If our newsletters were to have a theme, a contender for this edition would light and renewal. As illustrated on the cover, St Giles’ stunning crown spire is resplendent, newly lit following a refurbishment, thanks to generous donations and the hard work of the General Committee
In this edition, we learn more about the new lighting, along with vital ongoing maintenance in the Cathedral We reflect on St Giles’ day, which saw the unveiling of our beautiful new banners, and hear about these and other embroideries held by the Cathedral. The story of revivification continues with updates on our search for a new Minister, details of musical commissions and a new guidebook, plans for the younger persons’ group, and we ‘meet’ Jack Oades, who will, in January, take over as our new Master of the Music To continue the light theme, you will learn why no one can hold a candle to our Treasurer when it comes to cost savings and we shine a spotlight on volunteering. We celebrate the brilliant work of our Neighbourhood Group and charity partners, hear from our friends at Canongate, and reflect on recent installations in the Cathedral
We hope you find this edition illuminating
Welcome
Every Sunday morning, after singing the introit, the choir processes from the east The procession, joined by the ministers at the Holy Cross Aisle, moves past the north transept, heads west, and then turns up the central nave toward the Holy Table
Walking this path, one cannot help but notice two significant statues: the shell-shaped baptismal font held out by an angel near the Holy Cross Aisle, and the statue of John Knox positioned by the vestry. On the surface, the latter represents the image of a 16th-century religious reformer and iconoclast, while the former is a 19th-century sculpture inspired by the work of Bertel Thorvaldsen (d. 1844), a Scandinavian neoclassical sculptor who spent much of his life and career in Rome
On a deeper level, however, each of these symbolises, on one hand, our religious heritage and, on the other, the rite of open invitation that is central to our calling. As a congregation, we tread carefully along the path where our historical and theological heritage intersects with our ongoing efforts to remain relevant in all aspects of life and culture, welcoming all who feel drawn.
This year, we mark nine centuries of religious and political history, dating back to 1124, within a space that remains, primarily, a place of prayer and praise to God On Sunday, 24 November Christ the King Sunday we will conclude the celebration of our 900th anniversary, which was marked by a special service on St. Giles’ Day. In that service on St Giles’ day, we were urged by the Interim Moderator to look ahead into the future for what God might be calling us to be and to do.
St Giles’ continues to be a place that captivates the pilgrim and the worshipper. It remains, as the Very Rev. Charles L. Warr once described in a 1929 Advent sermon, “strangely solemn in grandeur, severe in dignity, and casting a mellow glow from distant centuries.” We strive to be present in the heart of a lively city as a worshipping congregation within the ancient walls of an active sanctuary that is both mellow and glowing glowing with the redeeming message of the Christian gospel Like the illuminated crown spire on our city’s skyline, may St Giles’ remain a beacon of light and hope for all.
Sam
Edinburgh Food Project is much more than just a foodbank service - there’s a lot more to us than packets of pasta and tins of beans With the seven foodbanks we run across the city, Edinburgh Food Project provides immediate relief from hunger and worry for those people who simply don’t have enough money to live on Many of the people we see at our foodbanks are working people on low incomes, people who don’t earn enough to be able to meet the costs of daily life
As well as providing immediate access to food for those who need it, Edinburgh Food Project also offers a Money Advice Service Through this service, we can directly support people who need help with debt, budgeting, and benefits claims, reviews, and appeals. The support we offer is crucial because we often find that people we meet are on the wrong benefits or aren’t getting everything they are entitled to We work with people through the whole process, offering support when they’re under real financial pressure and providing a network of specialist partners too - everything from housing and energy advice to opening a bank account or applying for a job.
Last September, the Community Hub at the Thistle Centre of Wellbeing in Craigmillar was opened and saw us operating this foodbank in a new way. Instead of receiving our standard food parcel which has been prepared in advance, at Craigmillar people are issued with a shopping list of food and other essentials People can then select the items on the shopping list from the shelves in a similar way to how they would in a supermarket Representatives from our Money Advice Service are also there in person during foodbank hours to offer support and advice to anyone coming to use the foodbank.
We recognise the importance of the power to choose what you eat and when you interact with our services. We are committed to making sure we provide emergency food for the people who need it in the most dignified way possible and the Craigmillar Hub is a positive example of this
2023 was our busiest year yet, we gave out 20,361 emergency food parcels to people living in crisis, and with the cost of living, this year has been even busier. So far this year we have given out a staggering 11,468 food parcels.
The St Giles’ Neighbourhood Group has been supporting Edinburgh Food Project since 2015 with almost weekly donations of food. This year alone they have donated approximately 2,523 kilos worth of food which is the equivalent weight to one white rhino Their incredible generosity has helped make a huge difference in the lives of so many people struggling to put food on the table across the capital.
