Number 8, The Loan.

In 1900 the United Presbyterian Church on The Loan became incorporated in the new United Free Church of Scotland and adopted the name South Queensferry United Free Church. It is interesting to note that a substantial source of income was seat rents. A card inserted in a brass frame on the pew indicated the names of the family members who used that seat. It was accepted that on special occasions and at certain services, a member could occupy any seat.

At a Kirk Session Meeting on 29th August 1929, the Session was informed that because the United Free Church was joining with the reunited Church of Scotland it would be necessary for the church to be renamed. This caused individual protests from elders, but it was agreed that as from 1st November, the Church would be named South Queensferry St. Andrew Church. Meanwhile the Parish Church was also renamed Queensferry South Parish. The name was never popular but it was not until 1953 that the Kirk Session won Presbytery approval to change the name to Queensferry Old Parish Church.

Meanwhile by the 1930's the Roman Catholic congregation had grown considerably. The present chapel was completed and consecrated in 1934 and named St. Margaret's. There was also an active Gospel Hall in Queensferry which closed around 1950.

On 7th March 1956, the Commission of the General Assembly instructed that an Act of Union should take place between the congregations of Queensferry Old and South Queensferry St. Andrew Church. The united congregation was to be known as "Queensferry Parish Church" and the basis of the union was that all property and funds would become those of the united congregation. By agreement the two places of worship were used alternately a month at a time. This was never a happy arrangement and ultimately a decision was made: St. Andrew Church on The Loan would be "the" Church, and the Old Parish Church would be used as a Sunday School Centre. The Old Church was sold in 1970, the money being used in the building of the new Church Hall.

After the decision was taken for St. Andrew Church to become "The Parish Church", the Kirk Session with the assistance of the Congregational Board completely refurbished the front of the Church which was then rededicated on Sunday 25^th March 1962. The building of the Church Hall was the next improvement, and it was dedicated by Very Rev. Dr. R. Selby Wright on 7th March 1973. More recently the Vennel Hall, which was built in the 1920's as the Church Hall for the Parish Church. was refurbished and rededicated on 24th October 1979. The Computer Organ was installed in the Church on 1st April 1984.