Members of St Paul's and St George's Episcopal Church in York Place have spent nearly three years worshipping in temporary premises while the massive renovation programme was carried out.
But on Saturday they moved back into the Grade A-listed bui
lding – exactly 300 years after the church was first founded.
The refurbishment includes internal balconies which almost double the capacity from 400 to 750 seats, a three-storey extension to provide multi-functional meeting rooms and a glass pavilion to provide a more welcoming entrance area.
The building now also has improved access for people with disabilities, a new sound and vision system, a fully-fitted kitchen to cater for large social gatherings and increased toilet facilities.
Rector Dave Richards said the money to pay for the revamp had come entirely through donations by members of the church, which had so far raised £5.3m.
He said the church had "agonised" over spending such a huge sum on a building.
But he said: "The last time it had any serious capital investment was when it was built 200 years ago."
Mr Richards added: "We are thrilled with the new facilities. It combines the best of the old with the best of the new. Anyone coming in will be pleasantly surprised. We want to be a church that is relevant to people."
St Paul's and St George's – known as "P's & G's" – was a struggling congregation of around 20 in 1985 when another Episcopal church, St Thomas's in Corstorphine, decided to mount a rescue operation by transferring 50 members to boost numbers and bringing in a new rector.
Since then, it has grown to be the largest Episcopal congregation in Scotland and one of the largest churches in the UK with nearly 800 worshippers.
The congregation moved out of the building in January 2006 and since then has worshipped at Pollock Halls as well as holding services at The Hub and the Mary Erskine School.
The church traces its origins back to August 1708, when Robert Blair became the first Episcopalian priest of a new congregation, which met in a room in Half Moon Close on Castle Hill.
A week of special celebrations to mark the re-opening began with two special thanksgiving services on Saturday.
The church will be open all week for people to pop in for a coffee and a tour, and other activities include a free lunch on Thursday for anyone in the area; a children's party on Saturday for all primary-age children; pizza and praise on Saturday for teenagers in S1-S6.