Rebecca McGuire, The Edinburgh Food Project
A new guidebook for 2024
The long-awaited new St Giles’ guidebook has been completed and is now available to purchase in the shop. The book has undergone a complete rewrite and aims to both present St Giles’ within the context of Scottish history as well as providing detailed descriptive information about the cathedral itself. It should be an invaluable source to those visiting as well as members wishing to know more about the history of the Kirk
We designed the book in our house style utilising the brilliant design skills of Keir Eunson. We focussed on created a classic and clean look and included lots of beautiful and powerful photographs which really show St Giles’at its best
It was a real team effort to get the guidebook completed, it’s no mean feat to try and condense the story of St Giles’ and its 900 years of history. Sincere thanks go to all our contributors and willing proofreaders
Sarah Phemister, Head of Heritage and Culture
900th St Giles’ Day
1st September 2024 was an auspicious day on which to mark 900 years of worship on the site of St Giles’. In honour of the occasion, a single extended service was held at 10am, following on from a short service of Holy Communion at 8am
The Cathedral filled with congregation, visitors and invited guests, as the Assistant Organist set the festive tone with a Fanfare by John Cook There was more fanfare to come: the Call to Worship by the Interim Moderator, Rev Dr George Whyte, recalling the grant by King David the First of a parish church for the new City of Edinburgh was celebrated by the brass instrumentalists of the Wallace Collection Present thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Music of St Giles’, the brass players gave a tremendous lift to the entire service, in arrangements by Andrew Carvel, a member of the Cathedral Choir, for each of the hymns
A suitably thrilling opening of the first hymn, ‘Christ is made the sure foundation’ saw the procession of choir and clergy move to the sanctuary The choir were led by David Hall, Beadle, carrying the St Giles’ banner, with its image of the crown spire on the front, and the message “Glory to God in the High St” on the reverse, while the Ministers were led in the procession by the cross.
The hard work of the Banner Guild, under the expert leadership of Sheana Stephen Ashton, in the past months was displayed in the four new banners and pulpit fall, depicting St Giles and the hind In the culmination of a sequence of reflections from representatives of the 900 Committee, the Congregation and the Nominating Committee appointed to seek a new Minister for St Giles’, Sheana described the banners’ design and offered them to the Cathedral, in response to which a Prayer of Dedication was spoken by the Associate Minister, Sigrid Marten.
Lessons were read by the Depute Lord Provost, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, and by the Session Clerk, Mark Batho; and the Interim Moderator gave a thought- (and perhaps action-) provoking sermon on the question of ‘What Comes Next’ – addressing the questions, ‘What does God want to do?’ and ‘How are we going to do it?’
The musical highlights continued with the Choir singing their final commission for the 900 Choirbook, Jerusalem Jubilate by Sir James MacMillan, and with a rousing performance of Parry’s famous anthem ‘I was glad’, which made full use of the brass instrumentalists.
An additional musical item was the sung doxology as the offerings were brought forward, after which the Associate Minister, Sam Nwokoro, led the prayer of dedication
The Ministers gathered at the Holy Table to present the Bible and the elements of Baptism and Eucharist, symbolic of the Word and Sacraments that ‘make us what we are’ The congregation then joined in a Litany of our High Calling, responding to intercessions with the prayer ‘May we respond with faith and commitment’. The closing hymn ‘Now thank we all our God’ united voices, organ and brass in joyful praise of God’s gifts to us all
The service in the Cathedral was followed by a splendid reception in Parliament Hall, with sparkling wine and a great deal of cake In his speech of thanks, the Interim Moderator particularly thanked Anne Whiteford, the Convener of the 900 Committee, who had sadly been unable to attend the celebrations due to illness.
Anne – again – thank you!
The work of the Nominating Committee
The process of nominating a new Minister for St Giles’ is now well underway I hope that you will have seen the parish profile on our website and the advertisement for the post. The closing date for applications was 30 September 2024.
In early October, the nominating committee will meet to discuss the applications and agree an initial shortlist of candidates We are a diverse group from across the congregation and I hope we will bring a range of perspectives to bear on this crucial decision.
The committee will interview the shortlisted candidates. We will also give them the opportunity to see the church and the manse. We hope the candidates will be able to meet some of the ministry team and our colleagues in Heritage and Culture
After the interview day, we will agree on the final candidates At this point, the entire nominating committee will hear those candidates conduct public worship and preach. We will then interview them for a second time We will have a final set of meetings to decide if we are able to nominate a new Minister for St Giles’
We will keep the congregation up to date with our progress We need to maintain absolute confidentiality throughout the process, but we can let you know when we have reached the milestones outlined here. If all goes to plan, we might be able to make a formal announcement in December or January If we cannot agree on a candidate, then it is possible to reopen the process and advertise the post again.
The Nominating Committee would appreciate your prayers at this time As Dr Whtye said on St Giles’ Day, our central question must be: what does God want for St Giles’? We have been influenced in our thinking by a book called How to Make Great Appointments in the Church by Claire Pedrick and Su Blanch This book reminds us of the need to keep an open mind, be receptive to what the Spirit is telling us, and consider candidates who might bring unique gifts that we had not previously considered We are looking for a candidate who demonstrates the right calling, competence, and chemistry for St Giles’.
