Gaelic community

Gaelic language services are held on Sundays at 12 30 pm following the English language service, and all are welcome.

Continuity of Gaelic worship in Edinburgh has been maintained since 1704. At that time provision was made by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for services for Gaelic-speaking soldiers in Edinburgh Castle.

Gaelic was moved on from church to church in Edinburgh over many years until 1979, when Highland Tolbooth St John's became a strong strand of Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk.

It is interesting to note that the last two places of Gaelic worship before 1979 have emerged as notable public places in Edinburgh life. Highland Tolbooth St John's is now The Hub, and The Highland in Cambridge Street, 1948 - 1956 is now the Traverse Theatre.

When the Rev. Ewen MacLean, minister of Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk retired in 1982, the Kirk Session invited him to continue to be resposible for the Gaelic service.

Following the death of Ewen in 2000, the Rev. David MacKay Beckett, minister of Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk, encouraged the Gaelic congregation to continue weekly Gaelic worship, and to seek help from Gaelic-speaking ministers and preachers. A happy response resulted in a number of wonderfully willing people keeping Gaelic worship alive, coming week by week. Their services are much appreciated and respected.

The preaching is ecumenical, as is the congregation, Church of Scotland, Free Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Free Church Continuing. The Order of Service holds firmly to the much-loved precenting of the psalms without musical instruments. The congregation sits in the St John's Aisle, alongside the splendid D.Y. Cameron stained glass window of St John, and an ancient baptism font.

Native speakers and learners of Gaelic make up the congregation. Often, however, visitors with no Gaelic, and indeed little English, come to experience the spirituality and the welcome. It is mainly from Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.A. that tourists arrive, seeking to know the kind of service which would have been familiar to their ancestors, cleared from Scotland generations ago.

There are two major events in the Gaelic church year. The Gaelic Service of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, when the Moderator visits, is held in Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk.

The Annual Highland Lecture has been a prestigious event for 25 years, speakers of outstanding quality creating a significant forum for Highland and Gaelic subjects. Both events are open to all.

It was Robert Burns who said " In Heaven itself I'll ask no more, than just a Highland welcome"

That is the aim of the Gaelic strand, in Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk.

Community Outreach

Greyfriars community outreach takes many forms but is primarily focused around our centre on the Grassmarket, known as ‘Building 3’. As we await the start of demolition and rebuilding work on the old Kirkhouse, Building 3 allows us to continue to serve some of Edinburgh's most vulnerable people, working in partnership with the Grassmarket Mission. Read some of our case studies.

Read about the development of our Community Project March update!

Some of our current projects:

GRoW

Although it seems that pews are no longer the vogue for the interior of church buildings, refurbished and restored to the specifications of the buyer, they are a sought after and sellable commodity. A small group of keen volunteers, both service users of The Grassmarket Mission and members of the local community, are developing a social enterprise using the dismantled pews to make hand-crafted wooden products.

However this band of social entrepreneurs are developing, not just the goods, not just the business, not just the enterprise, but themselves. The GRoW workshop provides opportunities to develop new skills, be involved in varied and creative work, and participate as part of a team.

We produce stools, mirror, clocks and other items from original, often antique, stock and other high-quality reject timber. Each item is individually made and our stock is constantly changing. Visit the GRoW website for full details.

For more information or to come and see what we do for yourself contact grow@greyfriarskirk.com or phone 0131 225 3686

GRASSROOTS

Grassroots is an arts and crafts workshop run most Fridays between 2pm and 4pm on the 3rd floor of Building 3 in the Grassmarket. As well as a structured activity each week Grassroots offers hospitality, fun and companionship. Craft activities can include card making, tile painting, sewing, knitting, making wooden key rings and coasters, dream catchers and much more. If people would rather not participate in the set activity, they are equally welcome to sit and read a book, play the guitar, do a jigsaw or have a quiet chat with a volunteer. Some weeks demonstrations are offered by different artists. The kettle is always on and homemade flapjacks, tea and coffee play an important part in the afternoon.

Every Grassroots workshop is advertised in Building 3, stating each week’s activity and inviting people to come. There is no expectation to stay for the full session and people can pop in for a short time if they wish.

Grassroots helps to build trusting relationships, provides an environment where people feel listened to and respected and gives the opportunity to learn new skills and leave with a hand crafted gift.

“I find Grassroots interesting and enthralling, also the volunteers are really good and nice.”

“I feel this place offers a homely sense of friendship. The people whom I have met are a fine example of dignity and kindness – I hope it will long continue and blossom.”

“Very relaxed atmosphere.”

“Kettle always on, flapjacks brilliant, friendly company and learning new things at the same time. A brilliant new facility for us all.”

“It’s smiles all the way at Grassroots.”