In this edition of St Giles’ News, we hear of The Welcoming, a charity whose mission is to “welcome new Scots to Edinburgh, to build community and learn together” Supported by our Neighbourhood Group, their excellent work also presents a convenient editorial stepping stone, as we welcome another new Scot(t) to St Giles’!
Scott was inducted as our new Minister at a service on 29th April and the best wishes of all present were extended to him, at the start of his new ministry. Rev. Dr Donald MacEwan, University of St Andrews’ Chaplin, preached and welcomed Scott on his first Sunday in post We have reproduced an excerpt of Donald’s thoughtful and inspiring sermon in this newsletter, including his reflections of some notable figures who preceded Scott in his new role.
We hear from our diligent and dedicated Flower Team (who would also like to welcome new members!) and our hardworking Chief Steward, who reflect on recent special services, including a memorial for the late Alastair Salvesen, a celebration of Christian Aid’s 80th anniversary and the annual General Assembly Service. We are thankful to all involved for presenting St Giles’ beautifully during such occasions, and throughout the year.
With arrivals and welcoming, sadly there also comes departures: Rev. Dr Sam Nwokoro will be greatly missed when he leaves St Giles’ at the end of this month and, grateful for his time with us, we wish him well on his next adventure Before this, however, Sam tells us of another journey, one undertaken by members of the congregation and friends of St Giles’ along St Cuthbert’s Way. He provides a joyful and uplifting account of their pilgrimage.
For this, and more, you’re welcome to read on…
Welcome to the June edition of the St Giles’ News
One of the fun things about moving to a new city is discovering all the attractions, coffee shops, and restaurants there are close by to where you live. There are plenty to choose from in Edinburgh! I was sauntering down George Street the other evening when I noticed the Hard Rock Café – a mecca for tourists in any city. What really grabbed my attention however was the strap line affixed across the frontage of their building It read ‘Love All, Serve All ’
I immediately thought to myself what a great strapline that would make for any church, and what a statement for us at St Giles’ to aspire to It may not be a quote from Jesus in the gospels, but it may as well be. It sums up perfectly who we are called to be as his people
I can think of nothing better in the years to come than residents in our city and folk from further afield saying of us, St Giles’ is a place where they love all and serve all
It is difficult for those of us who are regular churchgoers to understand how a grand place of worship like our church can be somewhat intimidating to some people That is why it is so good that we offer opportunities for visitors to come in through the week and feel welcome, and for others to come and enjoy wonderful musical offerings in the marvellous environs of the Cathedral. These opportunities break down the barriers and offer an opportunity for those unfamiliar with church to become familiar and comfortable On Sundays too, it is so important for us all to welcome visitors in our midst, some of whom may be looking for a new church home and family
David and I have certainly felt extremely welcome in our first few weeks with you at St Giles’ I want to offer you our fulsome thanks for your kind and generous welcome It really is appreciated, and we look forward to getting to know you all better in the years ahead I cannot deny how thrilled I am to be among you and to serve as your Minister, along with the rest of the team.
My pledge to you as your Minister is this: I will try myself to lead by example – to love all and serve all.
Every good wish, Scott
We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and friendship from St Giles’ Cathedral over the past several years. Your generosity and commitment enable us to provide vital services that make a real difference in the lives of those we work with
Our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programme has recently seen a significant rise in demand, with more learners than ever before eager to improve their language skills and confidence.
This year, The Welcoming Association’s work has also focused on key areas including employability support - offering workshops, one-to-one advice, and targeted job application sessions to help New Scots navigate the Scottish job market
We have also continued our varied Friendship Programme which includes our weekly Conversation Café which has now moved to a bigger location at Gorgie Memorial Hall and Scotland for Newcomers – weekly outings around Edinburgh.
One of our key initiatives, the Community Fridge, has continued to provide fresh food to those in need, reducing food waste and promoting sustainability. With rising living costs, this resource has been invaluable to many individuals and families who rely on it
Your donations have helped us with the needs of service users who have emergency travel and other pressing necessities for which we don’t have funding
This could be helping someone who may be homeless, and we pay for a taxi so they can get to an organisation that can help them with their immediate needs
We are deeply grateful for the support from St Giles’ Cathedral, which has played a crucial role in helping our service users in their moments of need.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us Your generosity has a lasting impact, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership.
