The church was designed by an Edinburgh architect, Robert Morham, to a traditional gothic cruciform plan on an east/west axis.  The foundation stone was laid on 28th May 1870 and the inaugural services were held on 1st October 1871.  Originally known as Robertson Memorial and then as Grange Church, it took its present name – Marchmont St Giles’ – on 11th June 1972 when the three congregations of Grange, Warrender and West St Giles were united.

A glass panel giving information about the three uniting congregations is found in the screen separating the sanctuary from the St Giles' Room.  Through the congregation of West St Giles, the Church’s ancestry can be traced back to 1699.

The Church has some splendid Stained Glass, perhaps most notably the Paul window in the east wall behind the pulpit.  This is in memory of the Rev. David Paul, the Church’s minister from 1896 – 1919 and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1915.  As he was a noted botanist, the theme of the window “Consider the Lilies” is very apt.  The stools and chair cushions (also depicting lilies) in the chancel were made by members of the Craft Group.

On the communion table you will see a simple cross in memory of the Rev. W. Bruce Young, the first minister of Marchmont St Giles’, who died in 1973 just a few months after the union.  Note too the simple lectern and stand made of English Oak.  These were specially commissioned by the Church in 1990 and dedicated in 1993.  Made by Thompson’s of Kilburn, Yorkshire, they carry that firm’s world-famous mark – a carved mouse.  The stand is used to hold the Baptismal laver and basin which were made by Mungo Yorstoune and gifted to West St Giles Church (then known as the New North Kirk) by Mary Erskine in 1708.  The inscription on the laver is ‘MARY ARESKIN John 3:5 Except a man is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God’.

The candle holder was gifted to the Church in 2000 in memory of the minister’s wife, Hilda Stephen.  It was made by Andrew Draper of Coulston, Haddington.

The organ was installed in 1884 – but only after considerable discussion about the place of instruments in worship, a complaint to Presbytery and the resignation of one of the elders!  It is a two-manual Brindley and Foster, rebuilt by Mander in 1963 when the present console was installed.  It has 24 speaking stops and the pipes were placed in their present chamber above the vestry in 1923.  The organ had an extensive overhaul in 2003.  In 1997, a digital piano was gifted by one of the members.

The side chapel is in the south transept of the Church. When the chapel was converted it was paid with the funds provided by a member, Miss Elizabeth Donaldson, and dedicated in memory of her mother.  At the same time, Professor Tindal gifted the striking mosaic on the east wall of the side chapel in memory of his wife.  Designed by Ray Howard Jones and created by Ernest de Rosa, the theme of the mosaic is Te Deum Laudamus – We Praise Thee, O God.   A leaflet on the mosaic is available in the side chapel.