Table of Contents Table of Contents ...... 2 Theological Introduction ...... 3 Part One: Cultural, Administrative, and Organisational Setting ...... 6 Introduction ...... 6 The History and Geography of the Diocese ...... 7 Organisational Structures ...... 8 Diocesan Administration ...... 9 Diocesan Finances ...... 10 Diocesan Constitution ...... 14 Part Two: Liturgy, Mission, and Ministry ...... 15 Worship and Liturgy ...... 15 Marriage in the Scottish Episcopal Church ...... 16 Mission Strategy...... 17 Evangelism ...... 18 Children and Youth Ministries ...... 19 Ministry in an Online World ...... 19 Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Other Partnerships ...... 21 Vocations, Training, and Lifelong Christian Formation ...... 22 Care and Nurture of Clergy ...... 23 Part Three: Congregational Profiles ...... 25 CATHEDRAL ...... 25 ANGLICAN CHAPLAINCY ...... 27 AYRSHIRE ...... 29 GALLOWAY ...... 39 GLASGOW NORTH-EAST ...... 56 GLASGOW NORTH-WEST ...... 63 GLASGOW SOUTH ...... 76 LANARKSHIRE ...... 82 RENFREWSHIRE ...... 92 Addendum: Conversations from Synod ...... 102

Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

Theological Introduction

Calling Our Bishop – a mutual discernment The Cathedral Chapter, with the assistance of the Canon Theologian, offer this introductory section to the Diocesan Description. It does not seek to set a remit for our future Bishop, but indicates to the Candidates, the Provincial Panel and the Diocesan Electors a requirement for mutual discernment on the key aspects of the nature and purpose of episcopacy, as understood within the whole church but with particular reference to the Scottish tradition, accepting that discernment involves a step of faith enabling us to conceive something that God will bring about, which is not yet objectively visible. Each is looking for the direction where God is leading – a path on which we are being invited to set foot together. In order that there is some cohesion, as we journey together, what is offered here are the markers or signposts gathered from a rich tradition of theological reflection. Suggestions for further reading are found at the end of this section. 1. We seek a bishop as both local and universal through the College of Bishops and the universal church. We are not seeking a bishop for Glasgow and Galloway alone, but for the whole Church.

2. All authority in the Church is exercised in conformity with the mind and example of Christ. Episcopal authority is not of the individual or arbitrary, but, within the sensus fidelium is given to one person over the freedom of others.

3. A bishop is the primary guardian of the Apostolic and Catholic tradition of the Church, which is a channel of the love of God and must be constantly sought anew and refreshed in prayer and study - in which a bishop leads the Church.

4. A bishop and the synodical nature of the local church complement one another. In accordance with the canons, a bishop calls the Synod whose nature and model is framed by the Eucharist. It is through the Eucharist at which a bishop presides that the Synod seeks to discern the will of God in its mission.

5. A bishop’s leadership is a ‘sign’ of God’s own leadership of ministry and mission from within the Church. The identity of the Church is secured by leading from the centre, in collaboration with all who follow and with Episcopal colleagues, modelling Christian discipleship by ministry of Word and Sacrament. A bishop ensures that Word and Sacrament constantly inform one another by the role of teaching and preaching.

6. It is a ‘theological’ ministry, guiding the thinking and action of the Church. A bishop must have the wisdom to discern, and clarify, whatever is authentic and fruitful for the life of the Church, provided for within the contribution of theological reflection. A bishop need not be a professional theologian but ought to be able to articulate the questions of faith, illuminate the liturgy, and teach the Apostolic tradition.

7. Although a bishop may not necessarily be in the professional sense a theologian, it is a bishop’s calling to encourage, reflect upon and draw together the theological reflection of God’s Church as this underlies all of its moral, intellectual and spiritual life. A bishop is thus a teacher and a counsellor before being a manager or administrator, and a teacher

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who speaks from the traditions of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. Though this is often actually not the case, the discourse and debates of the Church in Synod and at every level must be driven by a prayerful and informed theological leadership rather than one driven by business models or political expediency. There are times when such leadership may not be popular or convenient. So be it.

8. Bishops are called to ‘oversee and care’ for the Church in succession to the apostles who were sent out by Christ, and this is effective only when they are found to be ‘people under authority attentive to the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth’. The spiritual practice of a bishop is vital for it is an energising, imaginative and inventive focal point, preparing a leadership which has at its core the work of prayer, of common worship, of study of scripture, and the ability to articulate praise in a variety of ways.

9. The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) has a remarkable vitality that it often fails to recognise in itself and communicate to wider society. Scottish bishops do not have the burden of establishment and government of Anglican bishops in England. This freedom is important and gives a bishop and the College of Bishops an important voice within the spiritual life of Scotland. The role is essential in asking what God is calling us to be in the condition in which He has set us. A bishop is the key to articulating this calling. Episcopacy has a radical missionary dimension ̶ a ministry of proclamation of the Gospel to those both inside and outside the community of the faithful.

10. A community with much life will have many leaders, and needs them all; but it needs just one bishop, to help the leaders work with one another. This requires personal skill, and the associated gifts, to recognise the need for consultation, and negotiation, allowing all to feel connected to the intention and purpose of hearing God’s call to unity. The unity fostered by a bishop is not an erasure of differences of view, neither a negotiation of expedient compromises, but a sign of the hope that all will share in Jesus’s call to mutual love and spiritual union.

11. A bishop is a minister of the Church’s unity. Unity in a living body is a matter of coherent and co-operative functioning. A bishop works to strengthen the Church’s internal and external communications, and heals breaches in its overall communication. A bishop is called to work particularly with other members of the Body of Christ in different churches and denominations. In a growing multicultural environment there is an increasing recognition of the importance of interreligious relations. Therefore, a candidate requires experience and a growing expertise in the skills required for modern communication across a variety of media.

12. Similarly, hearing that call requires a bishop to have insight and knowledge about the context surrounding a local church, a diocese and a province to give the Church a voice in the wider public sphere. This is a mark of the evangelistic function of a bishop, complemented by a prophetic voicing of the needs of the wider community, especially for the least, last and lost in society, and thereby articulating Christ’s call to compassion, forgiveness and healing; occasionally speaking forgotten or uncomfortable truths into an impoverished public discourse.

13. Hearing that call may require a bishop to open the doors to a worldwide church. A new Episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway could begin by inviting a

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partner diocese from somewhere in the Anglican Communion to share their experiences of life and ministry with us.

14. By no means least, a bishop offers pastoral leadership by leading the Church to the throne of grace. It is a bishop's task to ensure a ministry of pastoral care in a diocese, and to care for and enable ministers in this task. It is a ministry that requires personal courage and sacrifice, in order to reflect the redemptive love of God through gracious listening and forgiveness, humility by inviting space to the other, and discipline as spiritual direction. In essence it is a servant leadership that leads the community by example; so that all can participate with Christ in communion with the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For further reading

• The Scottish Ordinal, 1984. (Updated 2006) • David Jasper, “The Question of Episcopal Authority in the Scottish Episcopal Church”(SEI Journal on Episcopacy and Ministry, (forthcoming) Autumn 2018).

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Part One: Cultural, Administrative, and Organisational Setting

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Introduction

The United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Provincial website contains a succinct summary of the history, polity and liturgies of the SEC as a whole, and rather than repeat that information here, readers are simply directed to that site: www.scotland.anglican.org. The Diocese is one of great contrast and variety; it comprises some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in the whole of Scotland in its rural south, together with areas of post-industrial blight in the more northerly urban areas. While geographically large, it manages to be relationally intimate; with sixty-two charges including the Anglican Chaplaincy at the University of Glasgow and an adherent membership of 6488 (including communicants) - synods and other gatherings are of a size and nature that enable both laity and clergy to get to know each other well. The Diocese embraces congregations and worshippers of every church expression from High Anglican to Conservative Evangelical, and its clergy and people try to live as one family in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect. There are currently 111 clergy who are resident or have permission to officiate in the Diocese. The breakdown of clergy by type or permissions is as follows: CLERGY TYPE FEMALE MALE Stipendiary 9 27 Non-Stipendiary 5 7 Licensed 5 9 Comi ssions 2 4 Warrants 8 40 Permission To Officiate 5 17 TOTAL 34 104 Additional Notes: • A small number of those with Warrants and/or Permission to Officiate are not resident in the Diocese. • Although the total clergy would appear, based on totals in the table, to be 138 it should be noted that some clergy are included in more than one category (for instance: Licensed and Stipendiary.) The total number of clergy persons is 111.

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In addition to the clergy of the Diocese, there is a rich tradition of lay readership in the Diocese. There are twelve Lay Readers and eight Lay Readers Emeritus. As the description offered below indicates, this is a diocese with a lot of energy, both realised and unrealised. We have a vision of being - and becoming - a people who are ‘Growing with God’s Grace’ and working hard to put our strategic intention for growth into practice through coherent policies and practices at both diocesan and charge level. We honour our historic past and look to God’s exciting future in faith, hope and love. The History and Geography of the Diocese

The United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway was created in 1837, when the two constituent parts, which had been held with Edinburgh (Galloway from 1697 and Glasgow from 1809) were separated from that see to become a distinct united diocese. The then Dean of Edinburgh was elected as Bishop of the new United Diocese. In 1907, St. Mary’s Church, situated in the west end of the city of Glasgow, was given new status as the Cathedral of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. The geographical area covered by the Diocese encompasses the city of Glasgow, the Greater Glasgow conurbation (Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire,) as far as Helensburgh in the West (Argyll and Bute) and the whole of the Dumfries and Galloway region of South West Scotland (the former counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire). The Diocese extends north from the Rhinns of Galloway and the Solway Firth through Ayrshire and the Firth of Clyde to its border with the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, north of Helensburgh and Loch Lomond: a distance of 100 miles. The distance from Portpatrick, the westernmost southern congregation, across the Galloway region to Gretna on the English border, is again approximately 100 miles, as is the distance north from Gretna, up through Lanarkshire, east of Glasgow (bordering with the Diocese of Edinburgh east of Shotts) as far as the northern border with the Diocese of St. Andrew’s, Dunkeld and Dunblane. The City of Glasgow with the Glasgow conurbation is the most densely populated area of Scotland. However, many of the charges in the wider Glasgow ring have significant rural catchment areas and our congregations are mostly ‘gathered congregations’ (since, for historical and other reasons, there are many small towns without an Episcopal Church building). It is similarly important to note that while there are a number of churches in the city of Glasgow, there are no charges in the city centre. This lack of representation has been raised as a possible mission field for the future. In the Galloway region, where Dumfries is the largest town and there is a predominantly scattered rural population, most of the congregations have a significant ‘small town’ and rural ministry. In some congregations, committed members have a round trip of 50 miles to attend public worship. The Galloway Region of the Diocese is the most widespread. Stranraer and Gretna are as near to Glasgow as they are to each other, and the east-west arterial route, the A75, is a single carriageway road for most of its traverse of the region.

For a map of charges of the diocese visit: www.bit.ly/GGEpiscopalMap

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Organisational Structures

The Diocesan Synod, comprising the Bishop, Licensed and Commissioned clergy and one Lay Representative from each charge, meets annually to discharge diocesan business. During the intervening period, executive authority resides in the Diocesan Council, which constitutes the Standing Committee of the Synod. The Council meets at least four times a year and its membership is as follows: the Bishop, Dean, Provost, Synod Clerk, Canon Missioner, Diocesan Secretary, Diocesan Treasurer plus one clerical and one lay member from each Region. The executive body of the Diocesan Council is the Bishop’s Staff Group, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Diocese and its resources, meeting as determined by the Bishop. This group comprises the Bishop, Dean, Provost, Synod Clerk, Canon Missioner, Diocesan Secretary and Treasurer. The charges in the Diocese are grouped according to geography, each Region having its own Regional Council. The latter comprises lay representatives of each congregation in the Region plus all clergy, stipendiary and self-supporting. Most Regional Councils hold at least four meetings per annum. The Regions are as follows: Ayrshire, Galloway, Glasgow South, Glasgow North-East, Glasgow North-West, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. Some are cohesive units, functioning well in terms of geography and fellowship, while others are arguably in need of redirection and revitalisation. Clerical members of the Regions meet in Regional Chapters; again these meetings display a wide range of efficacy, purpose and frequency. The Cathedral Chapter comprises the Bishop, Dean, Provost, Vice Provost, Synod Clerk, Canon Missioner, Canon Theologian and 5 Canons, and meets quarterly. The Canon Missioner oversees a Digital Missioner, and seven Development Teams to support each sphere of our diocesan mission strategy. There is an appointed officer for the protection of children and vulnerable adults who liaises with the Provincial Officer on these essential matters. The ‘Diocesan Centre’, a suite of offices located on the second floor of an office complex in central Glasgow, houses the Bishop’s Office and the Diocesan Office. The Centre, which is open weekdays, houses IT and photocopying facilities for diocesan use and a small resource library of documents on ministry and mission. The Diocesan Council is considering the relocation of the Diocesan Centre, as the current premises are not inclusively access friendly.

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Diocesan Administration

Every bishop brings their own gifts and personality to the role, yet there are numerous tasks required for the Diocese to function. In this section, there is a description of the diocesan administration, and the necessary assistance given to the Bishop.

The Bishop gives obedience to the canonical regulation of the SEC. In Scotland, each congregation or charge has its own constitution, as does the Diocese, and generally the incumbent is the Rector and Chair of the local Vestry or Vestries. Each charge, including the Diocese, is also a separate charity and is regulated under Scots law by OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator). Church dynamics work best when the Bishop, Rector and Vestry share a mutual purpose and intention working collaboratively under canonical regulation. A bishop in Scotland has a limited sphere of authority, governed by canonical regulation, and it would be worthwhile for a candidate to familiarise themselves with the Code of Canons, available on the SEC provincial website, to understand the scope of diocesan and provincial duty as a member of the College of Bishops.

The Diocesan Bishop has a part-time personal administrative assistant who is currently the Diocesan Office Manager.

The Bishop’s Staff Group (BSG) meets monthly, manages the day to day running of the Diocese on behalf of, and accountable to, Diocesan Council and the Diocesan Synod.

The Dean is appointed, under canon law, by the Bishop for a period of five years. This role has developed a distinctive sphere of work over the history of the SEC and is tasked to assist the Bishop whilst in charge of a congregation in the Diocese. The Provost is Rector of the Cathedral but not usually the Dean. In this diocese, the Dean convenes the Diocesan Property Committee, and makes visitation to all property over 3-4 years. The canonical regulation over buildings is very important; so the role of Dean is similar to an Archdeacon in other Anglican provinces. The role has developed in the SEC to assist the Bishop fully, and to care for the Diocese in the Bishop’s absence, limited by canonical regulation. The Dean can be involved in disciplinary matters, as well as appointments. The Dean’s charge is given half stipend cover for the time given to the Diocese, and has a part-time personal administrative assistant at the Diocesan Office.

The Synod Clerk deputises for the Dean and is a member of the Diocesan Property Committee. A fuller remit for the Synod Clerk is being developed with regard to clergy and vestry representation.

The Diocesan Treasurer is a voluntary role with an honorarium. The main duty is to give financial oversight for Diocesan Synod and assist clergy and vestries with financial matters of their charge. Reporting is to the Auditor, BSG, Diocesan Council and Diocesan Synod. The Diocesan Treasurer produces periodic and annual accounts and is assisted by a member of the Diocesan Office administrative staff.

The Diocesan Secretary is a voluntary role with an honorarium, and is Secretary to the Diocesan Synod. This role is responsible for the overall administration on behalf of Synod, making sure Minutes are recorded for Synod, Diocesan Council, BSG and a summary digest of BSG matters for vestries and clergy. The Diocesan Secretary has oversight of all administration including the Diocesan Office Manager, and administrative staff, as described above.

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The work of the Canon Missioner is personally overseen by the Bishop and is based at the Diocesan Office. There are also specific Cathedral duties offered to the Cathedral overseen by the Provost. The Canon Missioner reports to Diocesan Synod and has a remit developing Mission and Ministry strategy and supporting clergy and vestries with the Bishop. The Canon Missioner oversees the work of the Digital Missioner: a new post created in 2018 to develop and coordinate better communications internally and externally across the diocese with particular attention to social media and websites.

It is also important to note that the Cathedral Chapter is governed by the Cathedral Statutes and as well as supporting the Cathedral, acts as an advisory group for the Bishop.

The Bishop is also assisted by the Bishop’s Chaplain in a voluntary role without an honorarium, appointed by the Bishop. The Chaplain has duties given by the Bishop, mainly organising worship for Institutions.