Jenni Flett, Communications & Campaigns Coordinator, The Welcoming
The Flower Team
After the lull during the weeks of Lent, it was a delight to be planning for Easter We were most grateful to the small band of volunteers who came forward to help us to pick daffodils at Preston Hall on Maundy Thursday (courtesy of the Callander family) We were joined by Thomas Maxwell and some young friends and in no time we had our buckets filled It was a happy social occasion, with hot cross buns to share before returning to St Giles'. On Easter Saturday, we were most grateful for extra hands to fill the troughs with the daffodils amongst ivy and birch twigs before placing them round the foot of the pillars Daffodils also brightened every alcove and surface in the cathedral and this year there were large bowls of larch and daffodils outside to welcome the congregation and visitors to the Easter services
The mood of celebration continued in preparation for the induction of our new minister, Rev Scott Rennie, on April 29th Eventually all the Easter displays were dismantled - always as big a task as their creation! We are careful to see that the spent flowers and foliage are compostedaccording to our aspirations to be recognised as an Eco Congregation.
In recent weeks we have had the challenge of several special services - the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, 8th May 1945, the Memorial Service for Alastair Salvesen on May 15th , followed by the 80th birthday of Christian Aid on the evening of 17th May and the service marking the Church of Scotland General Assembly, 2025 the following morning The flowers echoed the golden yellows of the Easter banners.
We are a small team of three, hugely aided by the expertise and guidance of Thomas Maxwell and supported by our hard-working Beadles. We are volunteers who 'learned on the job' and very much enjoy the privilege of working in this area of the life of St Giles' We are eager to add to our number - men or women, young or not so young Thomas has kindly said that he would be happy to give an introduction to the basics of flower arranging when we have identified some new volunteers Help can be given in a variety of ways apart from creating the displays: the flowers require watering several times between Sundays, especially in warm weather At Harvest Festival in October, we welcome help with arranging the fruit and vegetables donated and with distributing them after the service If anyone is interested in joining the team or offering ad-hoc assistance please contact the Cathedral Secretary, Corinne MacInnes
During the summer months and into early autumn, we try to make use of garden flowers and foliage as much as possible, but later on in the year we must purchase what we need We are sometimes asked how members and friends could contribute to the provision of flowers in church This can be done by ear-marking a donation to the Flower Fund and sending it to Corinne MacInnes This would be very much appreciated
Lorna Aikman, Liz Barnes and Lilian Davidson
Special Services
The Cathedral has had the privilege to host several additional and special services in recent weeks, including the following:
Memorial for Alastair Salvesen
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Alastair Eric Hotson Salvesen was held in the Cathedral on Thursday 15th May 2025
Alastair was a well-known successful businessman and landowner and the great grandson of Christian Salvesen who founded the successful shipping company in Leith in 1846
Educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Alastair trained as a Chartered Accountant before becoming involved in the running a number of well-known companies ultimately becoming chairman of many together with various other business interests
Alastair was a generous donor to a number of charitable institutions including founding the Salvesen Mindroom Centre at the University of Edinburgh and being the principal funder of Dovecot Studios
He was appointed a CBE in the 2010 New Years Honours for services to the arts and charity in Scotland. He was also a proud member of the Royal Company of Archers, the King’s Bodyguard in Scotland
Alastair and his wife Elizabeth were well known to St Giles’, having been married in the Cathedral In 1992, Alastair generously donated the funds to design and install the wonderful Rieger Organ that was dedicated to his late father and mother.
