An old Edinburgh Bingo hall has been converted to become what is known as the “grooviest” contemporary church in Scotland, this church recently opened its doors to the public. With many churches (as well as bingo halls) closing down, the Destiny Church had actually outgrown its previous Leith venue, and the old Carlton bingo club suited its needs perfectly.
The venue has been converted to become a rock gospel venue, and houses a huge screen, cinema seats for 900 people, a community centre, and a café. The congregation of 450 and the church got together to purchase the building after having raised ₤300 000 in a mere six months. Two pastors of the church, Graeme Williamson and Peter Anderson who both trained as architects, said that they were excited at the prospect of the bingo hall building being restored back to how it was.
The bingo club opened in 1973 and finally closed down in June 2006, apparently the closure was due to the smoking ban, after which attendance at the bingo club dwindled quite dramatically. Before the venue was a bingo hall it was the Tivoli cinema. With so many former bingo clubs being closed and demolished, it is great news to finally see one that is being restored back to its old glory, and put to good use for the community. If not a bingo hall then why not a church, it still fulfills a useful community and socializing role, instead of being demolished and turned into flats or a parking lot.
Tags: Bingo hall, Carlton Bingo Club