With regards to the care and maintenance of diocesan property a Diocesan Architect and Diocesan Surveyor are appointed by Synod and have an important advisory role within the work of the Diocesan Property Committee. Diocesan Finances Overview The financial position of the Diocese is shown in the accompanying Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet extracted from the audited Report and Accounts as at 30 November 2017. The full Report and Accounts is available to view via the diocesan website. The Diocese should be considered as being in a strong financial position. Diocesan Council approves an annual budget for presentation to Synod each year. Given its relative financial strength, the Diocese has, for several years, been prepared to budget for a deficit of c.£300,000 although in practice this level has not been reached. Diocesan income is chiefly derived from congregational quota and investment income. The Diocesan Council is extremely grateful to the resilience shown by congregational vestries, all of whom strive to meet their quota assessments in full even when, in some cases, their own financial position may be fragile. Stockbrokers advise the Diocesan Investment Committee in respect of the investments held, the income from which is an important aspect of diocesan finances. The Investment Committee follows the ethical statement of practice as issued by the Province while also having access to other external ethical reports. Outside normal running costs of staff and the Diocesan Centre, the largest budgeted outgoings are for Ministry Support to congregations and various aspects of Mission whilst the Diocese is also a major net provider of quota to the Province. Additional grants are available to congregations in respect of property repairs, regional growth initiatives, and specific projects subject to approval by the appropriate diocesan body. To encourage congregations to conduct quinquennial reviews of church properties, the Diocese pays a grant to all congregations on receipt of completed reports. This facility has been well received by congregations.

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The Diocese has been encouraged by the increased number of candidates for ministry through the Scottish Episcopal Institute and has welcomed the possible placement of curates within its congregations. Diocesan Council has implemented a practice whereby the cost of placement and training of curates will be met by the Diocese and not, as previously, by the local charge to where the curate is appointed. Such a policy allows for our curates to be placed where they will be best trained rather than having to factor in whether a local charge can afford to meet a share of the costs. One curate came to the Diocese in 2017, another is being placed in 2018, and two are budgeted for in 2019. Total assets of the Diocese amounted to c.£7.6m as at 30 November 2017 when such assets were made up of stock exchange investments, heritable and investment property and cash. Bishop’s Stipend, Pension and Expenses A bishop’s stipend is payable at the level of 1.5 times Standard Stipend. Standard Stipend is fixed annually by the Provincial Administration Board and for 2018 is £25,950 producing a bishop’s stipend of £38,925. The SEC operates a non-contributory defined benefit (final salary) pension scheme. Pension benefits are the same for bishops and clergy and are based on Standard Pensionable Stipend. For service accrued after 1 January 2014 the pension payable upon retirement is calculated on the basis of Pensionable Stipend which increases each year with reference to RPI, subject to certain maxima. Entitlement of 1/80 of Pensionable Stipend accrues for each completed year of service within the SEC. Normal retirement age is 67. Death in service benefit is three times Standard Stipend and the widowed spouse’s pension is 2/3 that of the scheme member. Various housing options are potentially available on retirement for those unable to make adequate provision for themselves but are subject to means testing and the individual having been in stipendiary service of at least 10 years in the SEC. Pension and welfare matters are handled centrally within the General Synod Office. For further information please contact Daphne Audsley (pensions and welfare officer on 0131 225 6357 or [email protected].) Expenses will be paid in respect of telephone rental and calls incurred in the performance of episcopal duties as well as postage and stationery plus other such administrative expenses as may be approved on behalf of the Diocese. Reimbursement of travelling expenses, including a mileage allowance payable to bishops using their own car in performance of episcopal duties, will also be met by the Diocese. Such mileage allowance shall be in accordance with the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rates as determined from time to time by HMRC. The current recommended mileage rate is 45p for the first 10000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter.

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Diocesan Constitution

The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is a Scottish charity which is governed by a constitution. It is believed that the current constitution is out of date and needs to be updated. Some work has already been done on this, including seeking legal advice. This work has been put on hold by the Bishop's Staff Group until the new bishop (and a new chancellor) are in post and can influence the next text. Once a new constitution has been prepared, it will be presented to a Diocesan Synod for adoption. The new constitution is expected to resolve the following issues:

• The law on charity governance has changed in Scotland since the current constitution was adopted, particularly around charitable trustees. It is important that the constitution of the Diocese now reflects both best practice and conforms with Scots Law in this area, regulated by OSCR (The Office for the Scottish Charity Regulator). • The Diocese has lost a number of General Synod representatives as the Synod size has shrunk over a number of years. This means that Regional Councils are now selecting more General Synod representatives than the Diocesan Synod. It could be proposed that all General Synod representatives are elected by the Diocesan Synod. • Similarly, under the current constitution, the Diocesan Synod does not elect the charitable trustees of the Diocese. It has been suggested that in the future the Diocesan Synod elects the charitable trustees (the Diocesan Council) directly. • The shape and pattern of the diocesan mission initiatives and other areas of diocesan life have changed since the current constitution was drafted. The constitution of the Diocese needs to reflect and govern current practice and be brought up to date. It is particularly in this area that it is recognised that a new bishop might wish to influence the drafting of a new constitution. • Questions have arisen about adding further charitable objectives within a revised constitution.

We pray • for a bishop who views the administrative work of the Diocese as ministerial work. • for the grace to approach the ministry of administration with open and grateful hearts. • for eyes that recognise that spiritual gifts come in a variety of forms and with that wisdom to empower those in administrative roles to exercise their gifts to the glory of God.

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Part Two: Liturgy, Mission, and Ministry

Worship and Liturgy

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16–17) Worship is at the heart of all we do as a diocese. There is a spectrum of liturgical expression in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, from informal evangelical praise services to vibrant expressions of the choral tradition and many other dimensions. As in other parts of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the influence of the Oxford Movement has been lasting in many places and in most congregations, vestments are worn, the sacrament is reserved, and the main service of worship is Eucharistic in nature. This does not, however, exhaust the influences that are felt in the Diocese, and a bishop would occasionally encounter worship songs from charismatic and evangelical traditions, sometimes but not always blended with more catholic expressions of worship. Many churches have regular midweek services in addition to their Sunday services. The Scottish Liturgy 1982 is used in nearly every charge, with many also offering the Eucharist using the traditional language of the Scottish Liturgy 1970 at some point. Choral Evensong is celebrated in several charges and has become more common in recent years particularly in some of the charges around the city of Glasgow.

Challenges in this area of diocesan life include finding ways of enabling congregational singing and finding musicians able to facilitate worship. The question of how to facilitate Eucharistic worship for all who wish to receive it on a Sunday is also a challenge – as it has been historically. This is particularly acute in a church culture where priests are appointed to their charge and cannot simply be deployed at the bidding of their bishop. There are a number of Lay Readers in the Diocese who can take services across the Diocese though there have been considerably fewer people interested in exploring this ministry in recent years than those wishing to be ordained.

Several other forms of lay ministry have been explored in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway in order to maintain worship in all charges on a Sunday. These forms of ministry are now being discussed at a provincial level and may, in the future, become formalised across the wider church. The liturgy A Service of the Word has been used in some charges for non-Eucharistic worship.

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It is common in the Diocese for congregations to include many who have not grown up within an Anglican/Episcopal tradition. The liturgy offers particular opportunities for education, formation and renewal in such a situation.

A number of churches in the Diocese are used by the BBC for live worship broadcasts and recent bishops have occasionally taken part in these. It is likely that there will be further opportunities of this nature in the future. We pray

• for a bishop who draws us together in presiding over the liturgical life of the Church in this diocese. • for a bishop who can relate the liturgical life to the life of the world. • to open our hearts to experience worship styles which may broaden our experience of the Triune God. Marriage in the Scottish Episcopal Church

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

In marriage, a couple become one in love before God. The Scottish Episcopal Church, through its ordained ministers, bears witness to and celebrates their pledge to live in love together before God. Marriage in the Scottish Episcopal Church is governed through Canon Law, specifically by Canon 31. Marriages are usually conducted according to the Marriage Liturgy 2007; this rite allows the celebrant and couple to put together the liturgy from a range of options. Clergy are authorised to act as celebrants at marriage ceremonies by the Registrar General of Scotland. In the course of a marriage ceremony, the celebrant completes a Marriage Schedule on behalf of the Registrar General and the marriage is legally registered when it is returned to the Registrar’s Office. A proportion of people who get married in the Scottish Episcopal Church have been married before. This is allowable under the canon, and local clergy are able to marry couples where one or both have been married before, provided the Bishop gives consent. Canon 31 was most recently changed in 2017, when the General Synod voted to change the marriage canon to allow for same-sex marriages within the Church. There was a period of conversation and discernment before formal considerations to change the canon began, and each diocese subsequently had the opportunity to discuss the proposed alterations in advance of their Diocesan Synod vote and the vote in the General Synod. In the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, the former Bishop travelled to the different regions and facilitated discussions with all who wished to participate. The goal of these conversations was to handle the question in a respectful and pastoral manner. There are strong feelings on both sides of the marriage debate and it was recognised that there would be more work to be done, regardless of the outcome of the vote. The careful pastoral handling in the lead up to the General Synod decision meant that many in the Diocese have felt respected and honoured in the course of reflection on this theological issue, despite the many differences of opinion that still exist. All clergy in the Scottish Episcopal Church are automatically registered as celebrants for marriages of opposite-sex couples. However, as required by Scots Law, only those nominated by

16 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway their bishop to the Registrar General for Scotland are registered as celebrants for marriages of same-sex couples. Canon 31 specifically allows for each member of the clergy to choose whether or not they wish to be nominated by their bishop as celebrants for same-sex marriages, according to their own conscience. Some members of the clergy have chosen to involve their vestries in this process of discernment (which is on-going in some congregations.) There are congregations, members, and clergy who feel hurt that the General Synod made this change to the canon. There are congregations, members, and clergy who feel there has not been enough progress made towards marriage being an equally accessible sacrament in the Church. A strength of this process has been the respectful and pastoral handling of conversations that get at the very heart of people’s identity: that we are all created in the image of a loving God. We pray • for a bishop who respects the dignity of every human being. • for a bishop who is committed to implementing the canons of the Church while also respecting the breadth of theological understanding within the Diocese. • to continue walking together as ‘one holy catholic and apostolic Church.’ Mission Strategy

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ (Isaiah 6:8–9) For the last eight years the Diocesan Mission Strategy has been one of growth. ‘Growing with God’s Grace in Glasgow and Galloway’ has been a diocesan initiative for the spiritual growth of discipleship and numerical growth of congregations. The strategy uses ‘Mission Action Planning’ (MAP), where congregations are called to discern a plan for mission in their individual contexts. The Diocese identified six spheres of mission in which congregations might form goals for growth. Development Teams were appointed to support each sphere of mission. 1. Welcome, Integration, and Numerical Growth 4. Children and Young People 2. Learning and Discipleship 5. Imaginative Outreach 3. Missional Leadership 6. Worship, Prayer and Spirituality In 2016 and 2017 a review of the MAPing initiative found that the growth strategy’s focus had shifted away from individual spiritual growth and was most often aimed at numerical growth, or at the comfort of the current congregants without regard for growth of any sort. This shift of focus has tended to produce discouragement, since Sunday morning attendance has largely remained static or decreased – even while there have been some marvellous initiatives born of the congregations’ endeavours in MAPing. A symptom of this discouragement has been limited referral to the development teams – which, in turn, has created a feeling of impotence for those participating in the teams. For this reason, the Diocese is now redesigning the MAPing process. The goal is to build a support structure so that all of the charges, from the smallest congregations to the largest urban

17 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway centres, can be sustained and encouraged as they listen to the word of God and discern how the Holy Spirit is guiding them. In addition, we are open to exploring what bold steps the Diocese could take regarding church planting and pioneer ministry with a view towards not only striving to grow (spiritually and numerically) in current congregations, but also to grow in discipleship across the Diocese – including in areas where we do not currently have roots. We aim to have a recommendation for a new MAPing vision ready for review by the new Bishop.

We pray • for a bishop with a heart for mission • for a bishop who will lead us in our calling to make Jesus known as Saviour and Lord and to share in Christ’s work in renewing the world. • for the vision to discern a new mission strategy for a new era in the Church.

Evangelism

And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’. (Mark 16:15) Evangelism is a word that we can profitably embrace in our churches – and embrace without fear. The sharing of our faith is vital for the work of the Church in the world. There are many ways of doing this and the Diocese needs now to recognise it as a crucial factor in growth. One of the numerous hurdles we encounter in mission and outreach can be a hesitancy to tell our story. There are specific cultural barriers at play in this hesitancy in addition to the general challenges experienced by many in Western Christendom. In the congregations, and across the Diocese, we are asking how we can teach and encourage relational evangelism and general sharing of stories about the Good News of Christ in our lives – while also respecting the culture and experience of the people in the Diocese. One great step forward in the work of evangelism in Glasgow and Galloway is the recent appointment of a Digital Missioner. Under his guidance, the diocesan social media channels have been updated with stories of mission and ministry from around the Diocese. The website and newsletter are still works in progress – but they are in progress! As a result of the improvements on a diocesan level, congregations are feeling inspired to try digital communication tools effectively for sharing their stories with the surrounding communities. We pray

• for a bishop who has personal and vocational experience as an evangelist. • for a bishop who will lead us in finding ways to share the Good News of God in Christ as we see it in our own lives and in the lives of our congregations.

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Children and Youth Ministries

He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 18:2-4) The spiritual development of children, youth, and young adults is vital to the mission of the Church. Even so, over the last two decades the attendance of young families, including children, in worship has dropped significantly. The traditional model of Sunday school as the primary form of Christian formation available to families is no longer effective in forming young people in the faith. Despite this, there are faithful Christian educators across the Diocese striving to reverse the trend of declining attendance of children in church by offering engaging formation opportunities at times that work for modern families. Several churches offer holiday clubs in local communities, often in collaboration with ecumenical partners. Some churches have started Messy Church or afterschool formation opportunities. Many priests have partnered with their local schools to offer lessons and chapel experiences as part of the Religious Education curriculum. Most churches in the Diocese are actively seeking ways to appeal to families with young children. The Diocese has a young adult who represents Glasgow and Galloway on the Provincial Youth Committee and we have recently appointed an interim Youth Chaplain whose role will involve providing pastoral care to children and youth, in addition to those who work with children and youth in the Diocese. There is much room for improvement and greater investment in children and youth ministries on a diocesan level. We have been taking preliminary steps recently and hope to make greater strides with the support of the new Bishop. We pray

• for a bishop with a passion for lifelong Christian formation. • to reach new generations of children and youth. • to prayerfully discern how God is calling us to reach out to young families in our communities.

Ministry in an Online World

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6) The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway has been making small, yet bold steps within the digital world for well over a decade and continues to faithfully bear witness through new means and on

19 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway new pastures. The online presence of the Diocese has seen an increase over the last few years with more churches having a website (60% in 2009 to 84% in 2018), as well as increased social media use (with 71% of congregations having a Facebook page in 2018). To further facilitate the digital needs of both the Diocese and its charges, a Digital Missioner was appointed in February 2018 to help congregations improve their online engagement, assess various communication needs and delivering solutions, as well as manage the diocesan website and social media channels. The online presence of the Diocese consists of a website (www.glasgow.anglican.org) and three social media channels – a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GGEpiscopal), a Twitter account (www.twitter.com/GGEpiscopal), an Instagram account (www.instagram.com/GGEpiscopal). The website hosts long-form articles and notifications, as well as an up-to-date calendar of diocesan events. The Facebook page follows a routine of daily posts, covering mission and formation, announcements, curious facts, news coverage, and prayer (following both an internal diocesan cycle and responding to local and international events). The Facebook page has almost doubled its following since February (to over 560 likes in August 2018), as well as exponentially increasing its monthly engagement and monthly reach (from none to 9k and 10k respectively). The diocesan Twitter and Instagram accounts offer additional insight into the life and work of our churches: their growth has been modest, but steady. Over the last six months, the diocesan social media has been pivotal for interactions both with Episcopalians near and far, and also with people finding their way into or journeying through faith. The online presence of the congregations within the Diocese is good overall but varies according to the abilities of the congregation – some have fully-fledged, independent websites and attractive, active social media, some rely on pared-down, easy-to-maintain profiles and others are currently without a digital existence. Several of the charges are currently working with the Digital Missioner and the Diocese to improve by implementing simple, yet effective changes; websites have also been built from scratch, with more, bespoke solutions being planned in the future. Many charges are also engaged in social media with Facebook being the most utilised. Even with a digital presence, not all church websites and social media channels are always up to date, with some having long gaps between information being shared. The digital media environment is both an exciting and challenging one for our congregations, but we believe that it is a vital part of our mission in the world. The online future of the Diocese includes courses on digital literacy, the refinement of the Diocesan News Service (a mailing list for news within the Diocese), as well as the development of guides on tips and tricks for social media and visual identity. We also hope to work with the new Bishop on a diocesan-wide communications strategy that would inform the best practices for faithfully and effectively sharing the good news with a broader, more diverse audience. We pray

• for a bishop who is interested in engaging with people not only face-to-face but also in the digital realm, thus enabling Glasgow and Galloway to be a diocese for the 21st century. • for a bishop who will encourage congregations to embrace digital mission and to continue to make steps towards every charge having an appropriate online representation.