It is a daunting task, but this is also an exciting time of new beginnings for St Giles’. We hope to bring you more news soon.
Alan Convery Convener, Nominating Committee
News from down the High Street
As well as hosting the usual range of concerts and recitals during the Fringe, Canongate Kirk was more involved than before in the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Festival this year We held the opening service on Sunday 11th August, when music was supplied by the choir of the Robin Chapel and the address given by James Holloway CBE, formerly Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery We were also the venue for two more Sacred Arts Festival events – “Refuge and the Road Home” with poets Christine de Luca and Elspeth Murray, and the final of the Edinburgh Sacred Art Foundation’s Young Composer competition, when prizes were presented by Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music. I was invited to preach at the closing service in the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart in Lauriston Street, and we look forward to being involved again with the increasingly popular Sacred Arts Festival next summer.
Looking ahead, Canongate Kirk will be marking the 250th anniversary of the death of the poet Robert Fergusson on 16th October 1774, at our morning service on Sunday 13th October Fergusson was initially buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in Canongate Kirkyard before Robert Burns came and identified the spot and commissioned a gravestone complete with epitaph:
No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, No storied Urn, nor animated Bust; This simple stone directs Pale Scotia’s way To pour her Sorrows o’er her poet’s Dust.
The guest preacher at our united evening service in Canongate Kirk at 7pm on Sunday 27th October will be The Right Revd Shaw Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly.
16th November is the day we traditionally commemorate Queen Margaret, saintly mother of King David I, after whom the tiny chapel in Edinburgh Castle is named As President of St Margaret’s Chapel Guild, I usually lead a series of short services for Guild members and guests in the chapel on St Margaret’s Day, but this year as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations there will be one service in Canongate Kirk at 11 30am on Saturday 16th November The service will be shared with representatives from the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church and non-Guild members are welcome to attend!
Rev Neil Gardner
900 Voices – reaching out
900 Voices, a participative sound art project by Zoë Irvine with Lindsay Perth and Jules Rawlinson, was commissioned as part of our 900thAnniversary celebrations. More than 2200 people visited during the International Festival to experience the sound work. Associate Minister, Rev. Sigrid Marten, reflects on her experience of the project.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit at one of the 900 Voices evenings in the summer when I had the opportunity to experience the results of many weeks of preparation and recording with people from all over Edinburgh.
In the Cathedral we are used to hearing individual voices, communal singing and choral performances in our formal worship every week Themes of belonging and community are close to our hearts through our Christian tradition. In this fascinating installation we hear people from all walks of life talking about where their sense of belonging comes from, how and with whom they feel connected - or disconnected It was as if we were bringing the people of Edinburgh into St. Giles’and offering them opportunity to tell their stories.
Very quickly I became engrossed in snippets of conversation, and wished I could have heard more So many voices, so many experiences, views and thoughts explored; so many emotions expressed so eloquently... I heard reflectiveness, curiosity, honesty, joy, pain, loneliness - and children’s laughter ringing through the Cathedral. Sometimes phrases were repeated, or words. Sometimes sounds grew from the tone of a human voice, sounds that were hardly recognisable as coming from a person.
As well as being drawn in by those individual voices and stories, it was also lovely to see how visitors engaged with the installations: some huddled up to speakers, listening intently on their own, some wandering about soaking up the whole atmosphere, some sitting on chairs in conversation with others about what they had heard
To me, it has been a real blessing to experience the amazing space and acoustics of St Giles’ Cathedral in a completely new, enriching and inspiring way. I think there may be something we as a congregation can learn from this project about going out into the wider community and listening to people’s stories, helping their voices to be heard and celebrating our common humanity.
Haven't visited yet? There’s still time. The sound installation will run on the evenings of Friday 18th October and Saturday 19th October and will be bookable through Eventbrite. Notification of any additional sessions will be communicated in the weekly bulletin.
