Interview with Calum Whyte

St Giles’ has a new addition to our amazing team of Beadles, and we sat down to get to meet him…

Welcome, Calum! Please tell us, what brought you to St Giles’?

I joined because it is a unique job undertaken in a unique setting. Further to that, activities at St Giles’ (of all kinds) are of huge importance to the people that undertake them It’s genuinely lovely to know that you’re helping to support that And the money, of course…

You’re a Beadle – tell us, what’s involved?

The Beadle reports directly to our Head of Heritage and Culture and the Minister but works with nearly everyone that is involved with St Giles’ Everything you see happening at St Giles’ will at some stage, likely, have involved a Beadle Whether that be the changing of our banners, ensuring the integrity and smooth running of our services or making sure the Cathedral stays beautiful.

We also do a lot of work behind the scenes such as a recent reorganisation of the Lower Aisle and helping to manage the renovations of our magnificent organ

We are also fairly adept at a good old chin-wag, so please feel free to come and say hello if you see us around.

Which part of your role do you most enjoy? You don’t have to say which you least enjoy unless you want to!

The part I enjoy most about my job is the variety. There’s something different happening each day and you always get a chance to learn new things and meet new people.

The least favourite parts of the job are usually a secret kept between us and the walls of the Beadle’s office

What is your favourite aspect of the St Giles’building?

Listening to the Organ, on an evening, looking East to West It’s an incredible view!

We’re in a place of change and challenge, as a church, a faith, and a country. What is the issue that – for you – presents the most difficult questions?

A big question I think that The Church still has incredible potential to have a leadership role on universal concepts such as Compassion, Charity, Community, Justice, Humility and Tolerance. The challenge would be to fight against an array of powerful political and commercial forces that would seek to obfuscate or dismantle such concepts, in world that is seemingly starting to forget their value

When you escape from the crowds and the noise of the city to the peace of a book and a beverage, what’s in the book, and what’s in the glass?

I’m a big fan of the late Kurt Vonnegut In the glass would be an excellent single malt (donations will be accepted at The Beadle’s office)