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Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Other Partnerships

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham – for he is the father of all of us. (Romans 4:16) In common with other dioceses, the Diocese seeks to support many church and secular organisations and charities. Some of these are new and others have long established and historical connections with the Church. Many are international in nature and encourage our diocese to be aware of our place in the mission and service of the worldwide church. One example of local partnership is with the Mother's Union, who have eleven branches linked to individual charges within the Diocese. The Mother's Union has a wide range of activities, from festival services and council meetings at the diocesan level, to a wide variety of community and mission support on the local level. Ecumenically, we are members of Action of Churches Together Scotland (ACTS), Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), Glasgow Churches Together, and many congregations work in local communities with the ecumenical churches that surround them. Until recently, our diocese was ecumenical partners with the Diocese of Gothenburg in Sweden, the Diocese of Kentucky in the United States, and the Diocese of Byumba in Rwanda. These partnerships were rich opportunities for mutual friendship and sharing. We had groups travel to and from each partner diocese to learn and share our faith and the richness of God’s blessing with one another. Each of these links was closed because, after many years of fruitful partnership, it was the right time to discern where God might be calling us to partner in the future. An opportunity for the new Bishop will be to discern new diocesan links which we are called to make. While there is a lot of positive ecumenical work happening, it is also important to note some of the challenges to ecumenism in the west of Scotland. In Glasgow and Galloway there is a large sectarian culture and there are frequent Orange Walks in Glasgow, which highlight this culture. Because Anglicans are seen neither as fully Protestant nor Catholic, it gives the Scottish Episcopal Church the unique opportunity to speak into the chasm created by the conflict between faith groups. In 2016, some in the SEC received the Columba agreement between the Church of England and the Church of Scotland with heavy hearts. One hope is that the new Bishop will work with us to strengthen ecumenical ties both locally and abroad. With regards to interreligious relations, Glasgow and Galloway is a significant home to Scotland's most richly diverse faith communities: Muslim (Sunni, Shia and Ahmadiyya), Sikh (with two of Scotland's largest purpose built Gurdwaras), Hindu (with a large mandir near Kelvingrove), and Scotland's largest Jewish communities (Orthodox and Reform, hosting Scotland's only branch of the Council of Christians and Jews - CCJ). It is important to note that

21 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway this is not only a Central Belt phenomenon; there are many faith communities in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway too. Relations are excellent and lay people, clergy and the Bishop are frequently invited to attend significant events and festivals. In times of crisis (for example at times of serious local and international crises, including Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents) the Bishop is expected to meet with other faith leaders for mutual support and joint public statements. The main instrument of interfaith work is the charity Interfaith Glasgow. The Diocese has an interfaith adviser, appointed by the Bishop with a remit provided by Committee for Relations with People of Other Faith, the Province's Interfaith Committee. As well as strengthening links with other religions, interfaith work in Glasgow and Galloway draws the Scottish Episcopal Church into close partnership with ecumenical partners, especially those from the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic churches, along with the local authorities. We pray

• for a bishop who sees the Diocese as but one part of the broader expressions of Christ’s church in the world. • for further opportunities to learn from other provinces within the Church. • to engage respectfully with interfaith partners striving to work together for the common good.

Vocations, Training, and Lifelong Christian Formation

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13) God calls individuals to ministries that are unique to their charisms for which they are equipped. As such, we recognise the ministry of clergy and lay leaders in equal measure and with equal respect. That being said, we also recognise that the unique learning, formation, and support needs of individuals vary according to their order and learning style. We are committed to supporting the lifelong formation of all engaged in ministry: stipendiary and self-supporting, clergy or lay. We offer support, education, and licensing or authorisation to a variety of lay ministers including: Lay Readers, Pastoral Assistants, Eucharistic Assistants, and Worship Leaders. The former Bishop and the Synod Clerk worked together to provide training to those called as Pastoral Assistants, Eucharistic Assistants, and Worship Leaders. The individuals who complete this training are authorised annually by the Bishop for continued ministry in those roles – after recommendation by their Rector. A recent development in the Diocese is the foundation of a new religious community – The Companions of our Lady and St. Mungo. Sisters Helena and Alison Joy live a Benedictine life together. The community was founded in the Diocese in 2018 and the Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway holds their vows. The Diocese has a Director of Ordinands who works with those discerning a call to holy orders and a Warden of Lay Readers who assists those discerning a call to lay readership. Those who

22 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway come through either process with a supported call are enrolled for training at the Scottish Episcopal Institute in Edinburgh for theological and vocational training. We strive to support the Initial Ministerial Education (IME) of Ordinands, and the Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) of Lay Readers and clergy with educational grants offered each year through the Diocesan Office. Despite these grants being readily available, many fail to use the money offered to them – we anticipate the new Bishop will be a strong advocate for CMD. Internally, the Diocese organises about three unique CMD opportunities each year: one for clergy, one for clergy and Lay Readers, and one that is open to the whole Diocese. The previous Bishop instituted an annual clergy conference where clergy from around the Diocese come together for a three-day, residential formation and fellowship retreat. The Lay Readers aim to hold an overnight residential learning retreat each autumn. At present there is no directive or ruling that requires clergy or Lay Readers to attend any CMD opportunity: with the result that these are often poorly attended. In the Diocese we provide the opportunity to experience academically focused lectures and discussions on important theological topics through the Church and the Academy monthly meetings, held in the University of Glasgow. Organised locally in the Diocese, these lectures bring together a variety of theologians and scholars, as well as clergy and lay practitioners from throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, to offer us their own particular perspective and experience. Church and the Academy is available freely to all desiring an opportunity to explore, more deeply, the theological and academic issues faced by the Church today. Finally, the Development Team for Learning and Discipleship also works diligently to digitally disseminate resources aimed at enriching the spiritual lives of congregations. Most congregations offer formation opportunities for those in their churches, and additionally many seek to invite people in the local community and ecumenical partners to partake in courses and lectures. We pray

• for a bishop who supports the wide spectrum of ministerial callings within the Church. • for guidance from the Holy Spirit in finding new and creative ways to support the learning needs of the Diocese • for opportunities to challenge and update conceptions of what it means to be church in the modern era.

Care and Nurture of Clergy

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:30-31) While recognising and respecting all forms of ministry, we understand that the call to ordained ministry is a different

23 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway type of ministry and clergy need unique forms of care and nurture to sustain them in their vocations. To address these specific needs the Diocese encourages continued ministerial development through internal continuing education courses and supporting participation in outside formation opportunities. The annual clergy conference occurs each spring and offers a chance for fellowship, prayer, and continuing education together with fellow presbyters from the Diocese. The Bishop and Dean maintain visitation schedules to all congregations and are available for pastoral care throughout the year. The Diocese has attempted to make a Ministry Development Review (MDR) part of the more formal ways we support the ministry of both the clergy and Lay Readers, but it is not universally accepted or participated in by those who are eligible. The MDR is optional for Lay Readers and non-stipendiary clergy, but was intended to be mandatory for stipendiary clergy. Despite a recent revision to the process for the review, it is still not being used to its potential. When the MDR was introduced it was unclear if it was a formal appraisal or a tool for personal growth. Some clergy were unwilling to participate so it was made optional, though strongly advised, for those already at work in the Diocese and mandatory for new clergy coming into the Diocese. This division has made enforcing participation a challenge. We see a review of this process as an opportunity for the new Bishop to shape the ways clergy are supported within the diocesan structure. The nature of congregational work in a geographically large diocese results in a number of the clergy feeling isolated. The clergy conference is one way we have worked to mitigate this risk. We feel there is more work to be done to address this issue and hope to work with the new Bishop to explore ways we can better support the clergy in ministry, especially in rural areas of the Diocese. We pray

• for the clergy of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. • for a bishop who, ‘as chief priest and pastor, will encourage and support all the baptised in their gifts and ministries.’ (Scottish Ordinal 1984) • for the vision to create networks of support to sustain the clergy in their ministry.

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Part Three: Congregational Profiles CATHEDRAL Glasgow St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral 300 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9JB Website and Social Media www.thecathedral.org.uk www.twitter.com/thecathedral www.facebook.com/openinclusivewelcoming Current Description of our Church Community The Cathedral is in Glasgow’s vibrant inner West End. The local population is mobile, ethnically diverse and includes different faith communities. St Mary’s aims to be open, inclusive and welcoming. It is a gathered community. Some are attracted by the excellence of the music, some by the practical spirituality that is taught and some by the open community which meets week by week in varied services. A distinctive feature of life is an openness to new ideas. This is a congregation which enjoys being challenged spiritually and intellectually in fresh ways. We are young, we are old. We are straight, we are gay. Some are single, some are married, some are partnered, some are single again. Some live alone, some live with others. We have different abilities. We have all kinds of different reasons for choosing to make this our spiritual home. People experience God at St Mary’s in a variety of ways, including being caught up in the richness of worshipping with hundreds of others and also meeting God in the quiet corner of a peaceful church. The typical Sunday attendance is about 178. There are two Eucharists and Choral Evensong. Morning Prayer is said each morning and there is a Eucharist each Thursday and on major feasts. There are two full-time stipendiary clergy persons, several retired clergy, one non-stipendiary priest and two members of the Companions of Our Lady and St Mungo, one of whom is a priest. 80% of the members are probably aged over 20. In keeping with a liberal theology, St Mary’s strives to provide: a ministry which is affirming, inclusive, open and non-judgemental; liturgical worship of a high standard; engagement in social concerns; a commitment to links with other churches and faith communities; a focal point for artistic energy and vision; a place of spiritual calm and inspiration as well as spiritual excitement and challenge. Things we have been working on: extension of social groups; significant increase in church attendance, communicants and activities sustained over more than a decade; new constitution in 2010 with establishment of Church wardens; developing excellence in musical tradition with frequent national broadcasts by the choir; young trebles in choir since 2004; establishment of adult education – School of Spirituality and God Factor courses; extension of welcome procedures; greater follow-up of new members; Sung Evensong now takes place during choir holidays in summer; greatly expanded orders of service including music, hymns and weekly news; easier opportunities for fellowship after the 10.30 am Sunday Eucharist.

25 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

What our Congregation Does Well Music. Inter-religious engagement. Diocesan Services. Incorporating people from non-Anglican backgrounds. Welcoming people from other countries. Welcoming new members, including those taking a break from other churches. Strong liturgical tradition aiming to celebrate high church traditions without being stuffy. Management of many necessary activities through Vestry subgroups. Welcoming lesbian and gay people. Well established LGBT group, and marriages of same-sex couples on the same basis as opposite-sex couples. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Sustainable staffing and funding of the music department. Improving hospitality within the constraints of building, space & health and safety regulations. Proactively applying for grant funding to refurbish our historic organ. Obtaining additional space to serve the needs of our increasing activities. Faith development. Developing oversight and exploring newly available resources for younger church members. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Mary's nourishes the Christian vocation of many people who work across society. Members of the congregation are involved in the decision-making processes of countless charities and decision-making bodies across the city and the region. Locally within the cathedral, the justice and aid network works to keep members of the congregation engaged with current issues such as welcoming refugees to Glasgow and members of the congregation support a local tea run for the homeless in Glasgow on a Sunday evening. The congregation engages with politicians and decision makers through the Sunday Forum programme. St Mary's provides a building in which many community enterprises take place through the year, particularly supporting artistic endeavour in the city of Glasgow. Members of the congregation took leading roles in the campaigns for equal marriage in Scotland. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Mary's encourages its members to work in a very wide range of organisations rather than affiliating to such organisations as a congregation.

26 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

ANGLICAN CHAPLAINCY at the University of Glasgow The University, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ Website www.guanglicans.wordpress.com Current Description of our Church Community The Anglican community at the University of Glasgow comprises students (under-, post- graduate and doctoral), academic staff and members of the University administration. Over the years members have been drawn from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and from Anglophonic communities across the world. We are also often joined by members of other denominations. The University is situated in Glasgow’s West End. It has occupied its present site since 1871, having relocated from its original buildings in the old city, where it was founded in 1451, the fourth oldest university in the UK. Each of the faith communities is served by an Honorary Chaplain, the University Chaplain serving the whole community of the University. Worship in the University is focused in the University Memorial Chapel, built in memory of those of the University (some 755) who fell in the Great War. Their names are recorded on wall tablets around the altar. The Chapel is collegiate in form, modelled on Oxbridge chapels. There is a ten-minute service of Morning Prayer in the Chapel every morning during the academic session; Honorary Chaplains, students and members of staff taking it in turns to lead. The Chapel is a much-favoured location for weddings and the Anglican Hon Chaplain solemnises two or three marriages most years. The Anglican Hon Chaplain also conducts baptisms in the Chapel and is called upon by the wider University community to conduct funerals. The Anglican community gathers weekly in the Chapel on Thursday lunchtimes (during term- time) for the celebration of the Eucharist. This is a quiet, said service (1982 liturgy). The Anglican Hon Chaplain normally presides. There are also six choral services (October-March), sung on Tuesday evenings with the Chapel Choir. Guest preachers are invited for these services. What Our Congregation Does Well We provide a strong sense of community, crucial for those joining the University (undergraduates in particular, but also post-graduates and members of staff); and with this a sense of Integration. The student body, AngSoc, has a crucial role in this peer-level mentoring. The community and its weekly gatherings form a prime context for deepening the understanding of liturgy, giving students the opportunity to train as ‘Student Sacristans’, preparing the altar for worship and serving at the altar. The Anglican Chaplaincy also hosts (though arranged separately) monthly Church and the Academy seminars. Crucially, the community provides a supportive environment for those pursuing their sense of vocation. The Chaplain acts as a referee for candidates seeking training for ordination and offers spiritual guidance for members of the community.

27 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our reach to Anglicans joining the University (students and staff). There are no figures available for the number of Anglicans at the University, but all reasonable estimates suggest that it exceeds, perhaps by a factor of ten, those who find and join the Anglican Chaplaincy. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects The mission is to members of the University of Glasgow, of any faith and denomination, but specifically to the wider Anglican community of the University. Affiliated Groups and Organisations The Honorary Anglican Chaplain at the University of Glasgow is also Rector of St Bride’s Episcopal Church, Hyndland. Additional Information The Honorary Anglican Chaplain is supported by the President of AngSoc and currently two Eucharistic Assistants. The Honorary Anglican Chaplain participates in the ceremonial life of the University, principally in leading graduation services and delivering the Latin Prayer at Graduation.

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AYRSHIRE

Ardrossan St Andrew’s Episcopal Church 26 South Crescent Road, Ardrossan, KA22 8EA Website and Social Media www.standrews-stpeters.org.uk www.facebook.com/standrewsepiscopalchurchardrossan Current Description of our Church Community St Andrew’s, Ardrossan was consecrated in 1874 and became a constituent part of the North Ayrshire Team in 1997, along with St Peter’s, Dalry and St Andrew’s, Irvine. The Rector has overall responsibility for the three charges with the assistance of a non-stipendiary priest and two licensed lay readers. At the moment there is a vacancy for Rector and the non-stipendiary priest is the Priest-in-Charge. Regular use is made of Eucharistic Assistants and retired clergy. Intercessions and readings are usually carried out by members of the congregation. There are seven members on the Ardrossan vestry (excluding the clergy representative). On average there are 25 communicants at the Sunday service which is a Family Eucharist. 70% of church members are probably over 60. Midweek communion numbers are steady and growing with usually more than ten people attending. Annual giving is allocated primarily to a joint fund covering all three charges and totals approximately £55,000. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation is friendly and welcoming. It has good links with other local denominations (an ecumenical churches group has been in existence for over 40 years). The church has built strong relationships with the local community because of its fundraising events including car boot sales, bingo and quiz nights. The church hall is used regularly during the week by several organisations including a group of Syrian refugees. Some of the Syrian ladies are members of our Knit and Natter craft group. The church also supports the local Women’s Aid, providing toiletry items and gifts at Christmas and Easter. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The congregation continues to fundraise to maintain the buildings and improve the church hall facilities for church and community use. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects The congregation supports the local Women's Aid as mentioned above, and also a local school for children with special needs. For the past year, our church has provided a meeting place for a group of Syrian refugees and is developing friendships with them. Affiliated Groups and Organisations The congregation supports Christian Aid and the local foodbank.

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Ayr Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Fullarton Street, Ayr, KA7 1UB Website and Social Media www.holytrinityayr.org.uk www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityAyr Current Description of our Church Community Holy Trinity is a town centre church. There are several Church of Scotland churches, a Roman Catholic church, a Baptist church, a Free church and two Evangelical churches within the town. We can be described as having “broad” churchmanship, incorporating Choral Evensong, Matins, Sacred Space, Open Silence and Sung Eucharist. The typical number of communicants at the main Sunday service is 50 to 60. In addition, there is a mid-week communion service wherein numbers have increased in the last year. We have a number of annual services such as Nine Lessons and Carols, Christingle, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday. Nine Lessons and Carols, in particular, is very much an ecumenical and community event. It attracts the largest single congregation of the year. Our congregation is on the elderly side with probably 80% being over the age of 60, the rest being in their forties and fifties. We have a very active and committed vestry who have taken responsibility for various aspects of the church’s life and ministry. The protection of vulnerable groups has always been of great importance to us. We have a very dedicated and active Pastoral Team. Lay ministry has been encouraged and a number of lay ministers have received the Bishop’s authorisation: four Worship Leaders, three Servers, seven Eucharistic Assistants and eight Pastoral Assistants. These have all played a vital role in maintaining the worship and life of Holy Trinity. We have a host of volunteers who cover all aspects of church life. Presently (August 2018), we are in a vacancy. What our Congregation Does Well We respond well to special appeals both monetary and in kind. We are a very close congregation and take care of each other in all situations. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Outreach and acceptance of new ideas. Mission in the community. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We are affiliated to the Mothers’ Union and strong supporters of Christian Aid, the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal, Women's Aid (new toys at Christmas for children), Seascape and South Ayrshire foodbank. In addition, we offer our premises to Street Pastors and to a local Christian charity "Broken Chains" who work with people with addictions and the homeless.

