Community Partnerships

Greyfriars Kirk & St Cuthbert’s Union

In April 2023, the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian agreed a mission plan involving the union of various congregations across Edinburgh and West Lothian. Under this plan Greyfriars Kirk has been placed in a parish grouping with The Parish Church of St Cuthbert with the aim of working toward full union in 2025. A working group with representatives of both congregations has been formed to think through the various tasks required for union, and to create ways for our congregations to come together for worship and mission that serves the combined parish and wider community. To find more information and updates on the groups progress, and ways to get involved, ask questions, and have your say, click below.

Ecumenical Partnerships

Since 2002, Greyfriars Kirk has shared an ecumenical partnership with our local community churches St. Columba’s by the Castle (Scottish Episcopal Church), and Augustine United Church (United Reformed Church). We have committed ourselves to worship and study together as we work to establish a united, positive, progressive Christian presence in the centre of Edinburgh.

University of Edinburgh Chaplaincy

Edinburgh University and Greyfriars Kirk have an association, going back to the foundation of both institutions. The first minister of our parish, the Rev Robert Rollock, was also the first principal of Edinburgh University; and over the years, several ministers of Greyfriars have also held this post. The University Chaplaincy exists for all faiths and none and is based at the Chaplaincy Centre in Potterow.

The Associate Minister at Greyfriars is a member of the Chaplaincy Team, and in the course of the year, a number of events and services are held in co-operation with the University Chaplaincy. Students and all members of the University community are always welcome at any services in Greyfriars. And we seek to offer pastoral support and volunteering opportunities for the university community in the many activities that are undertaken in the name of Greyfriars.

HeartEdge

Greyfriars is proud to be a partner in HeartEdge. HeartEdge is a growing ecumenical network of churches and other organisations. At heart, we support mission focused on four key areas:

• Commerce: Generating finance via enterprise
• Culture: Art, music and performance re-imagining the Christian narrative for the present moment
• Congregation: Liturgy, worship and day-to-day communal life
• Compassion: Addressing social need via our congregations

HeartEdge is shaped by our experience at the margins, on the edge, helping churches develop commercial, cultural and community activity while deepening relationship and insight with those most marginalised. We’re fuelled by the interest and agenda of an active membership participating across the emerging network.

We work with our members to identify their knowledge, insight, skills and experience and find ways to promote and share these. HeartEdge provides the opportunity for our members to access support, useful consultancy and share their learning with others.

Initiated by the congregation at St Martin-in-the-Fields, HeartEdge is an emerging network, building association, learning, development and resource with churches and other organisations working across the UK and overseas. HeartEdge is about being at the heart of culture, commerce and community, standing with those marginalised and on the edge.