The church buildings appear twice in the publication: 'The Buildings of Scotland - Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker: Penguin Books 1991'. Speaking about Post-Reformation Churches it says: "The Roman Catholics had few churches and no discernible style other than a preference for large and cheap auditoria and marble clad sanctuaries e.g. the huge Perp fronted preaching box of St Mary's Cathedral by Gillespie Graham (1813), Pugin and Hansom's Gothic St Mary's Star of the Sea, Leith (1853-54) and Father Richard Vaughan's Italianate Church of the Sacred Heart,(1860)."

"Sacred Heart (RC), Lauriston Street. Designed as a temporary church (for later conversion to a hall) by Richard Vaughan (1860) with a broad pedimented front. Inside, a large simple box lined with pilasters and top lit by four domed lanterns. In 1884 Archibald Macpherson formed the apsidal chancel whose balustraded screens remain but in 1900 the two outer arches and the arcade round the apse were replaced by a weak Greek order. Marble Pulpit, and perhaps the Chapel flanking the apse, by S. Henbest Capper, 1895. Large paintings of Stations of the Cross by Peter Rauth, 1872-74, line the windowless walls and dominate the interior. Organ by C P Scovell for Roseburn Free Church (see western New Town), 1907, rebuilt here by Rushworh and Dreaper in 1963 and again in 1974. Hall and priest's house to the SE by Archibald Macpherson, 1909."

Our tour will take you through the church as you enter it. Here is a brief explanation of some of the architectural terms used. To see full size versions of the pictures click on them. They will then open as a separate window. Close the window to return to this page.

THE NARTHEX

Holyrood Madonna	Carved wood, probably late 16th century. Gift of Edmund Waterton, 1869; from an auction at the London house of the 4th Earl of Abercorn. Alleged to have been in Holyrood Palace. Waterton bought it from a Peterborough dealer. Holy Rood is Scots for 'Holy Cross'. King David the First of Scots founded the Abbey in 1128. In due course a royal residence was established and eventually became today's Holyrood Palace.
Transfiguration Plaque	No record of origin or donor
War Memorial and Pieta	Roll of honour for World Wars I &II. Names for WW II researched by Rab Munro.
Former Baptistery
St Peter's Statue	Bronze copy of the one in St Peter's, Rome. In memory of Fr Thomas Grene, SJ, 1908-1928.

Narthex Screen	Stained glass: Centre and side doors: in memory of Mezia Capaldi and family. Centre doors depict Our Lady; side doors various SJ saints and beati and St Margaret Mary Alacoque. Her visions led to the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Panels depicting the four Evangelists, plus the wooden screen: gift of St Mary's and Old Church, Hawick 1990.
	Two of the stained glass panels - St Matthew and St Mark

THE NAVE

Organ and Choir Loft	Oak panelling from St Margaret's convent chapel, incorporated here by Frank Maguire. Music is led on some Sundays by the Choir, on other Sundays by the instrumental group and on other Sundays by the organ and congregation.
Statue of St John Ogilvie	Jesuit, and only priest-martyr of the Scottish reformation (died 1615). Bronze statue, probably by a Polish sculptor. Gift of Peter and Eileen Reilly and family. Ogilvie beatified 1929 (statue), canonised 1976 (marble plinth). Stone relief depicts Ogilvie landing at Leith 1613.
Sacred Heart Statue	Finely carved and painted wood. Gift of the parishioners 1885. The best loved of all the church's adornments.
Madonna della Strada	Our Lady of the Street: Set in a fine marble-framed shrine, a copy of the original now in the Gesu, the chief Jesuit church in Rome. It was a wayside shrine venerated by St Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits.
Pulpit	Impressive marble work designed by C P Scovell in 1897; cost £300. Gift by parishioners in memory of Fr E Whyte's 20 years service. This is not used so much nowadays - the homily during Mass is preached from the Lectern where the readings from the Bible have already been proclaimed. However, during the Easter Vigil, it makes a focal point for the blessing of the Easter Fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle.

The Vault, Medallions and Friezes

The re-designed interior, 1900, provided a frieze round the nave above the pilasters. In the entablature 8 medallions were fixed, depicting various Jesuit saints. Clockwise from the Lady Chapel: Bl Peter Favre, Ss Stanislaus Kostka, John Berchmans, John Francis Regis, Alphonsus Rodriguez, Peter Canisus, Aloysius Gonzaga and Robert Bellarmine.     Also a good opportunity to appreciate the cupolas and the light they throw into the church. Apart from the two windows on either side of the organ, the four cupolas are the only source of natural light for the church. Unless it is a really grey Scots midwinter's day, they flood the nave of the church with light.     The last photo is taken from the south east. You can just see the roof of the church with the cupolas. The new Scottish Widows building in Morrison Street with its quirky curved roof dominates the skyline behind. This view will soon be obscured by a new hotel that will rise on the gap site in front and the Sacred Heart Church will once more become hidden - as it has been for most of its history.

THE SANCTUARY

High Altar	Designed by the eminent architect Archibald McPherson, 1885; executed by Isaac Sherratt of Preston for £500. Altar table brought forward in 1970s to meet liturgical reforms but shorn of the end panels. Now restored to its full width. Along with the Lady Chapel (q.v.) and the marble altar rails (removed in the 1970s), the gift of Miss Maitland, 1885.
Baptismal Font, Easter Candle	Fine marble feature, 1908-1910, moved here from original Baptistery as suggested by liturgical reforms. During Advent it is decorated with greenery and the Advent candles - the Incarnation leads to the Resurrection.
Lectern (Reading Desk)	New feature, skilfully incorporating bronze gates of former baptistery, matching both Font and Altar. These three features make a significant liturgical 'statement' proclaiming the Source of Life, the Word of Life and the Bread of Life.
The Tabernacle.	After each celebration of Mass (also known as the Eucharist) the consecrated bread which is left after distribution to the congregation is kept here and then taken to those sick and housebound people who could not join in the Sunday worship. Thereby joining them to the worshipping community from whom they are separated by illness or infirmity.
Domed Apse with Calvary, Baldachhino and Balustrade Screen	The present design basically that of 1900 which re-shaped and obscured earlier Romanesque-style arches in the chancel area. The statues of St Francis Xavier and St Ignatius now occupy the ends of the screens. They were from Mrs Fulerton, 1885. The Baldacchino is over the Tabernacle. An ornament helping to highlight the presence of the Risen Lord in the Reserved Sacrament. This restores the pre-1976 design. Bronze figures re-sited from the back of the church; a new baldacchino formed with drapes executed by Mrs Marie McPartlin.
	During the Easter season, the appearance changes, of course. The Paschal Candlestick is moved to be near to the Lectern. The Resurrection Garden adds a spalsh of colour next to the Font.
	This is the Sanctuary during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the patronal feast of the church in June.
The Lectern and the Crib at Chrismas.	Christmas Prayer:     Robert Louis Stevenson Loving Father, help us to rememeber the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the songs of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessings which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Side Chapels	Our Lady's Chapel: Marble altar and reredos, marble framed Nativity scene, gifted by Miss Maitland.
St Joseph Chapel	Matching the Lady Chapel design, gifted in memory of Catherine MacDonell and family. Marble work in both Chapels by Isaac Sherratt, 1885.