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Dalry St Peter’s Episcopal Church Tofts, Dalry, KA24 5AS Website www.standrews-stpeters.org.uk

Current Description of our Church Community Our church is a small former mission church with a small but regular and committed congregation. There are typically 10-15 communicants at the Sunday service, of which the majority are aged over 50. We are linked to St Andrew's, Irvine and St Andrew's, Ardrossan to form the North Ayrshire Team Ministry. The ministry team currently consists of an Interim Priest, a retired priest and two Lay Readers, one of whom is based in Dalry. We have been building on and developing the links between the three charges in the team. Joint services are held at least three times a year. Joint vestry meetings are well attended by members of each of the three churches and there are good relationships between the three churches. What our Congregation Does Well Our congregation is small but there is a lot of congregational involvement both during services; reading lessons, leading intercessions, and also in other duties such as fundraising and cleaning the church. We work well with the other churches in the town, leading or supporting ecumenical events such as Messy Church, World Day of Prayer and the Christmas Carol Service. We also support each other's fundraising events. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We would like to increase our membership. To this end we have delivered Christmas and Easter cards, detailing service times, to the houses in the surrounding area. We are also planning to produce a welcoming booklet and an information leaflet. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Members of our church support and help run Messy Church and a Summer Mission at one of the Church of Scotland churches in the town. One of our fundraising events and proceeds from donations for tea and coffee on Sundays go to various charitable organisations. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We take part in the toilet twinning initiative.

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Irvine St Andrew’s Episcopal Church Caldon Road, Irvine, KA12 0RG Website www.standrews-stpeters.org.uk Current Description of our Church Community The Irvine congregation moved into St Andrew's Church of Scotland premises during the 1970s, and in 1981, an Episcopal extension was added to the premises, but all parts of the building are for use by either congregation. Recently, the two congregations entered an Ecumenical Partnership. The Irvine congregation is part of the North Ayrshire Team - along with St Andrew's, Ardrossan and St Peter's, Dalry. The link with Ardrossan was made in the 1970s and Dalry joined the team in the late 1990s. The Rector has overall responsibility of the three congregations, with the assistance of one non-stipendary assistant and two licensed Lay Readers. Within the Irvine congregation, there are Eucharistic Assistants and Worship Leaders and members of the congregation lead the intercessions and readings. The average communicants at the Sunday Service are between 14 and 18, and over 90% of the congregation are aged over 60. Few people live close to the church premises, others coming from the surrounding towns. There is no Sunday School at present but has been in the past, when required. The annual giving is allocated to a joint fund for the three congregations and at present is just under £17,000 a year. What our Congregation Does Well There is a good relationship between the Episcopal and Church of Scotland congregations. Joint morning services are held a couple of times a year, usually, one taking the Church of Scotland format, and the other an Episcopal service. Some joint services are the three congregations of the North Ayrshire Team and the Church of Scotland. Members from both congregations belong to the Women's Guild and the weekly Bible Study group. Visitors are always made welcome at the church, and new members quickly feel part of the congregation. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Hoping to continue the good link with the Church of Scotland, and working together within the North Ayrshire Team. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Members of the congregation are involved in various voluntary activities within the community Affiliated Groups and Organisations The local foodbank is supported, and CHANA.

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Kilmarnock Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Corner of Portland Road and Dundonald Road, Kilmarnock, KA1 1EQ Website and Social Media www.holytrinitykilmarnock.co.uk www.facebook.com/Holy-Trinity- Episcopal-Church-Kilmarnock- 1552835798277228 Current Description of our Church Community We are a welcoming Christian community of all ages, although the majority of our congregation are over 50. On Sundays, our main service is Holy Communion; other services include Morning Prayer throughout the week, mid-week Holy Communion on Wednesday, Family Communion, services of Prayers for Wholeness and Healing, as well as special seasonal services. What our Congregation Does Well Welcomes new-comers. Encourages the use of individuals’ giftings within the church, whether praying or cleaning! Attendance weekly services (morning prayer average 5, mid-week communion average 15). Hospitality. Fundraising. Contributes to the local community. Bible studies. Pastoral visiting. Children's work - integrating children within Sunday Communion services. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Increase our profile in the community. Development of eclectic worship. Continue to develop our pastoral visiting strategy. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Member of EACHA (East Ayrshire Homelessness Action), individuals from the church volunteer. Member of Fellowship of Churches in Kilmarnock. Taking an active role in ecumenical worship. Hosts AA and CA (Cocaine Anonymous) in church halls, staffing a hospital café monthly. Community classes are held in our hall. We are currently in the process of developing a memorial area in church for the town of Kilmarnock and surrounding area for those who have died by suicide. We hope that in the near future that Holy Trinity will be open during daylight hours. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Mother's Union. EACHA. Local foodbanks. Support Christian Aid. Toilet Twinning. We are a Fair Trade Church.

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Largs St Columba’s Episcopal Church Aubery Crescent, Largs, KA30 8PR Website and Social Media www.largs-church.co.uk www.facebook.com/largs.episcopal

Current Description of our Church Community The church was consecrated in 1877 and is a single-storey traditional sandstone construction, comprising nave, chancel and entrance porch. The church building is in good condition with no outstanding problems of note. We also have a bungalow style rectory and hall. The congregation is drawn from Largs, Skelmorlie, Fairlie and (with St Andrew’s Ardrossan), West Kilbride and Seamill. There are over 100 communicant members on the congregational roll. Churchmanship is traditional plus with the celebrant facing east, with vestments worn, the Sacrament is reserved and incense is used at major festivals. We have an active choir and study groups, as well as a book and a meditation group, which are held regularly throughout the year. There are well established ecumenical links through Largs Churches Together, including participation in occasional shared services and charitable fundraising. The church is self-financing and pays quota to the Diocese. Our recent Increased Giving Campaign has helped us move our financial footing from the red into the black. For over six years we have been active in the annual Mission Action Planning process. As a result of this, we have developed our work with children through offering an annual week-long Summer Holiday Club and both a weekly Toddler Group and children’s Craft Club during term time. We have also created a permanent prayer labyrinth in the church grounds which is used by many visitors and the wider community. What our Congregation Does Well We are a socially active congregation who welcome newcomers and visitors. The four Car Boot Sales held on our grounds each year both help raise funds for the congregation and our chosen charities as well as raising the profile of our presence in the local community. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are currently in the process of preparing our hall and kitchen for a Food and Friendship initiative. This will provide a meal and some company each month to the lonely and those in our local community who struggle financially. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Mothers' Union, Christian Aid, Mission to Seafarers.

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Maybole St Oswald's Episcopal Church Cargill Road, Maybole KA19 8AF Website and Social Media www.stoswaldsmaybole.org.uk www.facebook.com/StOswaldsMaybole Current Description of our Church Community St Oswald’s is truly a broad church with members of the congregation coming from a range of church traditions but uniting in the traditional liturgy of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Our main Sunday service is the Eucharist, with a lay-led Service of the Word taking place once a month. A weekly said Eucharist takes place on Thursday mornings, followed by a study group. Considerable change has occurred over the past two years as we discerned our call as a congregation. After much prayer and consideration, we sought to become an independent congregation, ending the link with Holy Trinity Church in Ayr and the South Ayrshire Team. In June 2017, the Rev Jim Geen was appointed as our part-time Priest-in-Charge. Having a priest who can devote time and energy to our local community has had a positive impact on the morale of church members and on the visibility of the church in the community. St Oswald’s is an inclusive church and we support the marriage of same-sex couples in our church. What our Congregation Does Well We are open and welcoming to visitors. We are a tight-knit church family. We are a dynamic congregation that responds well to opportunities that arise. We have four lay leaders with authorisations as Pastoral Assistant, Worship Leader and Eucharistic Assistant between them, who regularly preach, lead services and take Communion to the sick and housebound. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are a small congregation and members can have many responsibilities. We often examine the responsibilities and pressures on individual members to avoid overloading or burnout. More local clubs and groups have started meeting in our church hall and we are planning on a gradual refurbishment of the church hall to meet the needs of the community. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Oswald’s and our Priest-in-Charge play a leading role in the Maybole Council of Churches (the ecumenical group representing Maybole’s four churches) and members of other denominations often attend our services and courses during Lent, Easter and Christmas. Our Priest-in-Charge is Chaplain to the Maybole branch of the Royal British Legion.

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Our most significant community project is the development of the land where St John’s Church in Girvan once stood. We are discerning how we can best serve the community in Girvan by making contact with local groups and plans are now being made for the land to be cleared to allow for small allotments or a garden that could be used by community groups. Our long-term aim is for a small structure to be built as a worship and meeting space for members of the church and community. Our Priest-in-Charge has started a monthly eucharistic service in Girvan, meeting in a local Church of Scotland hall, where we have reconnected with former members of St John’s. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We take part in the Blythswood Christmas Shoebox Appeal as well regularly raising money annually for charities such as Aberlour, Christian Aid and Save the Children. We collect for the South Ayrshire foodbank. We are a member of Eco-Congregation Scotland. We are a Fairtrade church.

Prestwick St Ninian’s Episcopal Church Maryborough Road, Prestwick, KA9 1SD Website and Social Media www.stniniansprestwick.org.uk www.facebook.com/StNiniansEpiscopalPrestwick Current Description of our Church Community A flourishing and hopeful, prayerful and caring, missional church. Sunday attendance: 40-45 but an increase in people now associated though outreach and use of the hall. There is a family atmosphere, a willingness to take risks together in mission and a focus on the Lord Jesus. Our strap line is “Walking together, following Jesus”. A healthy range of theology and churchmanship though the main service is charismatic/evangelical and prayer ministry is offered. More traditional worship is also offered – e.g. All Saints/Souls, Foot Washing, Stripping the Altar, Ash Wednesday. There is a supportive atmosphere and quality lay leadership (rota for leading, reading, preaching, praying, music, welcome and coffee). We have 15 licensed Eucharistic Assistants, two licensed Worship Leaders and one licensed Pastoral Assistant. Advent and Lent courses are run each year. There are several varied weekly house groups. What our Congregation Does Well Welcoming and caring which goes deep – not just on a superficial level. Prayer and vibrant worship. Mission - all five marks. Encouraging everyone in their giftings. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Communications – advertising our events, inviting others along. Depth of discipleship.

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Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Craftynoons – weekly two-hour afternoon crafts and company activity with referrals from Ayrshire Befriending, open to children also over school holidays. Friday Drop-in – cuppa and conversation. Monthly film club. ‘Little Voices Big Sounds’(LVBS) – free community choir and drama group for children aged 3-12. ‘Grace, Heart & Voice’ ladies choir. Walking group – Wednesdays, some Saturdays for longer walks, ‘Walkaboutabit’ weekly one-mile walks for the less able working with Arthritis Care and Paths for All. Cycling Without Age – Trishaw housed at St Ninian’s. Monday morning children’s film club in the summer holidays. Holy Week Outdoor Tableau – added to daily. Rector is chaplain to Prestwick Academy (Eriskay House) and Ayr Air Training Corps (ATC). Occasional services and food - Animal Blessing, Mothering Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, Christingle, Harvest in which LVBS, ATC take part and their families come. Street Pastors in Ayr and Prestwick. Other missional activities include Thy Kingdom Come, Weekend of Invitation, Prayer Labyrinths (indoor and out), Pray for Schools (SU) and Pointman Leadership Training. Church Plant used by Weight Watchers and Music Teacher. Charities and causes supported include SU Scotland, Ayr Ark, SECMA, Tumaini Fund, Christians Against Poverty, Ayrshire Hospice, Cancer Research, Guide Dogs, Therapets, Cat Protection, Hessihead Wildlife Rescue Centre, Aberlour Trust. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Ninian’s is part of Prestwick Council of Churches and supports the activities of other churches generously. SU Scotland. Prestwick and Ayr foodbanks. Eco-congregations. Animal Friendly Church (First Animal Friendly Church in Scotland and runner-up for 2017/18 award). Toilet Twinning. Cycling Without Age. Arthritis Care. Dementia Friendly Prestwick. Street Pastors.

Troon St Ninian's Episcopal Church Bentinck Drive, Troon, KA10 6HZ Website and Social Media www.stninianstroon.org.uk www.facebook.com/stninianstroon Current Description of our Church Community St Ninian’s is a community of some 150 households. There is a wide social demographic, but the majority are over 50 years of age, well-educated and prosperous. There is a large number of very active retired people and some younger families with children. St Ninian’s has a track record of social engagement and commitment to mission at home and overseas. Our small, but loyal, choir is affiliated to the RSCM. We are highly resourced through the generosity of our forebears and the talents of our present congregation.

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What our Congregation Does Well Volunteering in house and in the community. We are very active ecumenically working closely with our partners in mission in Lent, Holy Week, Easter and at Christmas with joint worship. Our support of local and international charities. Creative projects. Bridge building and social action. Worship and Christian education. Nurture and pastoral care. Healing Service. Our church is open every day as a haven of peace and a place of prayer. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Making the open church more user-friendly during the week. Communication. Biblical literacy. Links with Community Partners. Maximising the use of our extensive grounds. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We are currently engaged in supporting the congregation of Holy Trinity, Kilmarnock by providing a quarter of the stipend for five years. We also support Troon Churches Together, HPIT (Helping People in Troon and Dundonald), Seascape and the Hospice. We help lead joint worship and holiday clubs. We have a very active school chaplaincy, with the Rector visiting two schools weekly and we have recently supported a child literacy programme. We host school services. We have just completed our community art project which involved 1600 children and over 70 craftspeople. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We currently support the foodbank, Christian Aid, Fairtrade, Save the Children, Toilet Twinning, National Bible Society, Jo Walters Trust, the lifeboats, the Mission to Seafarers, Seascape and the Scottish Churches Housing Action. Additional Information Following our successful Community Art Project and the subsequent year of celebration we are hoping to facilitate the following - drafting of a community charter, a flower festival to illustrate the rights of the child, an art exhibition on who is my neighbour and a concert focusing on common values. We also hope to resource the establishment of a children’s community choir to celebrate commonly held values of respect, commitment, compassion and community. We are taking steps to reduce our deficit and to encourage community partners as well as the congregation to support common causes through a re-enactment of the parable of the talents and a major fundraising social event in the autumn of next year.

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GALLOWAY Annan St John’s Episcopal Church St John’s Road, Annan, DG12 6AW Website and Social Media www.annan.church.scot www.facebook.com/St-John-the-evangelist- 196796820905815 Current Description of our Church Community We are an outward-looking middle of the road, congregation enjoying Prayer Book 1662 Communion Office on the third Sunday of each month. The 1982 Liturgy is used on other Sundays and all Communion services are eastward facing. The 1970 Liturgy is used for the monthly mid-week Communion. There are around twelve communicants on Sunday and usually four on the weekday. St John’s is one of the oldest charges in the Diocese. The congregation was initially formed, and the church build, by local landowners to provide for their religious traditions and the spiritual needs of their estate workers. The present congregation correctly rejoices in our heritage. The church and hall are situated in a busy road also called St John’s, reflecting the church’s prominence in the town at that time. As part of the Annandale Group, we share in a collaborative ministry with a full-time Rector and a Worship Leader. The Rectory is situated in Annan. As Annan has an early Sunday service, our minister is mostly here before going to another of the churches. We have Eucharistic Assistants, lesson readers and the offertory procession to encourage participation by members of the congregation. Significant Changes The restoration of the church, grounds and part of the hall was completed in 1998 and the church was rededicated by the Bishop. This was funded by Heritage Lottery and other sources amounting to over £120k. New heating systems and disabled toilets were installed. Increased use of the hall by various clubs and societies provide some, but not enormous, income. Renovation, upgrading and necessary repairs to the hall are ongoing. In Annan, the Rector is involved in chaplaincies to Annan Academy, the Royal British Legion and Sparklers Nursery, as well as other chaplaincies within the Annandale grouping. St John's, Annan is committed to Annan Churches Together. This has made us more aware of community needs. We are also involved in the local Christian Aid group. The use of the hall by local groups has brought us into contact with a much wider audience. The response of the congregation is measured by their involvement. What our Congregation Does Well We are very good at change and being adaptable, considering the average age of the congregation. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We need to continue raising the profile of the charge in the community.

