Bellfield (community centre)

Bellfield is a community centre located in what was previously Portobello Old Parish Church, a Georgian church of classical design located in Bellfield (formerly Melville) Street, Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland.[1] The church was the subject of a successful community buy-out in 2017,[2] and reopened as a community centre on 23 June 2018.[3][4] Dated 1809, it was built between 1808 and 1810 to a design by William Sibbald,[5] at a cost of £2650. It was enlarged in 1815 and 1878.[6]

Bellfield
Former namesPortobello Old Parish Church
General information
LocationBellfield Street, Portobello, Edinburgh
Coordinates55°57′08″N 3°06′31″W
Completed1810
Opened23 June 2018 (as community centre)
Design and construction
Architect(s)William Sibbald
Website
https://www.bellfield.scot/
Bellfield (2014)

Community buyout

Residents in Portobello were asked to back the first urban community buy-out under new Scottish Government legislation. The Save Bellfield campaign was set up to take over the church and halls of the former Portobello Old Parish Church in Bellfield Street. Supporters included artists and performers resident in the area, including Downton Abbey actor Cal MacAninch. The Friends of Bellfield aimed to provide a continuing home for a wide range of groups which have been based in the building as well as developing it for other community activities.[2]

The campaigners had asked the Church of Scotland to delay putting the building on the market to allow them more time to raise the funds for the buy-out, but the church’s General Trustees turned down the request. Portobello Old Parish Church and St James Church in Rosefield Place have both been merged with St Philip’s, Joppa, to become Portobello and Joppa Parish Church in the St Philip’s building.[7]

Since the community buyout, many local businesses have used the facilities, including Action Porty and the Edinburgh Youth Theatre company.

2017 funding award

In 2017 the project was awarded £600,000 from the Scottish Land Fund, which allowed Save Bellfield to purchase the building[2]

References
  1. Gifford, John. The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh. Penguin Books.
  2. "Church buyout wins 'crucial' funding". BBC News. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. "Right-to-buy community hub set to open in Portobello church". Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  4. "Bellfield is back in business – Action Porty". www.bellfield.scot. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. Sibbald, William. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects".
  6. Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: a survey of Scottish topography. statistical, biographical, and historical. New edition. Vol. V. London. 1894. p. 217.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. "Portobello residents rally in bid to buy Bellfield Church". Edinburgh Evening News.
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