ST GILES’ NEWS
April 2026
What’s inside
➢ Easter welcomes
➢ Night kitchens
➢ Familiar faces
➢ Food weightlifting
➢ Past prayers
➢ Bookkeeping
In this edition of St Giles’ News, we celebrate the extraordinary charitable efforts of our Neighbourhood Group, including a remarkable donation to the Edinburgh Food Project (an offering equal in weight to a humpback whale!), ongoing support for 6VT and to Winter Night Kitchens. The life of St Giles’ Cathedral and our Neighbourhood Group continue to be shaped by generosity, service, and a deep sense of shared purpose; and a commitment to caring for those who rely on a warm meal, a safe space, and a reminder that they are not forgotten
Also in this issue, our Minister shares updates on several exciting developments within the Cathedral, offering a glimpse of the work and vision shaping the months ahead, and we offer an insight into the work of Corinne MacInnes, our Cathedral Secretary, whose steady and often unseen efforts help keep the daily rhythm of St Giles’ running smoothly. Alongside this, we open a window into our past with a prayer from the Kirk Session of 1625 - a reminder that the faith and concerns of those who worshipped here centuries ago still resonate with us today. Their words echo across time, grounding us in a tradition that continues to inspire
Whether you are reading this in anticipation of Easter or in the glow of its celebration, may the stories in this edition encourage and uplift you, reminding us of the vibrant, faithful, and compassionate community we share.
Everyone has a favourite Easter hymn - there are so many to choose from! One of mine is ‘Now the green blade riseth’, written by John McLeod Campbell Crum, an Anglican vicar and theologian, who became a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral
The vivid imagery of the hymn finds its inspiration in John’s gospel where, Jesus says: ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’ The hymn itself reflects so much of Crum’s own life and experience and theological reflection on it.
He had known both joy and sorrow in his life In his mid 30’s he finally married, only to tragically lose his wife in childbirth, two years later. She was only 21 We don’t know, but perhaps this experience and his recovery from it was the inspiration for his moving hymn.
The verse that has always particularly moved me is his third: “When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain thy touch can call us, back to life again Fields of our hearts, that dead and bare have been, Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green ”
Anyone who has ever experienced loss of any kind, be that the loss of a loved one, the break-up of a relationship, the ending of a chapter in life, will know how awful and painful it can be. It can leave us as good as dead.
Correspondingly, when the days come when one can once again raise a smile, rekindle an interest, enjoy living again, it is one of the most precious feelings in the world
Of course, these words have particular resonance at Easter, if we remember a group of friends who had given up everything to follow their friend and his movement for a new vision of the world They too knew the devastation of loss, but were also, in time, to know his presence again in the sharing of bread and wine, and the blessing of his Spirit
The sense of the love of God, made known in Jesus, in our lives, through the love or compassion of others, or simply over time through reflection, the sense of this love that brought us to birth and sustains our living – has the power to call us back to life again Even if we have known the depths of loss
When I hear that hymn, and particularly the words of that last verse, I of course, recall losses I have suffered in my own life These experiences change us. But I also give thanks for Easter faith, for the love of friends and community, all of which remind us how precious life is, and while we have it, how good it is to appreciate it and enjoy it
Love is come again
Wishing you all a very blessed Easter. Scott
Easter: A Season of Hope, Growth and New Beginnings
As we approach Easter, a time that speaks of renewal, growth and hope, we would like to share how 6VT continues to walk alongside young people whose early experiences have deeply affected their sense of safety, wellbeing and belief in the future
Many of the young people we support have faced significant challenges through no fault of their own Some have grown up in care and carry a deep sense of loss Others have fled conflict, leaving behind home, school and everything familiar. Some have experienced harm that no young person should endure
Experiences like these can shape how a young person sees themselves and the world around them Confidence can be fragile Trust can be difficult Hope can feel distant
At 6VT, we believe that with steady, compassionate support, healing is possible. We provide safe, welcoming spaces where young people can begin to rebuild trust, grow in confidence and take steps towards a more positive future
When Ukrainian families were relocated to Scotland four years ago, we opened our doors to young people adjusting to life in a new country We created opportunities for them to meet other Ukrainian peers as well as local young people. From those early introductions, friendships formed and support networks developed Today, many of those young people are in further education and working towards stable and fulfilling futures.
All involvement in youth work is voluntary This means young people choose to engage with us, allowing relationships to grow at a pace that feels safe. Trust takes time. It is built through consistency, reliability and genuine care
We also continue to deliver our Cairn Service, which provides emotional and practical support to young victims and witnesses of crime It is the only dedicated service of its kind in Scotland for young people Since 2017, hundreds have come to us for support, many involved in serious cases that reach the High Court. Walking alongside them as they navigate the justice system and recover from trauma can take years We remain present, offering stability and advocacy throughout that journey
Even after the darkest times, new life and new beginnings are possible Through your support, young people who feel isolated, uncertain or deeply hurt are able to find safety, belonging and hope.
We are sincerely grateful to everyone at St Giles’ Your generosity is helping to create real and lasting change in the lives of young people. You can check out all of the services 6VT is currently delivering to our community here https://www 6vt info/6vtservices
Re-meeting Corinne
With a welcoming smile and a steady hand, our Cathedral Secretary, Corinne MacInnes, supports the daily life of St Giles’. This month, we’re delighted to share a glimpse into her world.
Before we get to anything else, tell us, how do you pronounce your name?!
I was named after the Bob Dylan song ”Corina, Corina” as when my mum was heavily pregnant with me it, came on the radio and she fell in love with the name. Unfortunately for me, she didn’t spell it the way Bob did! So, all my life I’ve been called so many different variations of the name My favourite being “Toyota!”
Could you tell us a bit about your role as Cathedral Secretary and what a typical day looks like for you – if there is such a thing as a typical day?
There definitely is no typical day, especially since Rev Scott’s arrival last year! However, most days begin with checking emails, answering phone calls, arranging meetings, making appointments in calendars for folk, booking meeting venues, greeting visitors to Vestry etc. Additionally, throughout the week, I spend time minuting meetings, preparing the weekly bulletin, sending Sunday service sheets to printers, communicating and liaising with trustees and convenors on Cathedral matters, arranging weddings, funerals, baptisms and keeping a record of all relevant and important paperwork for our own in-house records and Presbytery.
What is your favourite aspect of working at St Giles’(you don’t need to tell us the worst!)?
The people! I love, love coming to work and engaging with my colleagues. Such vibrant, enthusiastic and fun people to work with. I’m not on the shop floor as much as some of them but I do enjoy my engagement with congregation and visitors when called upon.
What is something the public rarely sees but is essential to keeping the Cathedral running smoothly?
Managing the Minister’s busy schedule and trying to make him take a day off! Near impossible task but we are getting there! The office is like Waverley train station some days it’s that busy. I’m trying to teach him the art of saying no every now and then - I don’t want him burning out too soon!
What is the most memorable moment you've experienced at St Giles’ during your time here?
The late Queen’s funeral. So proud to have played a small part in the preparation and running of the service. I felt very privileged to have had a behind the scenes insight into the running of such a huge moment in history.
What does your life outside look like?
My life outside of work revolves around my two sons who have just turned 13 and 9 in the last few weeks. If I’m not in the car ferrying them to Boy’s Brigade meetings and events, I will be pitch side supporting them on a Sunday morning. They also like to drag me up to Arthurs Seat on a regular basis as it’s one of our favourite spots in Edinburgh where we watch the world go by and soak up the views. I’m hoping as they get a bit older and less reliant on me, that I will have more free time to engage with my own health and fitness. I like to run and have signed up to take part in a race in early summer so training is commencing as we speak!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Outwith spending time with my boys, I love travelling and am a sucker for sunshine and a beach! Pre kids I travelled across Europe, Thailand, Cuba, USA, Singapore so my plan in the next few years is to head back further afield to see and experience more of this beautiful world we live in. Hoping my kids will want to come with me too though!
Are there books, music, or places that bring you particular inspiration or joy?
Everything about Ireland & Scotland. People, landscapes, even the wild weather! The beauty of both these countries are engrained in my heart and I have such a deep love for both. (Like asking me who is my favourite child!) My heart leaps when I arrive back into Edinburgh city and I spot the castle on the skyline. That feeling never fades and it’s been 30 years since I first set eyes and fell in love with Edinburgh. (The same feeling I get when I fly into Ireland and see the green fields beneath).
Nothing says ‘special service’ like hoovering in full formal wear - above and beyond!
Here and Now: From Our
Minister
Along with Spring comes the resumption of the annual round of civic services at St Giles’ which places us, and the gospel, at the heart of Edinburgh and Scotland’s life I have to say that following Christmas, if I expected a quieter few months at St Giles’, I was mistaken But that is the wonder of St Giles’ We are now running full steam ahead toward visitor charging I hope we will commence this in June. Our ticketing software is ordered and infrastructure planned The Kirk Session will soon be asked to set the charge, with a free pass for all who are resident in Scotland, with the request of a donation We are about to recruit a new front of house team on the Cathedral floor to facilitate a new and improved level of interpretation for visitors when they come
One area I am particularly keen to develop is a more holistic sense for programming to Cathedral life, where we join up our worship cycle with our cultural offer through the week. For example, at Harvest time, if we have sustainability as a theme, we can address that theme in worship, but also in displays or exhibitions on the Cathedral’s floor and through our cultural offering This kind of joined up approach to Cathedral life is something that Sarah O’Connor, our Head of Heritage and Culture, and I are both keen to develop going forward
One new addition to worship from September will be a midweek Choral Evensong at the Cathedral, likely in a teatime slot on Thursdays Jack Oades and I both believe it will be a success on the Royal Mile. To facilitate this, we plan to launch a choral scholar scheme this summer to offer students and other talented young people an opportunity to sing at St Giles’ and contribute to our round of worship If you might like to support a scholar, please contact Jack directly
As we move through this time of change and opportunity can I ask that you remember us all in your prayers? Change whilst necessary and exciting, can also be challenging for people. My commitment to you is that any change which occurs this year will have only one goal in mind – improving the life, witness and sustainability of St Giles’ for the future. Thank you for your kindness and support
Scott
Here and Then: From A Minister Past
Pictured is a prayer which was used to open St Giles’ Kirk Session meetings in the seventeenth century This one (there are a few variants) comes from October 1625 The transcription was provided by Dr Kevin Hall
Edinburgh – St Giles’ Kirk Session Minutes (1625-1657), CH2/136/84. CH000200136-00084-00002-jpg @National Records of Scotland. Copyright restricted. For enquiries regarding the re-use of this image contact National Records of Scotland
“O gracious god and loving father we humblie beseik thy holy majestie for thy christis saik to be p[rese]nt in mercie with vs in giving thy blessing to all our effairis and seeing thou arte onely wyse Be thou our wysdome in all our adoes and grant that all partialitie and corrupt affectiouns quhatsumever sett asyde we may deal in all matters p[rese]nted to vs with upright hairts and single eyes as in thy presence sua the first of our travels be thy special grace may always tend to the glorye of thy name the welfair of this one native toun and comfort of everye faithful member of the same Through Jesus Chryst our onelye lord and saviour So be it.”
Winter Night Kitchens
We approach the end of a winter’s catering for homeless folk at the Bethany Welcome Centre As usual, the Neighbourhood Group has financed and undertaken 3 nights of catering in November, February and March: this year we have also financed a fourth night, by way of helping out in emergency.
This winter’s catering has been our most agreeable, by far. Through the kind co-operation of Canongate Kirk, we have been able to use the Harry Younger Hall kitchen to prepare and cook the food It is a splendid kitchen, well-appointed Parking of cars delivering supplies and picking up the prepared food to take it to the Welcome Centre on Gorgie Road has been wonderfully problem-free The Canongate Kirk secretary has been endlessly helpful and Neil Gardner, the Minister, has always called in to wish us well and to see that we have all we need It is a pragmatic model of good co-operation between our two parishes To Canongate, our grateful thanks
Each night kitchen cooking time lasts from 5pm until 7 30pm with a team of six people preparing and cooking 70 two-course meals which are transported from Canongate to the Welcome Centre on Gorgie Road There, the meal is served from a heated trolley unit donated by the Neighbourhood Group a number of years ago The guests come for their meal and are individually served at their tables by Neighbourhood Group volunteers. The whole operation ends at 10pm
It is all so very different to conditions 15 years ago when we first began participation In those days, guests turned up at a different church hall every night They had been evicted at 7am, had spent a winter’s day in the streets and turned up for their night’s bed and board cold, hungry and not infrequently resentful, sometimes even inherently aggressive, understandably. They filed past the serving hatch like prisoners in a gaol. Each person was given a foam-rubber mat and a blanket to bed down on the floor After breakfast at 7am they were again on the move, carrying all their worldly possessions, for another day in the cold We all tried to engage with them in a kindly, humane way, but it was indeed a harsh, bleak existence to be endured each winter
The contrast with today’s provision could hardly be more stark 555 Gorgie Road, formerly student accommodation, gives each guest a single room with en-suite facilities and laundry provision. Guests have a temporary home there. They have a breakfast, a sandwich lunch and the 2-course meal: everything is done by committed Bethany staff to give them a sense of identity. Their dignity is respected. Unsurprisingly, they seem more at ease, betteradjusted, happier individuals Some good did come from the Covid experience!
This Bethany operation each winter relies totally on volunteers, from some 70 congregations in Lothian and Fife Every month, an SOS comes out from Bethany appealing for a team to step into the breach and help out.
In our own limited world, the same small team carries the winter’s catering We have been fortunate, this year, to have been joined by two new people: we would be very grateful if others would join us for next winter
Neighbourhoodgroup@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Christ is risen.
The following is what I wrote 17 years ago when we raised the Easter banners for the first time In the ensuing years the church had been cleaned, new lighting installed and gold leaf has highlighted bosses and stonework The banners were awarded The Saltire Award for Art in Architecture in 2009, a great honour for our group. They will be up this Easter from Easter Sunday 5 April.
Sheana Stephen Ashton
The banners give a visual expression of the Easter words The motif of the sun symbolically represents the Son of God Viewed from any angle, anyone looking at any two of the banners will notice that the sun-motif is higher on one than on the other This is to give a sense of the sun rising Here at the Sanctuary, at the very centre of the church, the sun rises and gives new light and new hope to the world, as Christ’s resurrection brings new light and new hope to us all
The sun motif is stylised to echo the traditional shapes of halo and Celtic cross. The colours of yellow, white and gold are liturgically associated with Easter. Silk, cotton, satin, small mirrors and metal foils are used to make the sun rays as rich and vibrant as possible against the pillars in the dark interior of the church Each banner is over twenty feet long and over ten miles of thread was used in the sewing
Over the past two years, twelve members of the Thistle Quilters have met every two weeks to create the four banners. The team was led by Georgina Chapman, secretary of the Thistle Quilters, who also gave her sewing machines and her house to serve as a workshop Happy hours of ironing, piecing, cutting, pinning, layering, sewing and quilting were punctuated with fresh home- baking from Jean Ferris and with lots of happy chat and laughter. The design was by Sheana Stephen Ashton, who was honoured to be part of this team
“Christ is Risen”, designed by Sheana Stephen Ashton, constructed by the Thistle Quilters, led by Georgina Chapman Donated by Jane Barbour in memory of her mother, Margot Massie
March 2009
Thanks to St Giles’
This month Victor Ashton received this rather lovely certificate from The Edinburgh Food Project. It marks the achievement of both the congregation to donate so much over the years, and also of Victor’s muscles - as he has delivered nearly all of that by hand!
As we continue marking the National Year of Reading, we’re pleased to bring you the next instalment of our book feature, offering recommendations or reflection on books which have inspired or stayed with people in our community. Contributions to this new feature are warmly welcomed.
If you have a book – be it a novel, non-fiction or a biography, a short story, or even a poem – which has inspired you, sparked your imagination or simply brought you joy, we would love to include this in a future edition. Please email your literary reflections to emma.potter@stgilescathedral.org.uk.
Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid week this year runs from 10 - 16 May We will be holding the usual envelope collection in the Cathedral on Sunday 10th May Opportunities to donate will also be available through a QR code, which will be circulated in the weekly bulletin and Sunday intimations
People are well aware of the difficulties in the world at the moment in some very vulnerable communities, so any donations that people feel able to make will be much appreciated If members of the St Giles' Community would like to fund raise in other ways, e g holding a quiz, participating in the Kiltwalk, holding a coffee morning or running a bread and cheese lunch, for example, please contact Helen Heatlie and share your ideas
helen.heatlie@gmail.com
Sewing new Napery
Thank you to all the members of the congregation who have donated linen bedding, family damask table clothes and napkins. The banner guild have ironed, measured, cut and sewn them into new napkins and communion table covers
With spring in the air and new blooms appearing it seemed a good time to share once again some of the skills of the flower arrangers.
Membership
Baptisms
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)
Charlotte Esme Murray Coles baptised by Rev Dr George Whyte on February 15th Cassandra Fern Mottram baptised by Rev Sigrid Marten 1st March
Deaths
“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8)
Liz Barnes (D6) who died on 17th March.
Sheila Spalding (D2) who died on 27th February.
Mrs Gail Maxwell (D2) who died on 18th February.
Rev Ian Davidson MBE, (D5) who died on 16th February.
Leone Cockburn (non congregation member) but who was a long term friend of St Giles' Cathedral, who died on 11th February.
Contact information
St Giles’ staff and office bearers can generally be reached by email on addresses in the style firstname lastname@stgilescathedral org uk or jobtitle@stgilescathedral org uk Some commonly needed addresses are:
Scott Rennie, Minister minister@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Sigrid Marten, Associate Minister SMarten@churchofscotland.org.uk
Jack Oades, Master of the Music jack.oades@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Sarah O’Connor, Head of Heritage & Culture sarah.oconnor@stgilescathedral.org.uk Beadles beadle@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Several members of the team also monitor the comms@stgilescathedral.org.uk address, which can be a good way to get a general question directed to the right person!
Useful telephone numbers:
The Cathedral Secretary 0131 225 4363 Beadles' Office 0131 226 0672
Cathedral Shop 0131 226 0673
Finance Office 0131 225 8683
Heritage & Culture 0131 226 0674
Picture credits
We thank Peter Backhouse, Lilian Davidson, Michael Havelin, Keir Eunson and Sheana Ashton, who have provided their photographic skills for several of the images