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Castle Douglas St Ninian’s Episcopal Church Whitepark Road, Castle Douglas, DG7 1EX Website www.stninianscastledouglas.org.uk

Current Description of our Church Community St Ninian's is an 1856 gothic-revival stone church situated on the edge of Castle Douglas, a market town of circa 3500 souls. The congregation is drawn from the town and its rural hinterland. The rectory is almost adjacent and is a substantial four-bedroom stone building. Castle Douglas is a market town, hosting the local mart, and has many independent retailers. Although there is an air of prosperity, largely thanks to newcomers and those retiring to the area, there are also pockets of poverty and deprivation, and we try to minister to the whole community. The congregation is made up of over 100 people, with an average of 42 communicants on a Sunday morning. We have a variety of services, from Matins to informal services. The church is blessed with a substantial endowment fund, which allows the congregation to meet its needs and give generously to charity. It also underpins our new link with Christ Church, Dalbeattie. What our Congregation Does Well St Ninian's has a friendly and welcoming congregation. The church building is warm and well- maintained, and the Gordon Memorial Hall provides modern facilities. These allow us to host many community events, including the local Alzheimer's group. We hold very popular social events for the congregation, for example Mothering Sunday lunch and Harvest Supper, which raise money for local charities such as the Women's Refuge and the local foodbank. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We need to work to increase our congregation, which has declined in the last decade, and also to reach out more to the local community rather than waiting for them to come to us. Many of our youngsters have now gone on to university and we need to attract more young families and teenagers. The appointment of the Rev Christopher Ketley as our new Rector promises to reinvigorate the congregation. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We give generously to charities such as the local foodbank, RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) and Abbas Rest Orphans in Malawi. We have recently installed a defibrillator in the hall. Our 'Little Fishes' pre-school group attracts 20-30 toddlers and parents each week, and we host community events such as the Civic Week ceremony. The previous Rector was chaplain to the local schools and the Sea Cadets.

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Challoch All Saints’ Episcopal Church with St Ninian’s Fellowship Girvan Road, Newton Stewart, DG8 6RB Website and Social Media www.allsaintschalloch.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/allsaintschalloch www.episcopalwigtownshire.wordpress.com Current Description of our Church Community We are part of the Wigtownshire Group of Episcopal churches group with St John’s, Stranraer and St Ninian’s, Portpatrick, and are currently in a vacancy. There are 73 on the Communicant Role. 25 to 35 attend Sunday Eucharist service at All Saints’. Ten to twelve attend a Eucharist service at Whithorn once a month, as do ten to twelve at All Saints’ for Matins once a month. The congregation is mainly elderly and there are more women than men. Apart from visitors, no children are in the congregation. Due to the isolated nature of the church, most of the congregation make a round trip of between twenty to forty miles to attend services. There are seven Worship Leaders, six Eucharistic Ministers and six Pastoral Assistants. Many of the congregation lead intercessions and read Lessons. The congregation is very supportive at all times and is especially so during vacancies. Our Church Fellowship group meets once a month for a variety of meetings within the community. What our Congregation Does Well We support each other through visiting the sick, housebound and elderly who cannot attend church and provide transport for those who desire it. We contact by phone those who are housebound and live far away. We have an active website which supplies links to the Diocesan website as well as to prayer, worship, meditation and fellowship and which is accessed worldwide. The west end of the church was recently refurbished to provide refreshments after services and to be a place where in-church groups such as the Vestry can meet. It is where we welcome visitors and we have a growing number of holidaymakers who attend during the summer months. Due to the church's isolation, it is usually not possible for us to meet during the week, so it is the place where we can 'catch up' with each other after services, exchange news and views, before our outreach into the community. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We want to improve our outreach: we are very keen to find ways of attracting the community into our church and we think its isolation can be used for positive effect because it makes it an ideal place for quiet days, retreat days or other ways of engaging in contemplative prayer. There are other groups within Dumfries and Galloway that practice similar activities. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We contribute to 'Ninian’s Moment' prayer groups: these are held every day during the summer months at the Roman Catholic church at Whithorn and every Monday throughout the year at

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Wigtown. The Ninian Moments are about ten minutes in duration and consist of a reading from Scripture and prayers, and are led by people from every denomination. They are open to members of the public who would appreciate a quiet moment of prayer. We support the Machars foodbank. Donations to our after-service refreshments are sent to local and national charities. A different charity is chosen each quarter. We support the Blythswood Christmas Shoe Box appeal. We take part in ecumenical services in the area, such as the annual Cruggleton Church service and the joint service at the end of the Wigtown Book Festival. We are active participants in the World Day of Prayer. Affiliated Groups and Organisations SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and the British Legion are supported on Remembrance Sunday. Christian Aid. The Mission to Seamen. The Scottish Churches Housing Association. Additional Information At present, the rectory is seventeen miles away in the village of Glenluce. The geographical area of the Wigtownshire Episcopal Churches, in which an appointed priest would be expected to minister, is 287 square miles.

Dalbeattie Christ Church Blair Street, Dalbeattie, DG5 4DT Website www.christchurchdalbeattie.wordpres s.com

Current Description of our Church Community The congregation is predominantly retired, although very committed and active. The regular Sunday Eucharist serves between 18 and 26 members; early morning and mid-week services accommodate 5 to 10. In total there are 40 communicant members and six adherents. The majority of members live within the charge but there are a few who live outwith. The charge is rural and much visited by holidaymakers - several members have second homes in the area, worship with us when visiting and are very much part of our community. The pastoral needs of our members are supported both by our clergy and by a Care & Share & Prayer initiative. What our Congregation Does Well Our church is welcoming and we are proud of our friendly disposition to all who join us. We serve coffee every Sunday morning after the service and make the most of this time for fellowship. We have several church groups - home study, craft and chat, annual sales and Lent lunches are all part of our church tradition. Enhancing our worship, we are blessed with a talented and experienced organist who plays for Sunday services, leads a small singing group and composes pieces for festivals and special occasions.

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What our Congregation is Working to Improve One of the challenges we face is making our church more accessible to families and younger members of the local community. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects In addition to taking home communion to the housebound, we provide a monthly service of praise at one of our local care homes and a monthly communion service to another. Our annual winter sale and spring plant sale in the local town hall are well attended and our occasional pop- up shop is also enthusiastically supported by local townspeople. We are part of the Dalbeattie Churches Together initiative which is a thriving group that offers a variety of opportunities for worship throughout the church year in Dalbeattie's churches and outdoor settings. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Dalbeattie Sea Cadet Unit is based in our hall, meeting weekly, and the Dumfries & Galloway Hard of Hearing clinic is held in the hall once a month.

Dumfries St John’s Episcopal Church 8 Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LW Website and Social Media www.stjohnsdumfries.org www.facebook.com/StJohnsDumfries Current Description of our Church Community St John the Evangelist, Dumfries, is a large, growing and active church community within the Scottish Episcopal Church, in partnership with the Methodist Church. We are a congregation, grouped around a Rector, which seeks to empower all its members, whether lay or ordained, to contribute to, and fully participate in, as many aspects of our worship, mission and collective life as possible. We are blessed with a large number of such people, whose talents enable us to minister amongst ourselves and to others in many different ways. We are a gathered congregation, drawing our members both from Dumfries and from a number of surrounding towns and villages in Dumfries and Galloway. We aim to be A Church for Everyone; indeed, that is the slogan we adopted several years ago and our goal is to put this into practice in every way we can. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation is strong in the variety of services it offers on Sundays and throughout the week with its different worship and music styles, meeting the diverse needs of the congregation. The congregation is strong in its hospitality and welcome. We hold monthly soup lunches on a Friday and a Congregational lunch on a Sunday, after our 11 am service. Our Christian Aid lunches are ecumenical with over 100 attending weekly. It is hosted in St John’s, and almost all churches in the town help with the catering. Another strength is laity involvement in various aspects of church life. We are strong in caring for others through many charities, our primary focus of care is for First Base, Bethany Christian Trust and Let the Children Live! We are strong

43 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway in our vision and our aims and objectives. To that end we have a Vestry Away day in March and also a Vestry Away weekend in November, to formulate ideas and draw up plans. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our Mission Action Plan sets out, year by year, our achievements and the areas we are seeking to improve on or develop, in the future. The current draft MAP refers to the events planned to celebrate our 150th anniversary. We are also seeking to improve our offer both to children and to young people; and to improve our facilities, to be better able to run youth weekends, and the like. And, as always, how we communicate, both internally and externally, are a work in progress. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Both our previous, and our current,Our Rectors have been actively involved with a number of schools and nurseries in the town, many of whom have been to visit the church itself. We also have a part-time outreach worker, who is part of the town’s School Chaplaincy Team. This same outreach worker is also involved, through Viking-themed activities, craft events, historical re- enactments and the like, in reaching out to alternative constituencies and addressing non- traditional spiritualities. St John’s is a member of the Dumfries Christian Network; a group of local churches of different denominations, which organises joint events, such as an annual Walk of Witness. Our church building, as previously mentioned, is open every day, from about 9.30 am to 5 pm and a number of people, often with no apparent connection to us as a congregation, drop in regularly for peace, quiet and contemplation. Our Church office is open three days a week; and part of the function of those working there is to provide a listening ear if needed. We have a relatively recently installed ring of eight bells. As well as their providing an audible witness of our presence in the community, the ring is popular with campanologists from all over; some with church connections; some with none. Finally, a recent development is the very successful children’s Holiday Club that was held in the summer of 2018, with the support of our new rector. Affiliated Groups and Organisations As mentioned above, we have been, for some years, in partnership with the Methodist Church in Scotland. Some of our own resident clergy are retired Methodist Ministers and they regularly celebrate, using a combination of Scottish Episcopal, and Methodist, liturgies. St John’s is actively involved in Christian Aid. (we host lunches during Lent, partly for fellowship and Lenten observance, and partly to raise money for Christian Aid during this period). We also have a monthly Fairtrade stall, run by a member of our Congregation, and who operates the Fairtrade stall in a number of other venues. Throughout much of the rest of the year we host soup lunches in support of First Base, a local food bank. We are actively pursuing the question of becoming an Eco-Congregation. We have also, for a number of years, supported an organisation called Let the Children Live!, which supports street children in Colombia. Members of our Congregation are involved with our local branch of Bethany Christian Trust, Tools with a Mission, Blythswood Care Shoe Boxes, Aberlour Childcare Trust and a number of other, similar, organisations; some of them ‘one-offs’, though those listed above enjoy our regular support.

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Eastriggs St John’s Episcopal Church Dunedin Road, Eastriggs, DG12 6QE Website and Social Media www.eastriggs.church.scot www.facebook.com/St-John-the- Evangelist-Eastriggs-244268612977141 Current Description of our Church Community St John’s is at the hub of the community, having a welcoming and inclusive reputation. As well as serving the community’s spiritual needs, it is also a place of social importance. Sunday worship is attended by a friendly and dedicated congregation. There are frequent visitors. It serves the community at times of need for weddings, funerals and baptisms and is a popular venue for community events including regular fetes, fairs, art and craft weekends, charity events, art classes and sales which are enjoyed and supported by local people. What our Congregation Does Well. St John’s is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It holds many events throughout the year to raise funds for the church and to act as a hub to attract local people. It has previously had a thriving Sunday School. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Many improvements have been carried out to the building, including new carpet, some refurbishment to the kitchen, a new garden, heating system. Work has continued for many years to link to the community especially with the local primary and nursery school. Both schools attend the church regularly for special events, e.g. at Christmas, harvest and graduation. There is also a community café. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects In 2017, St John’s celebrated 100 years since it was first dedicated. Several events were held during the year including fairs, musical evenings but especially a month where the church was open every weekend to allow the community to visit and view church documents, photographs and an exhibition of wedding dresses and mementoes. There was also a special service held in December, 100 years after the first dedication service, led by Bishop Gregor. In the last twelve months, plans have been made to start a Community Circle to encourage local people to meet in the church for refreshments and to take part in craft activities, games, discussions, quizzes, reflection, music, prayer and scripture. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Sewing group.

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Gatehouse of Fleet St Mary’s Episcopal Church Dromore Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, DG7 2BP Website www.greyfriarsstmarys.org.uk

Current Description of our Church Community St Mary’s, Gatehouse of Fleet is a linked charge with Greyfriars, Kirkcudbright. The present Rector, the Rev Stephen Hazlett, began his ministry in September 2016 following a lengthy interregnum. Two very capable retired priests attend church regularly and take a keen role in the church life. The well-maintained building dates from 1840, formerly an Original Secession Presbyterian Church. The plant is handicapped accessible. Average Sunday attendance is 25 to 30, although this is often higher in the summer and on major festivals. The 1982 Liturgy is used at the main Sunday Eucharist. On Wednesday Holy Communions we use the Scottish Prayer Book and 1970 Liturgy. Taizé, Choral Evensong, and other services are held from time to time. We have a particularly gifted organist and an excellent pipe organ. The church has often been used in recent years for concerts with smaller choirs, string ensembles, and light classical recitations which have proven very popular. We have also hosted a highly successful visit by the local Primary School last Harvest. Significant Changes Some time ago a diocesan report highlighted major problems with our stained glass windows, which are the central feature in the aesthetic beauty and overall architecture of the church. The cost of approximately £20k, for a small country church, seemed staggering, but amazingly this has been achieved and the Bishop will bless the newly restored work on 18th September 2018 at a special Service of Thanksgiving. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation is especially welcoming and friendly. We are very active in the community, and many of our people are active in local organisations. The Rector was recently invited to be on the Board of the YMCA in Gatehouse, and he has ensured that we now take assemblies in and visit four local schools. Gala Week in July is a main civic event for the town. Last year we held daily concerts and an exhibition in St Mary’s. Previously, we have facilitated a café and flower exhibitions. We have strong ecumenical partnerships with the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church, and the local Pentecostal Community Church. Ecumenical services include the Women’s World Day of Prayer, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and Remembrance Sunday. We are well-represented in the local efforts to celebrate the end of the First World War. St Mary’s is actively involved in the Diocesan Regional Committee, and the Rector is the incoming Chair. As a church, we take the concept of mission seriously, regularly supporting the Mission to Seafarers, an Anglican church and educational charity in Malawi, and Christian Aid. Local care homes and hospitals are frequently visited.

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What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are an ageing population in an area of increasing elderly people. Like so much of the south- west of Scotland and the Borders area the town attracts many newcomers who had a previous connection with the Church of England in particular, but they do not always attend our church, wrongly presuming that the Church of Scotland is the Church of England in Scotland! We need to do more to remedy this, although an increase in local funerals reflect the undertakers being made more aware of the deceased person’s Anglican background. We have already alluded to the good work being done in schools and the YMCA but more needs to be done especially with children and teenagers. Opportunities for Development In an exciting development the local schools’ presence at Harvest, and hopefully at Christmas, is a definite step forward. A large number of them helped decorate our church and it was heartwarming to observe them mingling so well with our elderly flock. Their Harvest Art was also later distributed to the local care home and elderly people with children and grandchildren far away so appreciated this. At Christmas, the YMCA has been invited to have a Carol service and concert in St Mary ’s, which will bring teenagers in and their families who may not otherwise attend. We have also distributed Christmas boxes to local senior citizens and this will certainly be maintained and expanded. Our last AGM agreed that the church should be opened to visitors, with a key being held in the hotel opposite. We could describe ourselves as small, beautiful, “past the first flush of youth” - but keen!

Gretna All Saints’ Episcopal Church Annan Road, Gretna, DG16 5DH Website www.gretna.church.scot

Current Description of our Church Community The building is situated on a prime site in the middle of Gretna. The churchmanship is modern to high, sanctus bells and incense are used at major festivals. Sunday services are at the nave altar using the 1982 liturgy. We have welcomers, eucharistic assistants, intercessors, lesson readers. Our full-time Rector is based in Annan and is assisted by a ministry team consisting of retired priests and worship leaders. We are part of the Annandale group of five charges. What our Congregation Does Well We have good connections with the local Primary School; the Rector regularly visits to take assemblies. The local nursery has their Advent, Christmas and graduation events in the church. We are a welcoming church, which always puts on good, friendly events for the community. Lots use the church for funerals and christenings. The upkeep of the building is done well, with a new sound system installed. We are a small congregation who adapt to changes and do what we can to help and support the community and attract young and old to come inside and join us.

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What our Congregation is Working to Improve We have applied and received a grant from the Heritage Lottery to replace the roof; this will be done by 2019. Our new website is continuing to be looked at and improved. We continue to work on our Mission Action Plan. Vestry and congregation are working together to come up with ideas to attract and encourage youth into the church in these changing times. 2017 was our Centenary Year where we put on many events which attracted many visitors from the community this success is to be worked on. Mission, Outreach, And Community Projects We recently installed new metal railings to our disabled access to make it more accessible and safe. Our long-running whist club and bingo nights are popular, a coffee and chat drop-in once a week is doing well, fundraising events like Soup and Pud and Christmas events, craft fair - all attract many from the community. Our Local Primary will be helping us with a Local Heritage project, including an exhibition to be held in the church. The church is used for external charitable events. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We help and support Kate’s Kitchen in Annan. Additional Information We try to offer everything a church should offer to the local community, by working together with each other and the community.