As one of his last acts he generously provided the funds for the recent refurbishment, and it was fitting that the works were completed for the organ to be played at the memorial service
The service, led by Rev Scott Rennie, was attended by over 500 friends and many close family and relatives to remember Alastair. His close friends Ian Crombie, Grenville Johnston and Robert Patullo all spoke and delivered eulogies to remember Alastair’s life and two Scots Songs were sung by Jamie MacDougall
It is fitting that there are now two plaques on the organ case that remember Alastair’s parents and also his generosity to St Giles’ and to arts and crafts in Scotland. A life well lived and generous to the end
Christian Aid 80th Anniversary Service
A service was held on Saturday 17th May 2025 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the formation of Christian Aid. This well attended service brought together people from all over Scotland to mark this significant anniversary This will be followed by a service in Westminster Abbey in London on Thursday 12th June 2025
Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty Its groundbreaking work began in 1945, when it was founded by British and Irish churches to help refugees following the Second World War.
For 80 years, Christian Aid has provided humanitarian relief and long-term development support for poor communities worldwide, while highlighting suffering, tackling injustice and championing people’s rights
The service was led by Rev Scott Rennie and included the history liturgy led by Val Brown, Head of Christian Aid Scotland and Patrick Watt CEO of Christian Aid Prayers and readings were led by the Very Rev. Sally Foster Fulton with music performed by Siskin Green and the Wild Goose Collective during the service The Address was given by the Rt Hon John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, who was accompanied by his wife and son
The service was a joyous occasion and filled St Giles’ with music and singing to celebrate 80 years of support and relief to those less fortunate than ourselves.
Church of Scotland General Assembly Service
On Sunday 18th May 2025 we celebrated the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at our 11am service.
This is one of a number of ceremonial services that are held in St Giles’ each year and involved processions representing civic Scotland.
The service was attended by the Lady Elish Angiolini, Lord High Commissioner, appointed by the King as his personal representative to the 2025 General Assembly
The service was led by Rev Scott Rennie with the sermon delivered by the Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the GeneralAssembly
I am grateful to the teams of stewards who provided much needed assistance with all the above services and provided the support to successfully deliver the ceremonial required
JM Andrew, Chief Steward
An Inspiring Welcome
Rev Donald MacEwan, Chaplin at the University of St Andrews, preached at St Giles’ on Rev Scott Rennie’s first Sunday as Minister of St Giles’ and recounted that he has known Scott since they were Probationer Ministers nearly 30 years ago, Scott in Aberdeen, Donald in Elgin. The have been friends ever since Donald said it was “an honour and a delight to be here with Scott and you as he begins his new ministry”.
Donald opened his sermon by reading from Acts 9:6, “Get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do”, words which, spoken by the risen Christ to Paul (at that time called Saul) stand at a threshold for a man and for the church. Donald recounted Saul’s sudden conversion on the road to Damascus and how as a result, his purpose radically altered, his enemies became his community - and so the community too changed.
Here follows an excerpt from Donald’s thoughtful and engaging sermon:
“Now, I am not implying that Scott Rennie has had a road-to-Damascus experience this year which has led him to enter the city of Edinburgh and occupy the charge of the Mother Church of Presbyterianism. But this is a threshold moment for him and for the people of St Giles’, and all who are touched by this kirk in the city, community, country and beyond As members of Presbytery on Tuesday night offered him the right hand of fellowship, it was akin to Ananias’ speaking the words [to Saul] – brother Scott. He is now an intrinsic part of this community.
Of course, his ministry here is but four days old The future ministry of St Giles’ – in worship and sacraments, preaching and teaching, music and the arts, pastoral care and ministry to city and nation is yet to be
There are a thousand contingencies which will affect the practical outworking of Scott’s ministry here There are almost definitely surprises in store No-one can know the details of future sermons, introits and anthems, visitor numbers, income and outgoings, and property reports for a medieval building. But the principles guiding this ministry are clear: in the presence of the risen Christ we continue to go out on the water, casting the net, preaching and worshipping, witnessing and caring, by his grace
Now, I might finish there But it strikes me, in this historic place, that it would odd not to reflect on that cloud of witnesses who have gone before us on this site, within the stones and under the roof and tower of St Giles’, who have served at table and in pulpit And so I spent a happy afternoon in the Library of St Andrews University, not least among the volumes of the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, the Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland.
There has been ministry here since the first Vicar, one John, in 1241, through the time of the Provosts, not least Gavin Douglas, one of Scotland’s finest poets, who translated Virgil’s Aeneid into Scots. Indeed, ministers of St Giles’ have often turned to the pen to further their ministry Some of the more intriguing titles include George Gillespie’s pugnacious work of 1648 entitled The Testimony of Mr George Gillespie against association and compliance with malignant enemies of the truth
Or Patrick Galloway, inducted in 1607, who wrote The Apology When He Fled to England – we may have a sequel from Scott some day Or who could forget the uplifting work of Alexander Hamilton (not the one immortalised at the Festival Theatre last year), minister here from 1689 – A Cordial for Christians Travelling Heavenward
Some I think have tried their hand at comedy. James Lees published a book in 1888 with the one-word title Tobersnorey – which, at a guess, may be less than flattering to the principal settlement on Mull That may have led to Harry Whitley’s book Laughter in Heaven – some here may remember him; he died in the mid-70s But despite laughter in heaven, this church has witnessed a significant measure of dispute, rancour and ferment The minister John Willock, inducted in 1560, had previously been arrested for heresy in England for abolishing diversity of opinion.
His successor in 1573 John Durie was called before the Privy Council and ordered to quit Edinburgh and desist from preaching Inducted in 1598, Robert Bruce was similarly prohibited from preaching upon pain of death
But perhaps neither were as strenuous in their desire to preach as Alexander Henderson, who served St Giles’ from 1639 He had earlier been presented for the charge of Leuchars in Fife but his settlement was so unpopular that on the day of his ordination, the church doors were found securely nailed up and he and his friends were obliged to enter by the window I was glad that Professor MacDougall was waiting to let us in the west door on Tuesday evening.
Alongside courage at times of ecclesiastical dispute, there has also been persuasive preaching James Lawson was minister from 1572 James Melville said of him: he was a man of singular learning, zeal and eloquence, whom I never heard preach but he melted my heart with tears No pressure, then, Scott
Or what of William Ritchie, who preached here from 1808 It was recalled that he had in the pulpit the piercing gaze of an old eagle; but he was of mild disposition and gentle in manners His sermons were delivered with great earnestness, a persuasive voice and the remains of an Ayrshire intonation They may substitute Aberdeen for Ayrshire when speaking of Scott in the future
We cannot ignore perhaps the most famous occupier of the charge, John Knox A whole sermon could explore Knox as a model (for good or ill) for modern ministry, but I suggest we hear just one description of him, made by the Regent Morton at his burial Master John Knox neither feared nor flattered any flesh There could be worse epithets or watchwords for ministry than that
There are multiple forebears for Master Scott Rennie, but he will be himself in this charge, as he has been himself, with integrity, in Brechin, Aberdeen and London, and in the significant role he has had in the church and beyond as one who loves God and his church, and loves husband, daughter, his wider family and friends
But this congregation too will be itself in 2025 and beyond, as it changes, grows, and people are drawn to this ancient space to worship, to reflect, to sing and to listen, to find community and to serve, casting the net on whatever waters we go out upon Get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do
I pray that the risen Christ, by his Spirit, will be with you all as you discern what it is you will do together in this city of Edinburgh, and in St Giles’, this ancient and living witness to the faith ”
We thank Donald for preaching at St Giles’, for so warmly and generously welcoming Scott, and for allowing us to reproduce an excerpt of his sermon here
St Cuthbert’s
Lenten Pilgrimage
On Wednesday, April 9, our feet were set on pilgrimage as part of the Younger Adults’ activity in Lent Members of the congregation and friends of St Giles’ gathered at Dryburgh Abbey to begin the journey - some joining for just that day, others committing to the entire stretch. For practical reasons, we made a slight concession - some might call it cheating - by omitting the first 12 km from Melrose Abbey to St Boswells With the Eildon Hills behind us, we embarked on a five-day journey that would ultimately carry us across the tide-washed Pilgrims’ Route to the Holy Island