General Committee Update
Lighting
Lighting Works have been completed on the upgrade and improvements to the exterior floodlighting on the Cathedral Tower, Crown and West front. This work included the repair and conversion of the existing fittings and the supply of new luminaires to LED operation and the replacement of the control system that operates the installation. The works were substantially completed in time for a ceremonial switch on at the end of August and ahead of the St Giles’ 900 Celebrations on 1st September. The new system that illuminates the Tower and Crown will enable the colour of the lighting to be changed as required by the seasons or events in the Cathedral calendar. The new system now highlights the West elevation and provides an enhanced focus on the Cathedral from vantage points around the city and highlights its place in the heart of the capital I am grateful to our generous donors for providing the funding required and to the design and construction teams for the work involved to realise this important enhancement in the Cathedral’s 900th year
Thistle Chapel Improvements
Work was successfully completed ahead of the Thistle Installation Ceremonial in July to undertake the upgrading and relighting of Thistle Chapel This delicate operation included cleaning and other minor improvement works to the fabric in the Chapel. The closure of the Chapel also provided the opportunity to clean and improve the fabric items and to also provide replacements required for the service
I am grateful to Sheana Ashton and the Banner Guild for significant work in providing the further enhancements including the making of new cushions for the Chapel Sheana also assisted in a last-minute call to alter one of the new banners that hang in the Preston Aisle so that everything was in place for the Royal occasion
Maintenance Works
Further works to inspect the vault in the Holy Blood Aisle have been undertaken due to the dampness that was observed. I am pleased to report that no significant issues have been identified and the situation is being kept under review. The rainwater collection system has been inspected; further works to increase the capacity may be required in the coming months I am pleased to report that the work to repair the damaged stained-glass window at the West end of the Cathedral has progressed well and it is hoped that the repaired glass will be installed during October. As a result of the incident a review of the Cathedral’s security system is now in progress I am indebted to colleagues on the General Committee and to the many others that provide their time and expertise to maintain St Giles’ Cathedral and to present it so well for worship and to the many visitors that are welcomed throughout the year. The Cathedral was presented at its best again in July for the Thistle Installation Ceremonial and many of the invited guests were appreciative of the care and attention taken to present such a spectacular occasion I am grateful to all that continue to contribute to the care and attention of St Giles’ and especially in its 900th year
John M Andrew, General Committee Convenor
We are grateful to photographer Tom Duffin for the use of his stunning photos of the Crown Spire in this newsletter. These images, and others, are available to purchase in print form from Tom. For more information, please visit https://www.tomduffin.com/ or email tom@tomduffin.com.
Tom has also featured St Giles’ 900th Anniversary, complete with a range of beautiful photos, in his own newsletter - to read visit https://tomduffin.substack.com/p/st-giles-900th
Music news
After a very full summer of musical events we are looking forward to some exciting ventures in the autumn. On Wednesday 9th October at 7.30pm St Giles’ is hosting an event which promises to be a musical spectacular, bringing together a range of choirs and instrumentalists from across the city in a special community project as part of the St Giles’900 celebrations.
We are delighted to have been able to commission the Edinburgh Makar (the city poet) Hannah Lavery, to create a prose/poem reflecting Giles the saint. This will be the thread which creates the narrative for a performance, Cathedral: Into Tomorrow, using specially composed music and featuring a wide range of musicians, all based around the question of who the unsung heroes in our communities are. Primary school pupils with be joining with local community choirs and young brass players, guided by players from the internationally renowned brass ensemble The Wallace Collection, under the artistic direction of Stephen Deasley This promises to be a unique occasion: tickets are available from Eventbrite.
Friday 1st November sees visual artist Maria Rud returning with a new show, Resonance 2024, collaborating with Michael Harris (Organ) and Dave Heath (Flute). The one hour performance evolves around a new work by Dave Heath which incorporates newly composed material for organ and flute as well as the Partita in A minor for solo flute by J S Bach, and concludes with Bach’s monumental Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor for organ. As the music unfolds, Maria’s live visual response will be projected onto the East window and surrounding masonry Art, music, and architecture in full breathtaking synergy Tickets for this event, which starts at 7.30pm, are available on Eventbrite.
Later in November, as we come to the end of the official 900th Anniversary year, the Cathedral Choir will be joined by the choirs of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, and Paisley Abbey, for a service of Evensong This takes place at 6pm on Sunday 24th November, and promises to be a feast of choral music This is an annual event which rotates between the three institutions, although the break for the pandemic means that we have not been able to host it in St Giles’ since 2017; it will be very good to be back
Meeting Jack
In the New Year, following Michael Harris’ retirement (more on that in the December issue!), we will welcome Jack Oades as our new Master of the Music. We’re sure everyone is looking forward to meeting Jack, to hearing him play and lead our exceptional choir. Let’s learn a little more about Jack in the meantime…
What’s your earliest memory/first impression of St Giles’?
The first time I visited St Giles’ was in 2010 when I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with my youth string orchestra I was a proud first violinist, and we performed in a variety of venues across the city, but the director had already told us that the acoustic in St Giles’ was ‘absolutely bloomin massive’, so I was excited to play there. Nothing quite prepared me for the astonishingly beautiful interior and the resplendent Rieger organ I was so dazzled by the organ case, seemingly lighting up the south transept in red and silver, I vowed then and there to take up the instrument; that was the moment my career in sacred music began!
Could you tell us a bit about yourself prior to St Giles’?
Depending on who you talk to, I might be described as an organist, composer, music producer, tenor singer, or jazz bassist. I was brought up in Exeter, Devon, then I read Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, graduating in 2015, and I studied a Masters in Music Composition at Trinity College, Dublin.
I’ve held organist posts in a wide variety of places, including London, Dublin, and even the Isle of Man, so I’ve been exposed to all manner of liturgical traditions and practices. For the last two years, I’ve been taking on more freelance composition and accompanying work while singing tenor in Exeter Cathedral; it has been wonderful for me to be able to focus on different strands of my career in music, all while keeping my organ playing up with recitals and accompanying
What previous experiences are you aiming to bring to St Giles’?
I’m a passionate, dedicated choral musician and organist, and I have a wealth of experience to bring to the music at St Giles’ Cathedral I am also keen on outreach and community engagement, and I believe the Master of the Music has a responsibility to maintain and further the friendly, welcoming atmosphere at the cathedral
What are you most looking forward to when you take up the post of Master of the Music?
For one thing, I’m very much looking forward to the temperate Scottish climate - it’s far too hot down in the tropical paradise of East Devon! Being able to call St Giles’ Cathedral, one of my favourite buildings in the world, my ‘office’ will be absolutely wonderful, and to be able to work on lots of choral music with the brilliant cathedral choir will be a dream come true
What is/are your favourite piece(s) of music to perform and why?
As an organist, I’m particularly keen on French music from the late 19th - early 20th centuries, such as Vierne, Widor, Tournemire, Alain and more. It’s repertoire that sounds especially good on the organ at St Giles’, so I hope to play and record lots of that music
I also love to perform contemporary repertoire, both by familiar names such James MacMillan and Judith Weir, and by lesser known and newer composers I’m excited to use St Giles’ as a platform for contemporary Scottish composers to have their music heard, and to increase performance opportunities for musicians and composers living and working in Scotland
If you could have witnessed any historical event in St Giles’, what would it have been?
I would have been fascinated to hear one of John Knox’s legendary sermons, though I can’t promise that I would have listened for a full hour!
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 find it far too difficult to choose a favourite book, but I am currently preparing myself for my Edinburgh move by reading 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, which is very entertaining (and, I assume, very accurately describing life in the Scottish capital?). That would go very nicely with a delicious pint of Belhaven Best - bliss!
A spotlight on volunteering
In the second of our features on St Giles’ volunteers, we meet Andrea Henderson, a volunteer Concert Steward for St Giles’ at Six. Under the supervision of Heritage and Culture’s Tringa Kasneci, Andrea and her fellow volunteers do a wonderful job welcoming regular attendees and visitors alike to hear the magnificent concerts hosted by St Giles’.
Andrea, you are a Concert Steward – tell us, what’s involved?
My role involves assisting with any pre-concert set up/post-concert tidy up, welcoming guests to the concerts and providing them with any seating directions or other information which may be relevant on an evening There are usually two or three volunteers for a concert, assisting St Giles’ staff members. We work together during the evening to make sure we are on hand should anyone need assistance. I try to volunteer 2 or 3 times a month for St Giles’ at Six concerts I have been a volunteer for just over a year now
Which part of your role do you most enjoy?
I really enjoy seeing and meeting so many different people, local people and visitors to the city, and of course experiencing the fantastic concerts which St Giles’ provides weekly which are enjoyed by so many!
What brought you to St Giles’?
I was looking for a volunteering role which was different to anything I had done before and when I saw this role I knew straight away I wanted to do it! I have always loved the history and beauty of St Giles’
What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering at St Giles’?
I would say to come and give it a try. Everyone I have met (staff and other volunteers) have been so friendly and welcoming It is really enjoyable and very worthwhile
Can you share any funny stories from your volunteering experience?
One of my first volunteering evenings was during the Edinburgh Fringe and I couldn’t believe it when someone asked if there was a bar inside After being told there wasn’t the person then asked if they could bring drinks in with them!
St Giles’has a profile in tourism, as a performance venue, and important civic duties. How does that affect your view of our church as a place of worship?
I think St Giles’ has managed to incorporate these other aspects/duties without diminishing its reputation as an important place of worship, retaining an intimacy within the building
Considering the ‘900 Voices’ project, which explores the concepts of belief and belonging. What gives you a sense of belonging to St Giles’?
I feel calm and at peace as soon as I enter St Giles’, I get lost in the beauty of the building and I am fascinated with its rich history which belongs to all of us Calmness and peace are what gives me a sense of belonging.
If you are interested in volunteering as a concert steward, please contact Tringatringa.kasneci@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Jessie MacGibbon, artist embroiderer
St Giles’ is fortunate to have a number of fine embroideries by Jessie Rintoul MacGibbon (18671918). Now a largely forgotten artist, she was one of the five children of the Edinburgh architect David MacGibbon (1831-1902) and Jessie Rintoul Her father is remembered today as the coauthor, with Thomas Ross, of The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland (1888-92) and The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland (1896-97) which are still valued as reference books. The MacGibbons were members of St Giles’, as indeed was the Ross family
The MacGibbons lived at 23 Learmonth Terrace in Edinburgh’s West End. Jessie and her younger sister Rachel (known as Ray), and possibly also their elder sister Isabelle, were friends of Phoebe Anna Traquair whose home was close nearby at 8 Dean Park Crescent Although fifteen years younger, the range of Jessie’s craft disciplines and, to a certain extent, her iconography was inspired by her friend’s work but she had a personal style of both design and working.