Kirkcudbright Greyfriars Episcopal Church 8 St Cuthbert Street, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4HZ Website www.greyfriarsstmarys.org.uk

Current Description of our Church Community Greyfriars, Kirkcudbright is a linked charge with St Mary’s, Gatehouse of Fleet. The vestry is very dedicated with particularly able leadership. Greyfriars House next door is managed by our vestry and Property Convening team. Our property hosts a number of community groups and charities which work closely with the church. The church is beautiful stone and stained glass window adorned, historic, well-maintained building. Dating from the 1430s it is one of the oldest places of worship in the Scottish Episcopal Church. The principal Sunday service is the 1982 Sung Eucharist. Average attendance has increased this year from an average of 28 to an average of over 40. Although mostly an older congregation the number of middle-aged and young families attending has considerably increased, not least due to the opening of a Sunday School some 14 months ago. There is a weekly Thursday morning Scottish Prayer Book and 1970 liturgy Holy Communion. Other services include Evensong,

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Advent and Lent Meditations, sacred concerts, and even a well-attended Jazz Eucharist. Recently a new organ was donated. Regular concerts take place, these having rapidly increased in the present incumbency. Significant Changes The biggest single change for good has been the formation of a regular Sunday School, now numbering some 14 children of all ages, ably led by two gifted Sunday School teachers and parents who often assist. We have also hosted two baptisms which greatly boosted numbers. Another positive connection has been the welcoming of the local Sea Cadets to services. The Rector is now an area padre and another vestryman is their President. We also have some school services and choral events. We have promoted a deliberate policy of outreach to children, teenagers, and their families, while maintaining a traditional form of church service accessible to all, not compromising our strong Anglican identity. The Sunday School lessons are liturgically based. This means the various age groups have combined well and there is a definite buzz of enthusiasm hallowed in this venerable building which inspires the worship. What our Congregation Does Well Community! In this past two years the Rector has embarked on a serious programme of old- fashioned home visiting. Alongside caring church leaders who also visit those in need, Greyfriars has developed a reputation as an inclusive, welcoming, and pastorally caring congregation. Not only the vestry, but individual church members play an active role in promoting our church. Schools are also outreached, with the Rector (alongside ecumenical partners) now taking assembles and regularly visiting no less than four local schools. We also undertake visits including the distribution of the Holy Communion and other services to a number of local care homes and hospitals. Moreover Greyfriars reflects a vast involvement in the many community groups and historical and social organisations of this popular small town. Greyfriars was the main venue during the town’s Art & Craft Trail in July. This year past attracted hundreds of people through our doors and featured Scottish “Women of Note.” Church members are heavily involved in all aspects of community life in Kirkcudbright. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are known locally as the “wee English kirk”. Quaint and endearing as this may be, it is not strictly accurate. Like so much of the south-west of Scotland and the Borders area the town attracts many newcomers who had a previous connection with the Church of England (and some with the Church of Ireland), but they do not (at least at first) always attend Greyfriars, wrongly presuming that the Church of Scotland is the Church of England for Scotland. This misunderstanding is slowly being remedied. Our ecumenical relationships are good and have improved in recent times with joint services at Pentecost, Holy Week, Remembrance Sunday, and an open-air summer “Songs of Praise” and Harbour Blessing. Opportunities for Development In common with so much of this area, we have a generally elderly population; this is reflected in church attendance but it is not the complete picture. In this past two years, we have seen an increase in younger people and families, due, not least to the formation of the Sunday School. However, there are also some housing estate families who have little or no church connection. We are making inroads through our active recruitment drive in these homes. We are keen supporters of the SCVS umbrella group, and we are also loyal customers. In recent threats to its

49 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway demise due to funding cutbacks, Greyfriars has not only been forthright in voicing concern, but are active as part of the potential solution. SCVS manages our Greyfriars House and the many charities, social and educational groups and small businesses who benefit from this clearly see us as closely linked to the overall community welfare. Greyfriars House is also the base for the Stewartry foodbank, which the local churches founded, and is a vital source of economic relief to many families in need and the hidden poverty so often experienced in rural Scottish areas. Greyfriars could be summarised as “Unity and diversity experienced in a context of a traditional and historical holy place”.

Lockerbie All Saints' Episcopal Church Ashgrove Terrace, Lockerbie, DG11 2BP Website www.lockerbieanglican.org Current Description of our Church Community We are a small congregation of 44 members, the majority being communicant members. Most of our members are over retirement age but there is energy and enthusiasm in the congregation. Our Sunday Eucharist is held at 11.15 am each week and the average attendance is around 20. We also have a very informal evening prayer with Holy Communion in the meeting room each Thursday at 4 pm. We have a Taizé service every couple of months which is popular and well supported by people from and outwith our congregation. We are fortunate in having two accomplished organists who play on alternate Sundays. We have four Eucharistic Assistants and a large number of readers. Following the recent retirement of the Rev John Macleod and the loss of our hard-working Secretary, many members have stepped forward to undertake various duties, so the work of the church has continued seamlessly. For the past 20 years, we have been joined with our sister churches in Annan, Eastriggs, Gretna and Moffat in the Annandale Group and have shared a ministry team of one full-time and one half-time priest along with retired clergy and lay support. With the retirement of the Rev John Macleod, it has now been decided that All Saints’, Lockerbie and St John’s, Moffat will become a linked charge and we will seek to appoint a full-time priest. We will finance this from our annual income and reserves without any financial support from the Diocese. What our Congregation Does Well Visitors to our Church and potential new members find a very warm welcome when they come through our door. Our churchmanship is fairly “middle” and we strive to modernise our language and services to appeal to the younger generation. We believe that we punch above our weight, evidenced by the fact that in recent years we have constructed a small extension to the Church to form a kitchen, meeting space and an accessible toilet and have replaced the pews with comfortable and flexible seating. This has enabled the church to be used for a variety of different events. We are also in the process of installing a sound system. We have also developed an excellent relationship with Lockerbie Primary School.

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Large groups of children accompanied by teachers and some parents have visited our Church as part of their curriculum to learn about Christianity. Every three years we host the Kirkin’ of the Cornet as part of Lockerbie Gala Week and our special service followed by refreshments is much appreciated by the community. We also succeed in attractingattract members of the community to our social events. Some of our members regularly visit those who are unable to attend church because they are in care homes or housebound. Our barbecues in the church grounds, and sometimes at other locations, are always very popular. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Modernising our services is a work in progress. In common with many churches, our membership has gradually declined over the years so widening the appeal of what we do is a priority. In conjunction with St John’s, Moffat, we hope to find an energetic new priest and to work hard in the community with that person to enhance the appeal of our churches, especially to the younger generation. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Our members bring donations of food to church which we pass on to the Salvation Army in Lockerbie who run a mini foodbank. We also participate in the shoebox scheme each Christmas. We have a special collection each year for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal and occasionally in support of a major disaster appeal. It is also our policy to make small donations from our church funds towards local, national and international charities. We have given support to the Rev John Higgins and the Rev John Stevenson in their ministry to refugees in Ankara. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Our members have played major roles in the Annandale Group, the Galloway Region, the Diocese and the Province. We have been accredited as a Fairtrade Church. In the absence of a formal Churches Together in Lockerbie forum we cooperate whenever possible with the other denominations in events such as the World Day of Prayer.

Moffat St John’s Episcopal Church Burnside, Moffat, DG10 9DX Website www.stjohnsmoffat.org A church profile for St John’s, Moffat was not submitted in time for the production of the Diocesan Description.

51 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

New Galloway St Margaret’s Episcopal Church Kenbridge Road, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Current Description of our Church Community St Margaret’s sits at the entrance to New Galloway, Scotland's smallest Royal Burgh, in a quiet rural area of Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland. The area is known as the Glenkens and covers approximately 300 square miles with less than 2,000 inhabitants, a significant number of whom are retired. It is essentially rural, with farming, forestry and tourism being the main industries. As well as St Margaret’s, the Glenkens includes four Church of Scotland churches in the villages of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Dalry and New Galloway. Due to the sparsely populated area, some of our congregation travel a considerable distance to attend church. The church itself was built in 1904 - a small, neat building with a white roughcast exterior, red tiled roof and charming wooden lychgate. The interior has a simple and attractive décor inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. The Church and the Rectory next door are maintained to a high standard with many improvements carried out in the last decade. A recently built extension (including disabled access and toilet facilities) allows us to offer coffee and tea once a month after the Sunday service which is always popular, particularly as due to the rural nature of the area this is often the only time during the week that members see each other. The Rector (NSM) is supported by a Eucharistic Assistant. We have an electronic organ and recordings can be made for when the organist is absent. The congregation numbers about 40 with the average number of communicants at the weekly Sunday service at 20 and four at the Wednesday service. At Christmas and Easter communicant numbers rise to between 40 and 60, usually with more in the congregation. An estimated 80% of members are over 65. Annual giving is approximately £13,000. Worship follows traditional Anglican lines with the 1982 blue book in use at both the Sunday and Wednesday Eucharists. Members are aware of the wider issues within the Church, for instance, opinions were divided over same-sex marriage but tolerance over differing views keeps our church community friendly and cohesive. The vestry meets four times a year (the AGM is held in late November) and the Ladies Guild is active within the local community, organising most of our fundraising and social activities. The congregation is committed to outreach both in the local community and further afield - last year over £3,000 was raised for a variety of charities. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation has a warm and welcoming attitude towards newcomers and visitors and a strong duty of care towards each other. Although a small congregation, many of whom are retired, our charitable giving is most generous. We enjoy a good relationship with the local Church of Scotland congregations and have combined services for Remembrance Sunday and the World Day of Prayer. The Ladies Guild are active within the local community and organise

52 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway many fundraising and social events including a combined Christmas Coffee Morning with Kells Church in New Galloway. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The vestry and congregation as a whole are aware of the need to encourage new members particularly as ours is an elderly congregation (although numbers are kept fairly constant by people retiring to the area). We are also aware of the constant financial issues and restraints. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects As already mentioned, the Ladies Guild supports many groups within the local community including the local Primary Schools, the Medical Centre, the local cottage hospital, the Food Train and Befriending Project and the annual Alternative Games held in New Galloway. Our annual Plant and Bake Sale is supported by many people, not just members of the congregation, with all funds raised going to a local charity chosen by Guild members.

Portpatrick St Ninian’s Episcopal Church Main Street, Portpatrick, Stranraer, DG9 0NB Current Description of our Church Community 70% pensionable age, spread over quite a wide area of the country. We prefer a more traditional type of service. What our Congregation Does Well Looking after our visiting worshippers, giving to causes which we wish to support, and maintaining our church. Supporting our church and the visiting priests to the best of our abilities. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The visibility and tidiness of the church and garden. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Apex, Stranraer. A church in the Bahamas whose priest was once in charge at St Ninian’s. The Gurkha Welfare Trust, the Mission to Seamen, The RNLI.

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Stranraer St John’s Episcopal Church North Strand Street, Stranraer, DG9 7LD Website and Social Media www.stjohnsstranraer.co.uk www.facebook.com/stjohnsstranraer

Current Description of our Church Community Our church was established in 1892 and moved to its present modern building above the local public library situated in the town centre. The accommodation is multi-functional and has full disability access provided by a recently installed platform lift. St John’s is an Incumbency that shares a Priest with All Saints’, Challoch, and St Ninian’s, Portpatrick. Following a retirement in October 2017, we are currently in a vacancy. Our church is currently visited once or twice a month by a retired Canon, who was our Interim Priest in Charge some years ago. Our Worship leaders are working hard to maintain our level of services at all other times throughout the year using the Reserved Sacrament. Pastoral, Eucharistic Ministers, Worship Leaders are Mrs Anne McWilliam, Mrs Janet Peers, and Mr Ian Arbon. The pastoral team visit with Reserved Sacrament, those unable to attend church. The team also holds a twice a yearly service in a local care home. Our communicants roll is 35, this has remained constant for the last few years. The whole congregation is encouraged to be actively involved with worship services. The main service followed is the 1982 Liturgy. What our Congregation Does Well Although the age profile of our church is not young, we do have an active St John’s Fellowship, meeting approximately every month. The congregation strives to be welcoming and outgoing in the community, while not being resistant to change. We have a very able Vestry who work together to maintain, promote and care for our church. Lay and Alternate Lay reps maintain links with the region and diocese. This can involve travelling long distances due to the size of our diocese. The congregation carried out the necessary fundraising to install our new platform lift thus ensuring we met the disability access requirements. Normal fundraising for church funds usually takes the form of Coffee Mornings, Afternoon Teas and occasional evening concerts. An induction loop is installed and printed services are provided in large print and most in Braille. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our most recent project was to install the platform lift thus ensuring that access was provided to all. This was a major part of our ongoing Mission Action Plan of which Part One is now completed. Other projects towards our MAP are targeted at raising our profile within the community, increased use of our building and trying to increase church congregation numbers.

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Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We encourage community groups to make use of our church as a method of outreach into the local community. Groups who use our church regularly are Stranraer and District Ladies Choir, Can Survive (Cancer Support), Music for All, U3A Gardening Club, and U3A Book Club. We also make the church freely available for the AGMs of Stranraer Cancer Drop-in Centre and The Order of St John’s and an annual Tai Chi meeting. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We sponsor a child in Ecuador via the ‘Compassion’ charity. For many years we have been giving to the local ‘Apex’ which supports the most needy in Stranraer and runs the Trussel Trust foodbank. We also give regularly to local charities or local branches of national charities. Additional Information Like all churches, we are aware that we need to increase our congregation numbers. We believe there is an opportunity to attract lapsed Episcopalians and Anglicans who move to our area. Presently as part of our MAP, we are looking to ‘advertise’ ourselves more openly.

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GLASGOW NORTH-EAST

Bishopbriggs St James-the-Less Episcopal Church Hilton Road, Bishopbriggs, G643EL Website and Social Media www.stjamesbishopbriggs.org.uk www.facebook.com/St-James-the-Less- Bishopbriggs-221177234574956 Current Description of our Church Community St James’ congregation primarily comes from the local suburbs of Bishopbriggs and the surrounding area. There are 105 total members and adherents, 86 on the communicants roll with 77 constituent members. The average attendance over the two Sunday services is 50. As in many churches the age profile is skewed towards the middle-aged and elderly although we do have three young people who come along. The range and organisation of services reflect our approach to collaborative ministry with a variety of people contributing to the planning and delivery of the services. The style of St James’ is neither high nor low Episcopalian but more of the centre. We appreciate and recognise the need for flexibility to enhance the Sunday morning experience. There is a high degree of commitment on the part of the congregation to regular attendance on Sundays and to supporting extra events. Most people have known each other for a long time and there is a genuine friendliness and warmth that is often commented on by visitors. What our Congregation Does Well One of the strengths of St James’ is the mutual tolerance of differing views and convictions, reflected in the phrase ‘All are welcome’. Our worship style reflects our positive desire to provide a bridge not only between traditional and modern worship but also traditional and modern ideas. There is a strong musical dimension in the church with the hymns being chosen appropriately by a small group working with the lectionary readings and worship themes and a number of musicians who have provided the music at times and new songs are introduced from time to time. There is a Pastoral Care Link scheme – its aim is that each member is prayed for each week by a volunteer link member of the congregation and there is generally strong mutual care and support. There is an active Mothers Union. Another strength of the church is its openness to trying new things and a recognition of the important of mission and outreach and taking the context of today seriously. There is a deep commitment to issues of justice and peace.We respond to financial needs well and have a high level of giving per head, considering most of the congregation are on pensions. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our online presence, with plans for a new web site and a more active social media presence. Our provision for young families and have started a Dads and Toddlers and a monthly Sunday Craft afternoon. Our discipleship and prayer life, through more regular chance for bible study groups, midweek prayer and relevant preaching and teaching. Our music and worship by introducing more contemporary music from a wider variety of source and having a monthly informal evening

56 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway service. Our relations with the wider community, particularly the elderly and young families, through expanding the service offered by the fortnightly Tuesday Club and building links with the toddler group and occasional events. Mission, Outreach, and Community Tuesday Club is a fortnightly gathering for elderly people which we are seeking to grow further this coming year as a way of blessing our community. Monthly events for young families, Craft Afternoons and Dad and Toddlers. Seasonal outreach: Summer Fair, community-oriented Christmas events and carol singing in Asda. Opening Doors Events, usually musical related, for the community two or three times a year. Supporting the work in Gavin’s Mill Fairtrade shop, Low Moss Prison and a local Women’s Refuge and a number of mission and service activities outside of the church through church members. Quarterly financial support of different external charities. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Mothers’ Union. Scottish Guild of Servers. Members of the church are involved in the wider life of the Diocese and province in a number of capacities.