Our journey began on Day 1 with fourteen pilgrims gathered on the grounds of Dryburgh Abbey
A kind warden welcomed us in and offered a brief introduction to the Abbey ruins, which date back to the twelfth century when the site was established for Premonstratensian monks on a bend of the River Tweed We set off along the river, crossed the Dryburgh Suspension Bridge, and continued on the riverside path until we encountered our first surprise: the Crystal Well
This nineteenth-century domestic spring, once powered by mules and donkeys, was a welcome innovation in its day especially for the maids who otherwise would have hauled water in heavy pails to upper floors Fittingly, we paused at the well; some of us drank from the spring, and we all shared in Anne Whiteford’s homemade cookies. We forgot to give thanks beforehand, but there was more than enough to go around and the ministers present were spared from having to miraculously multiply the cookies for the crowd
With strength renewed, we pressed on and soon stumbled upon our next landmark: Maxton Kirk, an eighteenth-century church, simple in structure and still active for worship Though we didn’t stop to pray - as good pilgrims perhaps should - we let our feet do the praying as we continued Not long after, we came upon a plaque recounting one of the many border battles: the Battle of Ancrum Moor in 1545 It holds a special place for the story of Lady Lilliard who, according to local lore, ‘fought upon her stumps’ even after ‘her legs were cuttit off.’ Our perseverance pales in comparison to that of the legendary lady, for we easily gave in to modern cravings and indulged in ice cream upon arriving at the Harestanes Visitor Centre, where we also bid farewell to two pilgrims heading back to Edinburgh
After being waylaid by ice cream, we traced the waymarking and carried on from Harestanes to another beautiful landmark - the Monteviot Suspension Bridge. Partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund in 1999 after the original footbridge was battered by floods in 1997, this ingenious structure suspended our feet safely above the Teviot We were walking on water
As we strode across the bridge, some of us wondered how St Cuthbert might have crossed to the south bank of the Teviot in his day. In hindsight, we probably should have been more concerned with sending an accurate Google location to our driver, who was slightly lost and delayed in picking us up at the end of our 20 km walk.
On the second day, we carried on from where we left off the preious day - the Jedfoot bridge A new tradition began of placing our walking sticks at the spot where we ended and would begin each day’s journey The bearers picked up their sticks as we crossed the A698 and followed the path that veered toward the beautiful, gentle slopes along the Oxnam Water With the sun shining brightly above, the slope to Oxnam Bridge rose, opening up to a lush, hilly plantation. At the peak, we caught a glimpse of the Waterloo Monument on Peniel Heugh, flanked by the Eildon Hills - an enduring reminder of our false start
As we strode across open lands and fields, our procession was cheered on by Wrens, Finches, and Chiffchaffs As the birdsong grew louder in the woods ahead, a member of the group suggested a 20-minute quiet walk. The peaceful pause was soul-lifting until the group’s admiration for a dog walker’s hound broke the silence. By this point, individual traits were becoming evident: some couldn’t keep their cameras away, while others couldn’t resist the sight of a wagging tail from afar.
Day 2 of our journey featured three memorable highlights First, Chloe, a Canadian member of the group, ceremoniously received her first Tunnocks Wafer from Richard, who had cherished the snack since his early years Next, upon arriving in Morebattle, we discovered that the town’s name had nothing to do with a fondness for large-scale pugilism; instead, it derives from an Anglian term referring to the settlement around Linton Loch before the loch was drained. Finally, we learned that Cheviot Manse, home to the minister at Morebattle, was once a police station. The cell bars still visibly protruded from the side of this pastoral residence This was either an unusual example of social transformation, where the church seemingly rendered law enforcement jobless, or the police simply relocated to a larger facility with bigger cells.
We enjoyed lunch in the garden at Cheviot Manse on this beautifully sunny day, stretching out on the grass and taking turns to use the facilities thanks to the kind permission of Rev. Colin Johnston, minister of the Cheviot churches Rev Johnston’s hospitality shone even brighter when he led us to the foot of our next challenge the ascent to the highest point of the Way. Perched at 1,207 feet, Wide Open Hill offered a humbling experience. Sadly, we had little time to savour the triumph of the ascent before we began our descent into the Bowmont Valley, aiming for the end of our 22 km saunter Yetholm, our stop for the day, beckoned from across the Bowmont Water. The evening there proved delightfully cultured: cold beer in the soft evening sun, followed by an after-dinner recital from Richard III delivered by the Rev Richard Frazer himself Some pilgrims are full of surprises
On day three, we left Yetholm, heading for Wooler We strode up and down the landscape before us, leaving the Pennine Way for the Border Fence. The dykes led us to the twin signs: ‘Welcome to England’ and ‘Welcome to Scotland ’ If the choice hadn’t been obvious, one would have to think carefully about which direction to take Knowing where we were headed, two pilgrims performed a border-crossing dance and playfully mimicked the accent of the new land. With just a sign, a stone, and a gate, we crossed into a new country a ritual that lightly contrasts what can be a heated political debate on a larger scale On this path, the pilgrim is neither a migrant nor a foreigner, but simply one walking in the company of others
We ascended Eccles Cairn, catching a final glimpse of the Eildons before continuing our journey past gates and woodland, eventually crossing Elsdon Burn onto Elsdonburn Farm. As we walked past the farm, a farmer’s tractor rumbled by, his cheerful sheepdogs leaping on and off with practised ease Later, we paused beneath a tree around Hethpool Bell to rest and reflect on the path we’d taken In a quiet, contemplative moment that felt almost Quaker in spirit, a stick was passed among us—each bearer sharing a thought before handing it to the next. We then carried on, crossed the College Burn, and were greeted by the striking view of three summits: Harelaw, Wester Tor, and Easter Tor Yet it was Yeavering Bell, rising to 1,158 feet, that lay closest to our path. We skirted its southern slope, while the hill’s northern edge, steeped in legend, looked down upon the River Glen believed to be the site where St. Paulinus baptized 3,000 Northumbrians in AD 627
After our lunch break not far from Yeavering Bell, we pressed on, covering a fair distance Our perseverance was soon rewarded with our first sighting of Wooler, a welcome glimpse of civilization after the long stretch From Wooler Common, we may have passed by the Kettles Hillfort Valley and its fabled Pin Well - where, on Fair Days, pins were tossed in with wishes, often for luck or a good husband. No pins were lost this time. Our eyes were fixed firmly on Wooler. The town greeted us warmly, and we laid down our walking sticks, marking the end of over 21 km Pints, hearty food, and soft beds quickly followed As we retired for the night, thoughts turned to breakfast not the full Scottish we’d grown used to, but a full English instead There might have been a few friendly debates about what would or wouldn’t appear on our plates come morning
On the fourth day, we picked up our walking sticks and set off once more. The day began on yet another bright note, continuing the stretch of fine weather we had enjoyed throughout the journey. We were remarkably fortunate - so much so that a few among us even ended up with sunburn. Our Waterproof trousers and windbreaker jackets remained largely unused, their services happily unneeded It soon became clear that we were being carried not only by the rhythm of our footsteps but perhaps also by the quiet prayers of a thoughtful congregation, willing the weather in our favour.
We strode across Weetwood Moor, descending into the Till Valley, where Weetwood Bridge came into view As we stood upon its weathered stones, a fellow pilgrim read aloud from Mary Low’s book, sharing the bridge’s historic significance. Spanning the River Till - the only English tributary of the Tweed - this bridge likely bore witness to the march toward the devastating Battle of Flodden in 1513 As we listened, a solitary crow nearby chipped away at something on the ground; nothing ominous, just fragments of boulder it seemed intent on dissecting That quiet scene, so ordinary and yet oddly absorbing, was all there was to stare at in the moment.
We continued walking, anticipating the next big spectacle: St Cuthbert’s Cave. But before we could reach it, we lost our way. The moment bore a striking resemblance to the words of the Japanese Zen poet Ryōkan: ‘Have you forgotten me or lost the path here? Now I wait for you ’ We found our way waiting for us, and blamed our detour on a fallen tree that had obscured the sign meant to direct us off the tarmac. We had to blame something.
Still, we found our way to the cave in the end a striking formation of massive rocks stacked upon and beside one another, sheltering a small cavern etched with graffiti dating back to the 1880s As a reward for reaching the cave in silence, Richard handed each of us a Tunnocks Wafer. We suspect he simply wanted a moment’s peace and what better way to get it? Unfortunately for him, the sugar rush soon kicked in, and the chatter resumed with renewed vigour as we pressed on Cresting the hill above the cave, we caught our first glimpse of Holy Island shimmering in the distance Then we dipped back into the woods and made our way to Fenwick, where we were to call it a day. The evening wrapped up with a St Cuthbert Pub Quiz at the hotel lounge A few bright sparks in the group just couldn’t help themselves, buzzing with answers before some of us had even finished reading the questions
The final day was truly special A group had travelled down from Edinburgh to join us for the last stretch, their presence adding warmth to what had already been a lovely experience Above us, the blue sky was perfectly mirrored by the tide-washed sand beneath our feet, creating a shimmering pathway as we walked across in the glow of low tide and bright sunlight Approaching the shore of the Island, we were warmly greeted by Murdo MacDougall With the help of his parents, he had brought some sacerdotal necessities from Edinburgh - an Alb, a Ghanaian Stole, palm fronds, Orders of Service, and the communion elements for Passion Sunday Since Schnauzers aren’t known for their hymn singing, Murdo patiently waited in the car while we held our Palm Sunday service in the St Cuthbert Centre on Lindisfarne.
We shared our final Supper at the Lindisfarne Inn, with eighteen of us gathered to celebrate the joys of the last day. We hope this won’t be the final Lent Pilgrimage for St Giles’. How good and pleasant it would be if, every Lenten season, a short Eucharist service marked the start of the pilgrimage accompanied by the ringing of the St Giles’ wooden bell in front of the Chambers Aisle to send forth pilgrims from the Cathedral year after year.
Music notes
As we approach the summer months, our musical calendar begins to fill up with more and more exciting concerts and events happening in the Cathedral Last month, myself and Jordan English gave two Sounds on Saturday Organ Recitals to large and appreciative audiences, with the refurbished Cathedral organ sounding in tremendous voice
Our chamber music series continues, with a variety of world-class musicians performing on Monday evenings – expect to hear everything from Mozart to Orlando Gibbons to Louis Spohr! We also have a ‘Music from the Movies’ event on Friday 4th July, including classic themes from Jurassic Park, ET, James Bond, and many more
Upcoming St Giles’ at Six highlights include chamber music from Emily Brockett and Karolina Kubalkova on the 15th June, an organ recital from Mark Brafield on the 6th July, Duo Ultima (a saxophone and piano duo) on the 13th July, and another organ recital from Kevin Duggan (Dunblane Cathedral) on 3rd August. Tickets are available for our Celebrity Organ Recital series on Eventbrite, with performers including our Cathedral organists, alongside James McVinnie, Andrew Forbes and Jan Liebermann
Our renowned Cathedral choir continues as usual, with services for Pentecost and Trinity Sunday bringing a terrific array of musical delights, including Palestrina, Elgar and David Briggs It is a privilege for me to work in such a wonderful place amongst such brilliant musicians, and we wish to share this with as many as possible, so do come and see us!
Jack Oades, Master of the Music
The AGM of the Friends of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral will take place on Tuesday 17th June at 7pm in the Cathedral The Friends of the Music was founded in 2007 by a group of people committed to ensuring that the musical life of St Giles’ continues to flourish. New members are always welcome.
After the AGM there will be a concert at 8pm by the McIntyre-Morris Duo, who appear in collaboration with Live Music Now Scotland. All are welcome at what promises to be an exciting and varied programme of music
The McIntyre-Morris Duo formed whilst James McIntyre (Tenor) and Ross Morris ( Classical Guitar) were studying together at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland They have since performed across the country, with highlights including the Usher Hall and the National Gallery of Scotland. As Live Music Now Scotland Artists, the duo enjoy performing to a diverse range of audiences, as well as delivering workshops and outreach programmes Their programmes focus on romantic and folk inspired music, ranging from Schubert to English folk songs They’re also passionate about increasing the repertoire for voice and guitar with their own arrangements
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD PENROSE PC
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of George Penrose on 1st May George was a dedicated and faithful servant of the St Giles’ congregation for many years. Persuaded by our then Minister, Gilleasbuig Macmillan, he became Session Clerk in 1986, following the death of Hunter Thompson, who had held the position for many years Though this was at a time when George’s legal career was burgeoning (he had been made Senior Counsel in 1978) he gave dedicated service to the Cathedral, to the Minister, to the Kirk Session and to the wider Church He served as Session Clerk for 26 years and was Procurator to the General Assembly from 1984 to 1990 By 2012, when he decided to step down as Session Clerk, he was a High Court Judge, had chaired one major public inquiry and was soon to embark on another one
This was at a time, too, when great changes were taking place at St Giles’, led by Gilleasbuig The new pattern of Sunday services had been introduced in 1983 and the transformation of the internal spaces of the Cathedral was in full swing All of this change was, inevitably, potentially unsettling for the congregation and Maureen Macmillan recalls how much Gilleasbuig relied on George at this time to act as a sounding board to listen to and to communicate with and reassure the congregation – a task he undertook with his customary understanding and good humour.
There was a strong bond between George and Gilleasbuig. Their common, west coast upbringings contributed to this, as did their encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of the people of St Giles’ and their many shared interests and contacts beyond the Cathedral This bond continued and George was among the last people whom Gilleasbuig visited before he died.
George was regular in his attendance at worship at the Cathedral and served as a steward, before he moved latterly to Cramond. His presence is still felt by the St Giles’ community. He will be greatly missed and the thoughts of all of us are with his family
Mark Batho, Session Clerk
A Heartfelt Farewell to Rev. Dr Sam Nwokoro
As we bid farewell to Sam at the end of this month, we do so with a mix of joy, gratitude and sadness. Sam has been an important part of our community for the last three years, bringing warmth, wisdom, and a lot of smiles.
Former Interim Moderator, Rev. Dr George Whyte:
“It was my privilege to work with Sam during my time in St Giles’. Reflecting on that journey in ministry I have two perspectives on this remarkable man.
The first is that I always had the sense that behind Sam was a wide hinterland. I certainly didn’t see it all but I glimpsed over his shoulder faith and family, a wide circle of friendship, a range of interests and knowledge, the footprints of a traveller amid years of meeting and questing and questioning
The second is the prospect of what might lie ahead The direction, never mind the road, might not be clear at this stage but for Sam and with Sam the future is full of promise May he have the gift of discernment as he seeks a new calling and opens a new chapter in his unfolding story
I am grateful for his friendship and the season in which we worked together. I wish Sam well for all that the years will bring ”
While we will miss his thoughtful and inspiring sermons, his unwavering dedication and his friendly presence, we are excited for Sam, as he moves on to his next adventure We wish him the very best in his future endeavours We will keep in in our prayers – and ask that he does not be a stranger!
We would like to give Sam a gift for him to remember his time here at St Giles’. If you would like to contribute to such a gift, your donation can be sent directly to St Giles’ bank account, sort code 8002-24 account number 00828227; please use the reference “SN Gift” when making such a transfer. Alternatively, cheques may be sent to the Treasurer, Finance Office, St Giles’ Cathedral, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE. A cheque should be made payable to St Giles’ Cathedral, and the envelope should be marked SN Gift.
You did know this man….
We were overwhelmed by the response our request in April's edition to help identify the subject of a photograph from the St Giles' archive - thanks to everyone who took the time to email and correctly named Rev George MacLeod, Founder of the Iona Community We are not asking for names this time, but thought the readers of St Giles' News might enjoy a few more snaps from the archive
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 Phemister, Head of Heritage & Culture sarah.phemister@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 wish to thank Peter Backhouse, Lilian Davidson, Kevin Hall, Donald MacEwan and Sam Nwokoro, who have provided their photographic skills for several of the images