In the later 1890s Jessie was part of the Edinburgh group of book artists who met in the Dean Studio in Lynedoch Place to tool their leather covers alongside one another as a kind of ladies’ ‘bee’. Phoebe Traquair and Annie MacDonald were the key older members of this group of about a dozen women who exhibited their books in Edinburgh and with the Guild of Women Binders in London where the uncoloured, figurative ‘Edinburgh binding’ became known for its ‘monastic’ character. Ray MacGibbon and Johanna (Anna), Thomas Ross’s younger daughter, were part of this circle of friends As a result of these exhibitions, Jessie received commissions for her book work One was a bible presented to the leading Aberdeen ecclesiologist Revd. Dr James Cooper by the Sunday schools of his church, the East Parish Church of St Nicholas. She also worked on bindings on secular texts Examples of these may be now found in collections as far apart as the National Library of Scotland to Duke University, North Carolina (Lisa Unger Baskin collection)
Embroidery, however, was Jessie’s homecraft as indeed it was for Phoebe Traquair In the years before the First World War it became a fashion to sew and present collection bags to St Giles’ Jessie is recorded as having given nine such bags in ‘a new shape and pattern’ in 1900 and a further three by 1912 Other members including the Ross daughters Elizabeth and Anna also made bags, and as late as the 1950s the Rosses were sewing or repairing bags, a task they considered as ‘one of their self-imposed duties’. Jessie in addition worked several superb altar frontals for St Giles’ in the 1900s One frontal has fine panels of angels, long since rebacked on to turquoise blue linen –perhaps when the original fabric showed signs of wear Her four exquisite musician angels here are particularly fine and delicate and she obviously delighted in texture and the use of gold thread – one of which is captured in the image on the next page.
Another fine St Giles’ embroidery is the frontal in cream brocade made for the communion table designed by Robert Lorimer dedicated on Christmas Day 1911 Jessie’s donation of her frontal is recorded by the Kirk Session the following December It is embroidered with the Agnus Dei and four angel figures.
One forgotten aspect of Jessie MacGibbon’s art is her work as a muralist In the mid- to late-1880s the Edinburgh Social Union had commissioned many programmes of mural work for public buildings, for example Phoebe Traquair’s chapel
in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Between 1897 and 1902 Jessie painted the walls of the mission hall of the Tron Kirk at 14 Niddry Street where she illustrated the lives of the Apostles, with the central scene representing Pentecost This sadly no longer exists but her own detailed description was recorded in a Social Union report and quoted in The Tron Kirk of Edinburgh or Christ’s Kirk at the Tron: A History (Edinburgh, 1906) by Revd. Dugald Butler, the Tron’s minister in the mid-1900s It was noted that this substantial commission had given the hall ‘a medieval air’ The description shows that Jessie’s work was packed with all manner of figurative and symbolic detail: ‘the border below [the Pentecost panel] is of lilies and peonies, which are called in some places 'Pentecost Lilies'; and in it are medallions, the centre one representing our Lord sending out His Holy Spirit in the form of a dove; while on one side is the castle from the Edinburgh coat-of-arms, and on the other the burning bush
A second and more modest commission was for the decoration of Hoselaw Chapel in the parish of Linton, now one of the Cheviot Churches in the Scottish Borders - this is imaged below. Here, again as a labour of love, she decorated the apse with three angels bearing a scroll inscribed with the text ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth’ The church designed in 1905 by Peter Macgregor Chalmers, was dedicated the following year Her decoration here is close in style to her angels embroidered for St Giles’. In 1907 she painted her third mural, this time for the Burnbank Church (now the Orthodox Church of St Mary and St Michael) in Hamilton Her designs for The Expulsion of Adam and Eve and The Nativity were shown in the 1911 Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art & Industry in Glasgow. In its obituary the Scottish Ecclesiological Society considered her ‘a wonderfully accomplished artist, not in one merely but in many of the arts which lend their service to the Church – Book-binding, Fresco-painting and Ecclesiastical Embroidery – a most useful member of the Society and beloved by all who knew her’. It is good that her attractive art is once more being
‘Peacemakers’ Gardner & Gardner
If you look above the stone screen in the Cathedral’s North Transept, you’ll notice a large, brightly coloured ball of knitted yarn, settled between the carved finials and echoing the blues and greens of Douglas Strachan’s window. The ball is a reminder of the thousands of visitors who knitted with us on the ‘Peacemakers ’loom during our eight day residency in August.
‘Peacemakers’ focusses on peacemaking at a personal and relational level, distilling it down to a simple stitch, the smallest of actions, made in response to the conflict we encounter within our lives and the wider world Its genesis grew out of a sense of helplessness in the face of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 The circular, 181cm in diameter, wooden French knitting loom, which Heidi and I designed and fabricated in 2014, was originally only intended as a temporary installation but its work of peacemaking has continued for the last decade, with the loom being installed in venues throughout the UK We were delighted to receive an invitation to bring ‘Peacemakers’ to St Giles’ as part of the Cathedral’s engagement with visitors during the 2024 Edinburgh Festival.