Cumbernauld Church of the Holy Name 15 Fleming Road, Seafar, Cumbernauld, G67 1LJ Website and Social Media www.cumbernauld.church.scot www.facebook.com/holynamecumbernauld Current Description of our Church Community Holy name is set in Cumbernauld, a new town 12 miles north-east of Glasgow. It was the first new place of worship to be opened in Cumbernauld. The congregation has existed since 1958 with the church building being consecrated in 1962. The congregation still consists of some early members as well as following generations. Though relatively small in numbers it is an active congregation and one of the founding members of Cumbernauld Churches Together which meets in Holy Name and many ecumenical events are held in the church, including services during week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Week of Prayer for World Peace. We have a sung Eucharist at 10.15 am on Sundays and a mid-week service on Thursdays at 10.30 am in the Lady Chapel. During Advent we have Advent Reflections, Nine Lessons and Carols, Crib services for Baby Sensory Groups and Christingle Service for Guides. During Lent we have Stations of the Cross, a Seder Supper, participate in ecumenical Lent and Advent Reflections and the Local Walk of Witness. We have an active Branch of the MU who are involved in outreach in both local community as well as the wider community abroad. We have a Ladies Fellowship, who meet for lunch locally and are also involved in outreach to projects in Malawi, providing knitted baby garments, blankets and teddies for baby boxes and toothpaste and brushes for the Smileawi project. We

57 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway also provide garments for Small for All a local charity in North Lanarkshire. These initiatives are well supported by the whole congregation. In addition, we have a number of groups who meet in the church hall. These include AA, Dance Groups, Baby Sensory Groups and Guides. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation works well as a team and are very committed to the church. We have a high profile ecumenically within the town. We provide a very welcoming environment ensuring that visitors to the church feel at ease. New members of the congregation are also welcomed into the church and soon become integrated into the congregation, being invited participate in the life of the church. In addition to the Ministry Team, most of the congregation are committed in some way to serving in the church, cleaning, arranging flowers, serving tea, supporting church events and supporting outreach. Visits are made to Carrickstone care home every second Monday for 'Knit and Natter' and Craft sessions. We also hold Services in Carrickstone at Easter, Harvest and at Christmas when small gifts are given to residents. Social occasions such as St Patrick’s day celebrations are also held for residents. These are well attended by congregation. Food is collected all year round for Glasgow City Mission. Our Harvest Festival gifts are also given to GCM. The Ladies Fellowship knit hats, gloves and scarves throughout the year and these are donated to GCM in the winter. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We need to find ways of attracting more families and young especially from outlying areas of the town. We need to develop our website more and look at the opportunities it could provide for mission. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Member of Cumbernauld Churches Together.

Glasgow – Cathedral St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral The profile for St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral can be found at the beginning of Part Three: Congregational Profiles.

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Glasgow – East End St John’s Episcopal Church 23 Swinton Road, Baillieston, G69 6DS St Kentigern’s Episcopal Church 9 Armadale Street, Dennistoun, G31 2UU St Serf’s Episcopal Church 1464 Shettleston Rd, Shettleston, G32 9AL Website and Social Media www.eastendepiscopal.org.uk www.facebook.com/EETMGlasgow Current Description of our Church Community The East End team comprises three churches: St John's, Baillieston; St Kentigern's, Dennistoun; and St Serf's, Shettleston. Though currently numerically small (averaging between 40-50 across the team on a Sunday), the churches are active and keen to grow and develop under the leadership of the new Priest-in-Charge. What our Congregation Does Well Pastoral care, worship, social activities. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are keen to become more outward-facing and engaged with our local communities. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Serf's is host to a daily after-school and holiday club, TicTacs. Additional Information The East End Team is very much at the beginning of a new chapter in its missional life and it is expected that this profile would look rather different in a couple of years' time.

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Glasgow - Possilpark St Matthew's Episcopal Church 200 Balmore Road, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 6LJ Associated Website and Social Media www.concretegarden.org.uk www.youtu.be/gbipg9oMV64 - recent funding application video. Current Description of our Church Community Churchmanship’ – eucharistically centred, modern & moderate catholic. Setting – north Glasgow, post-industrial, working-class tenement estates in process of regeneration but with a long history of unemployment, welfare dependence, drug addiction, poverty, poor educational outcomes, poor health, high indices of multiple deprivation, significantly higher mortality rates than almost all other areas of Glasgow; placing it with high ratings of deprivation within Europe. Church set firmly as a mission at the heart of this area from the 1890s, moving to new premises, within the area, in 1936. A social hub until the general decline in the 1960s and 70s. Into the vacuum of post-industrial decline came soft then hard drugs in the 1980s and Possilpark became a byword for the place in Glasgow where you could get anything. Life expectancy plummeted, at times to 20 years below that of the neighbouring Episcopalian parishes (just a few miles away) of Bishopbriggs, Milngavie and Bearsden. The Church community responded by providing respite then rehabilitation facilities which evolved into St Matthew's Centre - a community hub with a focus on the most deprived, the addicted and those involved in the criminal justice system. The congregation remains dependent in many ways, not least financially, but remains remarkably resilient. Made up of largely vulnerable members of the community it lacks many of the skills deemed necessary in today's world and sometimes lives in tension with the work of St Matthew's Centre upon which it is mutually dependent. This is an area of constant crises - financial, relationship, bereavement and loss, fabric in which St Matthew's Church struggles to remain a stable and loving presence. What our Congregation Does Well Being faithful and offering prayerful and welcoming liturgy; being mutually supportive; understanding the needs of those on the edge; knowing how to support people in crisis; going the extra mile; nourishing people with hope despite all evidence to the contrary; engaging in celebration. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Being better at recognising the need and opportunities for mission afforded by the people associated with the St Matthew's Centre and to take personal responsibility for this. Wanting to learn and to study the faith as well as express it in the Sunday Gathering.

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Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Matthew's Centre emerged from the priestly leadership at St Matthew's Church, offering a direct response to the chronic and acute needs of a community in desperate need. The congregation have responded variably, being in need themselves and often fearful after consistent vandalism and incidences of theft and the usual markers of a fragmented and often violent community. Older members seek and need a chaplaincy mode of Church and are valued for their constancy and faithfulness in a bewildering environment and society, but there is also much energy and vibrancy among the younger members. St Matthew's Centre, through present priestly leadership, launched The Concrete Garden, a community growing initiative that has supported many other initiatives around Glasgow; it also hosts the Faith In Throughcare pilot project for ex-offender local rehabilitation and hosts many local community projects contributing to the health and wellbeing of our neighbourhood. St Matthew's Centre is deeply embedded in the local community and after years of preparation as been able to employ a new Manager. It is the main connection with the local community and remains to be better understood and supported by the small congregation. Affiliated Groups and Organisations The Concrete Garden. Young Peoples Futures. Glasgow Bridge. Local Ecumenical Covenant from 2000 (but currently lapsed due to personality difficulties.) Friends of Possilpark Greenspace. Faith In Community Scotland. Priority Areas Committee of The Church of Scotland (Possilpark is the highest datazone of multiple indices of deprivation). Possilpark and Ruchill Thriving Places. The Link Up project. Faith In Throughcare prisoners' rehabilitation project. Additional Information The Church of Scotland recognise - though not without debate - the need to support congregations in demographic areas such as Possilpark; trying to support and move towards self- sustainability. We are hopeful that the Diocese will be moving in the same direction. The difference that could be made by small additional resources (whether from the Diocese or from congregations wishing to partner with us in mission) should not be underestimated, e.g help in music for liturgy; in community development for some outreach with schools (without which it is difficult to see a future for the dynamic potential of this gospel-centred mission).

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Lenzie St Cyprian’s Episcopal Church Beech Road, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, G66 4HN Website and Social Media www.stcyprianslenzie.com www.facebook.com/St-Cyprians- Church-Lenzie-488817341140515 www.twitter.com/lenziechurch Current Description of our Church Community We are a small but committed congregation. In the past, the church had some very difficult times, but now we are a congregation which is highly committed to each other and to our church. We are committed to support and care for each other. We have learnt to love each other more deeply over the last few years. We are a church which has also attracted a significant number of new faces who have quickly come to feel part of our community. Some might say we are elderly, but the facts don't support that! We are pretty typical in terms of members. What our Congregation Does Well We believe our worship, while, on the whole conservative, is of a welcoming and strong standard. There are times - special events and others - when our worship is very creative. We are a church which is pretty effective at fundraising. We play a full part in the local ACTS group. We provide a huge amount of space through the use of our hall for local community groups. Members are hugely involved in many ways in the local community. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Like most churches, we lack young people and would struggle to provide activities for young people at the moment. We are working to make worship and spirituality a higher priority within our church. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Through our hall we support many community groups - an afterschool club, a child minders group, uniformed organisations, toddler activities. We are working to make our grounds much more of a green and spiritual haven. Members of the church play a huge part in a guiding project in the local prison. We are part of the local annual holiday club. We run a number of concerts each year in conjunction with McOpera, and run car boot sales in the summer, which are seen very much as outreach. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Members are hugely involved in the Mothers’ Union, both at a diocesan and national level. We support a local community social enterprise. Members are hugely involved in Guiding, at both local and national level.

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GLASGOW NORTH-WEST

Alexandria St Mungo’s Episcopal Church Main Street, Alexandria, G83 0BN Website and Social Media www.stmungoalexandria.org.uk www.facebook.com/stmungosalexandria

Current Description of our Church Community The parish involves as wide a cross-section of Scottish society as could ever be found. Everyone is welcome; many of the congregation are not “cradle” Episcopalians. Some are former Presbyterians or Baptists, others former Roman Catholics. It is a very down-to-earth parish. Our worship could be described as moderate catholic. In reality, the congregation on a Sunday can be as little as seven and as many as twenty-five, depending on the weather. The vast majority of us are over 70, although there are three or four younger members in middle-age. St Mungo’s remains a ‘lovely wee church’ of which its members are proud and loyal. There remains a variety of views as to the future direction of St Mungo’s, but the sense of community and the desire to see it flourish is strong. There is still a remnant hurt from events of the recent past, but we are all trying to look to the future and raise our morale. St Mungo's and the local Baptist Church are now the only remaining churches in Alexandria itself, so we are an important witness to God's presence in the community. Despite the challenges and difficulties, God has blessed us, and our Garden Project, now entering its fourth year, provides a service to the lonely and struggling in our community and raises our profile in Alexandria. Our ministry is shared with St Augustine's, Dumbarton and there is now only one regular service at 11 am on Sundays. We participate in joint Lent and Advent groups with St Augustine's and the occasional joint service is supported most often in our own building. We have worked hard to maintain the church and hall buildings and recently received a grant for over £70,000 to repair our roof. The hall has recently been modernised. We believe we are a welcoming community and because our numbers are small, we tend to care for each other and operate as a family. What our Congregation Does Well Our Liturgy is done well with dignity and we prefer traditional music rather than modern choruses. We have an organist who visits once or twice monthly and at other times we use CDs through the sound system. We are welcoming to newcomers and members are non-judgmental and inclusive. There is a craft group which meets in the hall on a Monday and this links up well with the Garden Project and welcomes newcomers on an informal basis. New members have come through the Garden Project and worship with us. The project also has input to our Harvest Festival services.

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What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are trying to improve on the visible presence of St Mungo’s in the community. There remains an underlying fear that the challenges facing us are just too great and cannot be overcome and awareness that the age profile of the congregation is getting older. Change can still be viewed with some suspicion and resistance. We are all very conscious of the fragility of our existence. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects The Garden Project is the jewel in our crown, as it involves over 20 local people growing produce in our rather large grounds. There are supervisors on hand and they work hand in hand with the Rector and Vestry to show the community that St Mungo's is very much alive and well. There are Rainbows, Brownies and Guides who will interact with the Garden Project and will attend the Church from time to time, mostly at Harvest time and Christmas. There is also a Dance and Yoga Class which meet regularly and the occasional Blether Group which involves local women. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We support St Augustine's in the Gambian Project and also with Food for Thought which gives provisions to the neediest in our community. St Mungo’s is twinned with All Saint’s-Sharon Chapel, Alexandria in the Diocese of Virginia, USA.

Bearsden All Saints’ Episcopal Church Drymen Road, Bearsden, G61 2SY Website and Social Media www.bearsden.church.scot www.facebook.com/allsaintsbearsden www.instagram.com/bearsden_piskies Current Description of our Church Community The roll is around 120 with around a third living outside the church boundary. The main Sunday service is at 10.30 am with attendance 60-80 most Sundays. There is also a 9 am service on a Sunday and a Weekday Eucharist at 11.30 am on a Wednesday. Festivals are celebrated. There is a small choir, and at the time of writing (July 2018), we are currently advertising for a new organist. The Sunday School caters for school-aged children and there are 16 children. There is a creche for pre-school aged children. Two House Groups meet for sections of the year and there is a Poetry and Art Group and Bible Study which meet throughout the year. On a Wednesday there is a lunch group which meets from September-December and late January-May. There is a Lay Reader, and the usual involvement of congregational members in the Sunday worship. What our Congregation Does Well Music. Supporting other charities. Social activities. Ecumenism - not only with all the local churches at the traditional times of the year but in particular with one of the local Church of

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Scotland's, New Kilpatrick, throughout the year. The Rector is part of New Kilpatrick Church's Strategy Group. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Engaging with the local community, especially with regard to loneliness and mental health. Making the church and its environs more eco-friendly. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Refugee Response Group with other local churches. Bearsden Festival - a yearly festival for the community along with New Kilpatrick. Drop-in Centre for those who are lonely - in conjunction with the local voluntary organisation. Allow halls to be used at reduced rates or free for community projects and charities - U3A, yoga for disabled children, training for volunteers. Affiliated Groups and Organisations East Dunbartonshire foodbank. RSCM.

Dumbarton St Augustine's Episcopal Church 2a High Street, Dumbarton, G82 1LL Website and Social Media www.staugustinesdumbarton.co.uk www.facebook.com/staugustinesdumbarton

Current Description of our Church Community We are a town centre parish, situated on the High Street which is showing signs of neglect. The focus of the town's shopping is at a nearby local retail park which is expanding to link up with the town centre in future. The town itself is a mixture of fairly wealthy families, young families, right through to large numbers living in relative poverty in the town's housing estates, with the many social issues which poverty brings. The church community is fairly representative of the wide spectrum of life in the town itself. We reach out in making our Community Hall available in so many ways and respond to need in our local community. The parish has a modern catholic churchmanship, with modern music provided by a praise band. The 1982 Liturgy is used at our main service and midweek. The 9am service on Sunday is from the Prayer Book (1662). There are also regular services throughout the year which are used by the wider community, including: healing services, Maundy Thursday Liturgy and a remembrance service for those who have died as a result of addiction. At present we have 35-45 attendees at our main service on Sunday. The age range of the congregation averages 50-80 group, with occasional children and around 20% in the 20-50 age group. We have a full-time Rector, an Associate Priest, a Pastoral Assistant and numerous Eucharistic Ministers. Lay involvement is encouraged in every aspect of parish life and we see ministry and mission as something we do together.

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All in all, the church community is lively, full of social occasions, welcoming and outward looking, and importantly, loving, caring, inclusive and nurturing. We agree to reach out to the least, the last and the lost and although that can create tensions, we live with those and work together well. What our Congregation Does Well St Augustine’s continues to grow in reputation as ‘the church which cares’ in Dumbarton. Both statutory and non-statutory local agencies, businesses and individuals know of our work and our ethos. Our outreach to those on the margins of society is excellent and we are very proud of this. We continue to be as open, welcoming and inclusive as possible and confront attitudes which work against this. Prayer and worship are central to all we do, especially through the Eucharist – and try to see God’s hand and guidance in all that happens. We also try to support each other as much as possible so that individuals do not get overworked or burn out. Lay people make up a pastoral visiting scheme, which means that the housebound are visited and monitored regularly. Worship and prayer, communication and care remain key to our life and we do it well. We continue to work hard at building bridges with Hall users and providing more holistic care for our wider family. Food For Thought remains a wonderful vehicle for outreach, both as a foodbank open seven days per week, and serving free lunches on two days. As need grows the problems experienced by so many become more serious. Our willingness to host services for groups such as those concerned with the plight of the Palestinians touches the community at a deep level. Outreach is in the DNA of St Augustine’s and we are careful never to stand still in our efforts to get to know the people of Dumbarton, their cares and concerns and to build bridges with them. Because of Food for Thought, our reputation also goes before us and opportunities are always arising to invite people who show an interest in church. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We all need to work out how to soften everyone’s attitude of ‘them and us’ when it comes to welcoming newcomers. We need to improve on how we integrate newcomers into the congregation. We need to continually think creatively to answer the needs of our particular young people while also being mindful of the congregation’s needs to worship. Numbers at services are generally improving, but we must continue to encourage members to attend more consistently. We need to continue to encourage as wide a spectrum as possible of members of the church to attend groups and activities which help us all to learn of our faith and allow us to deepen our spirituality. Our Cursillo Group, which is quite large, needs a bit more support from clergy, and we need to look at our adult education, especially with new people. Our Leap of Faith programme could be worthwhile doing more regularly. We are trying to improve our link with St Mungo's. We also endeavour to strengthen ties with the URC congregation which worships in our hall most Sundays. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Friends of St Augustine's is a vital part of our ministry and mission. It was designed to bring people in by running a series of social events. It is a huge success and a fair number of people have become committed members of the congregation as a result. It also raises money for St Augustine's and can raise up to around £9000 per annum!

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We run Food for Thought, which in addition to the daily task of feeding the hungry, provides a free lunch on Christmas Day with Santa for adults and children alike. We operate a toy store before Christmas, ensuring that children in needy families have something substantial on Christmas Day. We rely heavily on donations as we do at Easter when we give out hundreds of Easter eggs to children. We are responsible for the Allsorts Choir which is an ecumenical group who raise hundreds of pounds for charities. We work closely with Alternatives in West Dunbartonshire, in our work with those suffering from addiction and those in recovery. This is a demanding task. We work also with Alzheimer's Scotland. There is a Rainbow troop. We work with the Richmond Fellowship, meeting the needs of those who have mental health issues. There is a monthly Acoustic Night where younger people are encouraged to come and display their musical talent. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We are affiliated with St Andrew's Lamin, a little parish in The Gambia. We also run a school in that country, educating, feeding and giving medical support to 90 children, free of charge, in the sprawling town of Serrekunda.

Glasgow - Drumchapel Drumchapel Episcopal Church 50 Essenside Avenue, Drumchapel, Glasgow G15 6DX Current Description of our Church Community Our Church consists of seven members currently (2018). Suzanne Brough is our Worship Leader and Pastoral Assistant. We attend the URC Church next door on the third Sunday of the month (11 am) and have a Minister from the Drumchapel Churches Partnership taking one Sunday service a month (9.30 am) with the Scottish Episcopal Church providing a priest or Lay Reader for two Sundays a month (9.30 am). We worship in the hut belonging to, and next door to, the URC Church. We are active members of the Drumchapel Churches Partnership. What our Congregation Does Well Despite our small size and the health of our members, we try to have a presence at as many of the DCP services/functions as we can. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are trying to improve our links within the local community and hope to make our presence more visible. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Our members support Pause for Prayer and Friendship House, both projects run by the URC Church. We also provide Easter and Christmas gifts to the local Women’s Refuge and help with any other items they may need. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Drumchapel Churches Partnership.

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Glasgow - Hyndland St Bride's Episcopal Church 69 Hyndland Road, Glasgow, G12 9UX Website and Social Media www.stbride.org.uk www.facebook.com/stbridesglasgow www.twitter.com/StBridesGlasgow Current Description of our Church Community The present church building is Bodley-designed and was consecrated in 1916. It was founded in and maintains the Anglo-Catholic and Scottish Prayer Book traditions. The Eucharist lies at the heart of our worship and there is a full Choral Mass (1970 liturgy) every Sunday with (said) Daily Office and Eucharist during the week. The major Festivals are celebrated.

Congregational growth/renewal is happening principally among the under 35s. There is a strong element of academic and academic-related backgrounds in our congregation.

What our Congregation Does Well Our liturgical and musical life. We have a stipendiary Organist and Choirmaster and assistant. At our Sunday Choral Eucharist the choir sings a full Mass with a post-communion anthem. The psalm (Prayer Book) is chanted. St Bride’s is one of the few Episcopal churches in Scotland at which the Propers are sung every Sunday. We fund four choral scholars.

We offer Daily Prayer (Scottish Prayer Book) and the Mass throughout the week, placing strong emphasis on training laity to participate in worship through serving at the altar, reading the lessons, leading intercessions, and in leading the Daily Office. We’re strong on communications; and a warm and welcoming congregation.

What our Congregation is Working to Improve

Numerical growth: the last few years have seen the loss of a significant proportion of our congregation through death or through having moved away. This depletion of resources and community now leaves us with increasingly pressing financial concerns. Accessibility: the church itself is raised and is normally accessed only by flights of steps. We now have a stair lift to help with access. We have a hearing loop. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We host concert series and recitals - the church has a wonderful acoustic. Our 1865 Hill & Son organ has been fully restored (2018) and draws both an audience and visiting organists of international reputation. Our organist & choirmaster is himself a recording artist. We are a popular venue during Glasgow’s West End Festival; and we provide a venue for local musicians and touring companies. A group of amateur pianists play our Steinway Grand at our monthly ‘Church Open’ mornings.

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Our St Bride’s Women’s Group arranges monthly afternoon meetings – lectures and outings – which attracts members from the wider community and we hold three tea and coffee afternoons each year. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Scottish Guild of Servers; Scottish Prayer Book Society; The Scottish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham; The Royal School of Church Music. The Rector is Anglican Hon Chaplain at the University of Glasgow. Additional Information The Rector is supported by three Eucharistic Assistants, one of whom is also licensed as a Pastoral Assistant and Worship Leader. The Worship Leader, by agreement with the Bishop, preaches some ten times a year; and we invite guest preachers, including within the recent past a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Principal of the Scottish Episcopal Institute. We work with the SEI and training placements are offered and ordinands are invited to preach.

Glasgow - Jordanhill All Saints’ Episcopal Church 10 Woodend Drive, Jordanhill, Glasgow, G13 1QS Website and Social Media www.allsaintsjordanhill.org.uk www.facebook.com/AllSaintsJordanhill Current Description of our Church Community The church is an average-sized parish, with a congregational roll of some 57 and an average Sunday attendance of around 30. The parish was linked with Holy Cross, Knightswood until 2011, and is now self-supporting under a non-stipendiary ministry supported by teams of pastoral assistants, Eucharistic assistants, a lay reader, sides-people, readers and intercessors, and of course in providing hospitality. The church has a small but effective choir and a capable and enthusiastic organist. The congregation is generally elderly however a large proportion of these are physically active and contribute fully to parish life. There are no young families. There are excellent relations with the Jordanhill Parish Church, which include attendance at each other's principal worship and social events. A Joint Liturgical Choir, comprising members of All Saints’, the Parish Church and other local churches, holds some of its services in All Saints’. The locality is principally one of medium density private housing, generally terraced and supports a fine school in the form of Jordanhill School. Residents are generally professional, managerial and academic. Crow Road is a principal bus route and Jordanhill Station, about a quarter of a mile away, provides rail access to the city centre, Edinburgh and Helensburgh. Given its location in the west of the city, the church hosts events for the West End Festival, a significant cultural festival and these events have consisted of concerts, lectures and the conduct of Sung Evensong.

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Church resources are materially supported by donations received from the use of the hall by a children’s nursery and rent from the rectory and the priest in charge lives in his own home in Hillhead. (15 minutes’ drive away). Ministry Team: Priest-in-Charge, one Lay Reader, two Pastoral Assistants (with one in training); five Eucharistic Assistants; lay members read lessons and lead intercessions. Income: £58,100 (June 2017). Outgoings: £55,200 (June 2017). What our Congregation Does Well The church has a good website, maintained by a dedicated and thoughtful member of the congregation. It is enthusiastic in welcoming both occasional visitors and those who attend the Tea and Talk, joint services, concerts or other events open to the public. Pastoral care is significantly strengthened by the dedicated efforts of the Pastoral Team. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The church premises are located on a small site and are cramped. Extensions carried out in the 1950s are now tired and in need of refurbishment in keeping with modern standards of design and materials, fire safety and above all the improvement of toilet facilities. The oil heating system has as a matter of urgency, been replaced by a gas supplied system. Effective Mission Action Planning has to be supported by these improvements and will be difficult to pursue in their absence. The acoustics of the church render it an attractive venue for musical performances and concerts while the visual character of the sanctuary makes the church an inspiring place of worship. General refurbishment of the premises would also make it an attractive venue for small group activities. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects The church hall is used during the week by a commercial nursery, and on two evenings a week, by a troop of Scouts. A monthly lecture on a variety of subjects is held on a weekday afternoon and attracts church and non-church members. The church has good acoustics and is a venue for concerts during the West End Festival and on other occasions. The church choir is an active supporter of a local ecumenical choir which is organised by the Parish Church. Members of the congregation support and are supported by the Parish Church on various occasions and relations with the Parish Church are very good. The joint choir takes part in All Saints’ events, e.g. Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, (this service is shared with the Parish Church and is held in each church on alternate years). Members of the congregations support each others' social and other events. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Lincoma Trust, Water Aid, Storehouse, Barnabas Trust Additional Information The church has excellent acoustics and has been a sought-after venue for joint services, e.g. the World Day of Prayer, the Christian Aid Christmas Carol Service, the Day of Prayer for Christian Unity. The development of the Jordanhill Liturgical Choir has stimulated the contribution of the church choir to local events. A monthly talk, held during the afternoon of the first Thursday of the month, has served to attract members of the public and other churches into All Saints’. The talks are general in nature

70 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway and topics include religious matters, local history, the work of charities, travels in remote parts of the world or other general subjects.

Glasgow - Woodlands St Silas’ Episcopal Church 69 Park Road, Woodlands, Glasgow, G4 9JE Website and Social Media www.stsilas.org.uk www.facebook.com/StSilasChurch

Current Description of our Church Community St Silas Church is a growing, Christ-centred, Bible-based church family meeting in the heart of the west end of Glasgow. At our weekly Sunday morning service, you would usually find around 220 people of all ages. Music style is band-led, with a mix of contemporary songs and older hymns. We aim to be relaxed and informal while still being reverent. Our 40 or 50 children and young people usually head out for age-specific groups. We are a gathered congregation, with some living locally, but others travelling in from suburbs. Our Sunday evening service in term time is around 40 adults, and monthly we have a 9 am morning prayer service using the 1662 liturgy, attended by around 25. Midweek, we have a network of growth groups meeting in homes for Bible study, fellowship and prayer. Centrally, we also run "Roots", a gathering for young workers and students. St Silas Church is a Private Chapel under Canon 40 of the SEC. It was founded in 1864, committed to the theology of the 1662 English Book of Common Prayer, including the 39 Articles and the Ordinal. Today, though service styles and liturgy used in corporate worship have changed, the theology remains the same. Our vision is to Reach, Grow, and Send - Reaching out with the saving news that Jesus Christ is Lord, Growing in our knowledge and love of God, and Sending out a Spirit-empowered congregation equipped to live and work to His praise and glory. What our Congregation Does Well We strive to be Bible-based, trusting in the power of the Spirit as He works through His word, and this is reflected in seeking to preach and teach the Bible faithfully and in a culturally relevant way. We are a welcoming congregation. We celebrate significant diversity in terms of age, and a growing diversity in nationalities and ethnicities represented. We are committed to reaching out, running international student outreach (including a weekly café), evangelistic courses, guest services, and attractional events where we seek to invite friends, neighbours and colleagues to hear more about the claims of Christ. We value our music and congregational singing, with a good number of musicians serving week by week.

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What our Congregation is Working to Improve We would like to grow in the above areas. This includes focusing over the next year on our evening service, which seems particularly small given our location and the West End demographics. Our Students and young workers ministry, which has been growing but where there is a lot more potential. Our courage and effectiveness in reaching out, as individuals in neighbourhoods and workplaces, and as a church in making our meetings accessible to not-yet- believers and newcomers of all kinds. Making our connections with others more intentional, in terms of sharing what we believe. Our commitment to a God-honouring corporate prayer-life. Our music, with musicians developing well and enjoying serving a diverse congregation with helpful, God-glorifying hymns and songs. Training people up to serve Christ - whether in raising up ordinands or equipping the wider congregation to serve in many ways. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects A year-round outreach programme including invitational Christmas events, attractional events such as quiz nights (with a short talk about the Christian faith), evangelistic courses, guest- friendly services. International Student ministry, including an international cafe and a Bible study for those who would like to investigate the Christian faith further. Twice weekly Parents and Toddler Group. We host a homework club alongside the Bethany Christian Trust. We partner with the Wheel Trust, an SU affiliated group that serves schools in the west end. We partner with Christians in Sport, and have an Intern placed with us. Through the year we serve the local community through events such as a nearly new sale of kids' kit, helping other stakeholders on Gibson Street with the Gibson Street Gala. We support the Glasgow City Mission with volunteers and giving. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Bethany Christian Trust. SU Scotland. Friends International. Christians in Sport. Glasgow City Mission. Evangelical Alliance. Gafcon UK.

Helensburgh St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 16 William Street, Helensburgh, G84 8BD Website and Social Media www.stmichaelhelensburgh.org.uk www.facebook.com/stmichaelshelensburgh Current Description of our Church Community There are 190 names on the Congregational Roll, most of whom are active members of our congregation. Although the congregation is drawn from all age groups, the majority are 65 or older. Many have worshipped at St Michael’s for over 20 years. Our Rector is supported by a Lay Reader and we have 3 Eucharistic Ministers, with 3 more being recruited to co-ordinate visiting and take Communion to the sick. Our typical Sunday service attendances are: 0800 Eucharist (1970) = 10; 1030 Sung Eucharist (1982) = 90; Choral Evensong between September & June (Scottish Prayer Book) = 35. In addition, 15 regularly attend Tuesday morning

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Eucharist, and the same number attend the monthly house communion services in Kilcreggan and Cardross. St Michaels’ is 'middle of the road liberal Anglican' and is noted for its inclusive and welcoming approach to worship. The Church is committed to ecumenicalism, and participates in ecumenical activities locally, including combined services with the United Reformed Church 3 times a year. What our Congregation Does Well St Michaels’ is a strong and committed community with numerous flourishing church groups ranging from 2 bible study groups, an active Mothers Union, to more social activities such as the walking group and art club. The retirement of the Rector in October 2017 brought the church community closer together as individuals contributed to keeping the church going during the vacancy (November 2017 - July 2018). St Michaels’ church was consecrated in 1843 and is the only Grade A listed church in Helensburgh. We work hard to maintain it to a high standard and it is kept open for visitors every day. We recently improved our church hall by the installation of a new servery to provide refreshments after services. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The congregation, though loyal, is very much of the older generation, and it is recognised that growth is essential if the church is to survive as a healthy community. It is acknowledged that change is necessary to facilitate growth, but it is also recognised that respect for our traditions is also important. Quality of music is important to St Michaels’, and we will shortly be recruiting a new Director of Music and increasing our musical repertoire. We aspire to improve engagement with local schools, including an ecumenical approach to the local secondary school ‘Hermitage Academy’, and to revive working with young people generally. We are working to strengthen links with HM Naval Base Clyde. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Michaels’ retains a close association with and gives financial support to the Helensburgh Area Youth Project 'Contraflow' which seeks to bring God's love to young people. The church provides volunteers to run the tea bar at the Vale of Leven hospital. St Michaels’ provides financial support to a local charity 'The Beacon Trust' which helps people in need, and the church also supports the local food bank. We support the monthly ecumenical ‘Messy Church’. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Michaels’ Mothers Union branch is notably active and runs regular and informative meetings as well as giving active support to various good causes both at home and abroad. Regular 'Fair Trade' stalls take place after the Sunday morning service. The church is proud of its 'Eco- congregation' status.

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Milngavie St Andrew's Episcopal Church Park Road, Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 6PJ Website www.milngavie.church.scot

Current Description of our Church Community There are 55 members currently on the congregational role (74% aged 60 or over). The church has an attractive children’s corner with willing helpers on hand during services. Our community is small, enthusiastic, sociable and talented, with strong lay-involvement in the church. St Andrew’s was granted incumbency status three years ago and our Rector has been in place since May 2016. Services include Sung Eucharist every Sunday morning, said Eucharist every Thursday morning, Ecumenical prayer group on Tuesday mornings, monthly evening prayers on Sundays and special services throughout the year. Retreats take place regularly on both a residential and day-visit basis. The community is very musical, enjoys sharing food together and has a thriving book group. What our Congregation Does Well St Andrew’s is very welcoming and has attracted new members because of this quality. Pastoral care is important and is given by the Rector, the Fellowship and peer support. Much thought is given to the liturgy, forms of worship and the role of music. St Andrew’s is a ‘safe space’ where people can explore and discuss their faith. The congregation appreciates the preaching resources available to it. St Andrew’s congregation looks both to its own needs and those of the local, national and international communities. Our church is very involved with the other churches in Milngavie. What our Congregation is Working to Improve St Andrew’s is trying to grow spiritually and numerically. It has been working on its communications in the form of the website and on the way it conveys information to and seeks views from its congregation. St Andrew’s wants to continue to find ways to nurture its congregation spiritually. The congregation is working to find the best ways to use its energy, time and talents and encourage new members to take up roles within the church. St Andrew’s is in its third year of the Mission Action Planning process and has been using that to guide its efforts at improvement Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Andrew’s helped to found the Milngavie Refugee Action group and hosts its meetings in the church hall. The Dorcas craft group is open to all. It meets monthly on the third Saturday of the month, offers the experience of different crafts and the proceeds from sales of its work support refugee charities. St Andrew’s leads on the provision of Nativity Storytelling for children during the Milngavie Christmas lights switch on event. The church is a member of the local churches’ committees and takes part in the combined Remembrance Service, Christmas and Easter activities. Friendship House (St Andrew’s former Rectory) is attached to the church and owned

74 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway by the Diocese. It is run ecumenically and offers café facilities for the general population but especially for the lonely and those with special needs. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Andrew’s is very involved with Christian Aid and the Fairtrade movement. It contributes to foodbanks and Elpis – a Glasgow charity that supports homeless young women. St Andrew’s charitable giving programme aims to rotate support for both big and small charities in local and regional contexts. Additional Information St Andrew’s was previously a dependent congregation linked to All Saints’, Bearsden. As an incumbency, it has a strong identity with a good atmosphere in church and a thriving community. Its challenge is to be both effective and realistic in taking the church forward into the future given its small numbers and the age profile of the congregation.

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GLASGOW SOUTH Clarkston St Aidan's Episcopal Church Mearns Road, Clarkston, G76 7ER Website and Social Media www.staidansclarkston.org.uk www.facebook.com/St-Aidans-Episcopal- