Project 140

Project 140 is an initiative to renovate our building at 65 High Street so that it can continue to be used to serve God and share the gospel for at least another 140 years. 

Located in the centre of the historic old town area of Edinburgh, on the Royal Mile, the Carrubbers building at 65 High Street has stood for 140 years as a mission hall or church for the entire time. Built by D.L.Moody, this wonderful listed building is home to Carrubbers Christian Centre. In 2023 we decided to renovate the building (Funding Subsite). Work began in September 2025, and is scheduled to complete in late 2026. 

During the renovations our morning services are at the Faith Mission Bible College in Gilmerton in the South of the city (map), with our evening services at the German Speaking Congregation in Marchmont in the centre of the city (map).

  • More details about our arrangements during our temporary departure from 65 High Street are covered on the Move Out page.
  • Most of the time we have to fully setup the Faith Mission to host Carrubbers, but sometimes there are sections we can leave up. Details at. Project 140 Setup.
  • Detailed notes about how to Setup Sound and Setup Streaming are also available.

Why do we need to improve the building?

The core condition of the building needs improvement, but in addition there are aspects of the building which will benefit from improving.

Accessibility
  • Entrances – The accessibility to the building entrances is poor. The main entrance includes a number of steps and our side entrance is down a steep slope which concludes with a sequence of steps.
  • Mainhall - There is only one space at the back of the mainhall that anyone in a wheelchair can be placed. This has a very restricted view when others are standing, limits any involvement in the services, and reduces the ability to socialise after the service.
  • Toilets: Accessible toilets are located on the lower floor with no stair free route from the main hall
  • Upstairs: There is no stair free access to the 1st and subsequent floors. This includes the Oak Hall on the first floor.

Project 140 plans to install lift access from lower to first floors, improve accessible toilets for multiple floors, create an easier access front entrance, modify the mainhall to create wider access routes to allow wheelchair access to many areas, and create a same level drinks/food area.

Flexibility for children’s ministry

We are blessed with over 90 children up to 18 years old and need more flexibility and use of space/rooms to allow us to offer the most amazing children’s and teens ministries we can.  

Plans

Diagrams of what the building will become are included in the Funding Subsite. Below is the presentation to the congretation in April 2025.

An update from the 10th May 2026. 2026-05-10 Church Service P140 Church Update.pdf.

Funding and Pledge Form

The 2023 estimate for the work was £1.8m, to be covered in part by selling the manse, obtaining grants and external funding, with a large portion from donations and pledges. If you'd like to financially support the project, bank details are available to logged in users on our Giving pages, and by email to project140@carrubbers.org. When making your donation please ensure that you use the reference Project 140.  A Pledge Form is also available to communicate your future intent.