Welcome to our News page.
We continue to hold one service, beginning at 10.30am every Sunday morning. All welcome! Covid restrictions have now eased significantly but if you have any of the associated symptoms obviously you should stay at home. We have removed the “no access” signs from alternate pews in the nave and the one-way system around the church. For the moment we are keeping some distancing options in the pews near the War Memorial Chapel so that anyone who is anxious can continue to feel safe within our building. Face masks are now optional in places of worship. Please be aware that the service will continue to be livestreamed and available on this website. Keep an eye on this page for further updates.
Weekly Sunday services may also be heard the following Monday on a landline telephone – simply dial 0131 546 4001 and press 1 when prompted. Calls are charged at your phone provider’s usual local rate – please let anyone know who might appreciate this kind of connection.
Read the latest edition of our newsletter here. Paper copies can be sent out on request.
Our weekly Sunday service is livestreamed at 10.30am. Click on the picture below to watch.
Click here for the order of service for Sunday 3rd December 2023 – Advent 1
Watch previous services on our You Tube channel.
Christmas Cards
Canongate Kirk has commissioned a new Christmas card (pictured) featuring the palace pew’s replica of the Honours of Scotland that were presented to HM The King in St Giles’ Cathedral in July. These are now available for purchase in packs of 10 @ £5, all proceeds to church funds. One or two previous cards featuring cartoons of Canongate choirboys have been reprinted and are also available for purchase at the church any Sunday or at the office during the week.
Upcoming Concerts
Saturday 9th December at 7.30pm: Calton Consort A Boy was Born
Sunday 10th December at 7.30pm: Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society perform festive G & S favourites
Saturday 16th December at 7.30pm: St Andrew Camerata Christmas Concert
Tickets/information via performers’ website links or on the door.
Monthly Evening Service
At 7pm on the last Sunday of every month we host a united evening service with St Giles’. Supported by singers from the Cathedral choir, it’s a gentle reflective service lasting no more than forty minutes and all are welcome.
Next evening service Sunday 28th January 2024 at 7pm.
Harvest Thanksgiving
A full carload of donations on their way to the foodbank after our service of Harvest Thanksgiving. Many thanks to everyone who contributed!
Rev Breda Ludik
We are sorry to share the sad news of the death of Breda Ludik, who spent a year on a familiarisation placement with Canongate Kirk in 2019/20. We remember his ministry among us with gratitude to God, and assure his family back in South Africa of our love and our prayers. The Church of Scotland has published an obituary which can be read here.
Canongate Kirk at the Fringe
Our programme of Fringe concerts has come to an end and we won’t be Venue 60 again until next year Thanks are due to our volunteer stewards who welcomed both performers and audience members alike to the church and worked so hard to make each event run smoothly. We had fourteen concerts ranging from folk, classical, gospel and choral as well as showcasing the work of local young composers.
Royal Banner and Prayer
The banner which usually hangs on our north wall to the left hand side was temporarily returned to the Cathedral for July’s Service of Thanksgiving during which HM The King was presented with the Honours of Scotland. It hung again exactly where it did on 24th June 1953, when The late Queen attended a similar service soon after her own coronation. In connection with the more recent service our Minister was asked to write the following prayer for the Church of Scotland website:
Loving God, centuries ago you kindled a flame of love in the heart of your servant Queen Margaret and by her humility and kindness made clear the way of royal service in this land. Now as we give thanks for our newly-crowned Sovereign King Charles, we pray that having been called to an earthly throne he might advance your heavenly Kingdom. Amidst all the panoply of Church and State, may our ancient ceremonies and symbols reflect your unchanging purpose of peace and goodwill. May they speak not just of our history and heritage but of our hope for years to come. For our hope is rooted in faith, and our faith rooted in Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Amen.
New York Organ Recital
Canongate Kirk organist Simon Leach was invited to give a recital in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, New York city, on Sunday 23rd April 2023. Click on the picture below and enjoy. Bravo Simon!
Muster, March and Remember
Some of the congregation arriving in style for the morning service on Sunday 26th March, when we were joined by friends from The Royal Regiment of Scotland as part of their ‘Muster, March and Remember’ weekend.
Bird’s Eye Views of Canongate Kirk
Taken from a drone during a recent roof inspection.