Many of the thousands of visitors to the Cathedral were welcomed at the quiet, hospitable space that ‘Peacemakers’ offered Our practice of engagement at the loom is shaped in a way that allows visitors to participate as much they choose and to let them become involved at their own pace Often visitors stood back and observed for a while before approaching, others just came straight up and asked us what we were doing. We gave a very simple introduction to ‘Peacemakers’, with the words, ‘Peace is made by many small actions and kind words, shared between strangers’ and then we invited them to join us in the simple action of knitting on the loom.
The French knitting stitch was a familiar one to many, easy enough for young children to do and simple enough to demonstrate to those who did not speak English For us, it was important that as many people as possible were able to participate in this work of peacemaking. As we walked the loom beside visitors, sometimes there was silence and sometimes stories were shared but always, our work was to listen
At St Giles’, it was a privilege to walk the loom with people from all over the world, listening to their stories, there were often smiles and sometimes tears Several visitors came back to the loom later in the day bringing friends and family members and others returned the next day to knit with us again. All the stitches knitted became rows, the rows worked their way down to the floor, where they piled up, layer upon layer of brightly coloured yarn, each stitch becoming part of a much bigger textile piece, one created by many, many hands
Over the ten years of ‘Peacemakers’, all the yarn we have used has been gifted to us When we arrived at St Giles’, awaiting us were numerous bags of donated yarn. We would like to say a huge thank you for the generous gifts of yarn, which meant that our wool basket never ran out. Thanks also to George Whyte and Sigrid Marten, who invited us to bring the ‘Peacemakers’ loom to St Giles’ and to Sarah O’Connor Phemister and the Heritage and Culture Team who, together with everyone at the Cathedral, made us feel so welcome.
As a conclusion to ‘Peacemakers’ at St Giles’, on Wednesday 14th August we cast off and stretched out the knitted yarn on the Cathedral floor. Each colour revealed was a reminder of every child and every adult who had walked the loom with us All eighty-seven metres were then rolled tightly into a ball, which sits above the North Transept screen, as an icon of willingness to wait and walk beside, listening to words, silence and the Mystery that is present, always present
The work of peacemaking continues….
Rev Peter Gardner, Minister to the Visual Arts Communities of Glasgow www.gardnerandgardner.co.uk
On the Younger Peoples’ Group…
Following the completion of his initial term of office with us, we have been fortunate to secure the services of Rev Sam Nwokoro, Associate Minister, for a further fixed term of twelve months, ending next summer During this time his specific focus will be on developing our work with the younger members of our community – as he describes here
At our first lunch meeting in August, the chatter perhaps fueled by coffee or a stronger alternative drifted toward what we might be looking for in our new minister. Scanning around the table, we realised that three people in the group, including the convener, are currently serving as members of the nominating committee In that moment, I felt a sense of pride that St Giles’ delightfully proves to be a place where younger members are welcome to have a voice and play a part in the shaping of its future It feels significant that our younger people’s group is coming together at a time when we are both celebrating our ninth centennial milestone and are also about to call a new minister.
Our main goal as a group is to build trust, fellowship, and community among the younger members of our congregation. Our simple plan is to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where we can come together and share in joyful activities While our calendar for the year is still evolving, we do have a basic schedule, as outlined in the table below
For the autumn months, we’ve planned arts and crafts, a cinema trip, and a Christmas concert to wrap up the season. A key highlight of our winter program is the Lent Pilgrimage walk in April 2025 along St Cuthbert’s Way, from Melrose to Lindisfarne The 62-mile walk, spread over five days, will be led by Rev Dr Richard Fraser, and we are excited about this opportunity. The logistics are still being worked out, and any interested congregation members are welcome to join us. Ahead of the pilgrimage, Rev. Fraser has kindly offered to give an evening talk in February, where he will share insights from his many years of pilgrimage experiences. We hope the wider congregation will be able to attend this event when the time comes.
In May 2025, we hope to see some of our group members take part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival We’ll be there to cheer them on and encourage their efforts The season will conclude with a garden party, likely in June or July 2025. Our plans may change, and some events might evolve into something more spontaneous or even a little chaotic. But with a roadmap in place and an openness to surprises, we believe that we are good to go Additionally, the goodwill and support from the congregation have been truly heartwarming We also look forward to welcoming a few “honorary under-40s” to join in some of our activities that would be a real delight.
While our mailing list currently includes sixteen members, we, sadly, bid farewell to one of our founding members, Josh Macrae, who has left for further studies in Oxford. Although he’ll be away from Edinburgh, we know that Josh, like others who are pursuing work or study elsewhere, will remain very much a part of our community
In keeping with the mission mandate of our parish grouping, we reached out to Canongate Kirk, and some of their younger members have now joined our group. In a generous act, the minister of Canongate has also offered the Harry Younger Hall as a venue for some of our future gatherings
Lastly, for those who wish to support our activities, the St Giles’ Youth Fund is available We are deeply grateful to the members of St Giles’ who have already generously contributed to the fund. Any further donations would be greatly appreciated, and details can be obtained from Amanda Forsyth (amanda forsyth@stgilescathedral org uk) or Suzanne Whitehead (suzanne whitehead@stgilescathedral org uk)
Younger Adults Program (2024-2025)
St Giles’ Cathedral and Canongate Kirk
Autumn 2024
Month
October
Activity
Art (Pottery Painting)
November Cinema/Theatre
December Christmas Concert
Winter 2025
Month
Activity
January Lunch after 11 am service
February Winter Lecture:
Rev Dr Richard Fraser
March Potluck+Bible Study
Spring 2025
Month
Activity
April Lent Pilgrimage Walk
May Spring Lecture
Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF)
June Garden Party
Together with funding 100 Microwaves and 100 sets of bedding to people in need, The Doors Open Day was the Neighbourhood Group’s contribution to the 900th.
It was a very busy day in the church. The setting up of exhibits, signage and necessary organisation had only just been completed when the usual surge of visitors poured in at 9 00am Thereafter, wave after wave of folk came in, many of them tourists but also a numerous local clientele.
The two tours - of the Thistle Chapel, conducted by Lord Cullen, and of the Organ Loft by Jordan English - were repeated several times during the day, fully booked in advance.
The Banner Guild occupied the sanctuary, displaying a wide range of banners and pulpit falls. Many visitors stopped to discuss these, including a group of French visitors who listened, rapt, to the explication in French delivered by a member of the congregation who is also one of the Banner Guild
The Flower Arrangers worked at various displays all through the morning and into the afternoon, joined by Thomas Maxwell, who created one of his signature pieces Again, many visitors stopped to talk.
A stall was set up and manned in the north aisle, offering interest to children of all ages, using the children’s activity and colouring packs and also jars for flower arranging. Interesting to see a group of young ladies doing ‘ikibana‘ which they carried happily away as mementos of their time in St Giles’
Four charities - all of whom St Giles’ supports both financially and by volunteer involvementhad their stalls in the cross aisle. Two ladies from Georgia compared notes on how they ran their food bank in Atlanta with how it was administered in Edinburgh. They also left a donation to the Edinburgh Food Project
A sense of warmth and community spirit pervaded the whole occasion. The church as a place of worship was seen to advantage, but the church as an institution showed that it was not only a Sunday meeting place, but a community that worked, contributed and related to the world in which it lives. The many visitors saw St Giles’ not only as an historic building, but were also introduced to the life and work of the congregation
Interim Moderator, Rev. Dr George Whyte, said “My thanks to the Neighbourhood Group for organising the event and all the volunteers on the day for their commitment and enthusiasm It was wonderful to see everyone come together to showcase the work of St Giles', our congregation and the charities we support, and to provide such a warm welcome to visitors on Door Open Day ”
Reduce, Re-use… Recycle
The beautiful candles which are lit daily on the Holy Table are twelve inches tall, four inches in diameter and made of the finest beeswax.
As they burn, though, the wax pool does not quite reach to the edge of the candle, so the Beadles periodically trim off an inch or so of wax in a ‘collar’ shape, to help the candle continue to burn evenly
Thus accumulates a bucket of very good quality wax off-cuts; and one day, I looked at them pensively and wondered if anything could be done. There followed quite a lot of internet research and some purchases from a company called – what else? – 4Candles.
Melting enough wax to fill such a large mould in one go is a challenge in itself, and for the first pour I need two bains-marie The first few minutes after pouring can be tense too – if the seal around the wick at the base isn’t secure, the hot wax leaks out, with extremely messy consequences! As wax contracts when it cools down, it takes three separate pourings to complete a candle, over the space of two or three days. Because the wax is recycled it also contains flecks of ash, so pouring through a sieve is necessary
Thanks are due to the Beadles, especially Alan Foggo, for willingness to experiment and give feedback as the process is finessed
The result? Pretty good-looking (especially from a distance) candles which are twelve inches tall, four inches in diameter and made of the finest beeswax – for a far lower cost than the original, perfect articles, which can now be saved for special events like St Giles’ Day. Also, therefore, a happier Treasurer, and a lot less waste!
Amanda Forsyth
Membership
Baptism
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)
Eli Dean Woodhorn
Olivia Porter
New members
“In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body… and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
“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)
Claire Orr
Finlay MacDonald
Euan MacDonald
Bridget Taylor
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:
Sigrid Marten, Associate Minister SMarten@churchofscotland.org.uk
Michael Harris, Master of the Music michael.harris@stgilescathedral.org.uk
Mark Batho, Session Clerk sessionclerk@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, Sam Nwokoro, and Keir Eunson, who have provided their photographic skills for several of the images in the Newsletter As noted on page 13 we also especially thank Tom Duffin for his images of the new spire illuminations.
