Restoration Update #1: Construction Begins

Neil MacMillan at The Old Schoolhouse, Morningside Road on 30th June 2020

After several years of design and planning along with the generous donations of people within the community and beyond, we’re pleased to announce that the restoration work on the Old Schoolhouse has begun. With construction estimated to take 17 weeks, the team at Cornerstone is delighted that the building will be reopened towards the end of the year to serve the local community.

As minister of Cornerstone I want to thank all those who have worked to get us to this milestone. The congregation at Cornerstone and friends and supporters around the world have given generously to allow us to move ahead with the restoration project. We are hugely grateful to them. Our architects, Mills & McCullough, have produced a design that cherishes what is best about the Old Schoolhouse whilst updating the building for the needs of today.  It’s tremendous to look ahead now and know that in a few months the work will be complete and the church and community can again enjoy this great building.

— Neil MacMillan (Minister at Cornerstone Church)

With the Old Schoolhouse approaching its 200th Birthday, Cornerstone looks forward to welcoming back local community groups such as Morningside Minis into the transformed building. The building has been designed for flexible use including the ability to have both in-person and online events.

The finished building will provide a safe, secure and welcoming public space for the enjoyment of the local community in Morningside and Bruntsfield. With over £200,000 of generous donations along with some borrowing in place we’re thankful that we’re able to undertake this project. If you’d like to support the restoration work or the ongoing maintenance of the building please visit Back the Project.

We are delighted that the Old Schoolhouse project has now started on site. A significant occasion for both our client Cornerstone and the local community, but equally to conserve this special building for future generations. The project aims to transform the building to provide a contemporary and adaptive facility for the church and community groups to use and enjoy.

— Nick Mills (Architect at Mills-McCullough)

We at Smith & Mcmath Ltd are super excited to be involved in the restoration of the cornerstone building. The building has so much history, character and features, everyone I have discussed the project with knows exactly which building we are restoring. The delivery of the project is made a little more difficult due to the confined space, however we are confident the end product will make the Cornerstone Church and congregation very proud to be part of.  

— Colin Smith (Director at Smith and McMath)

From left to right; Cornerstone, Arniston Consulting, Mills + McCullough, Thomson Gray & Smith and McMath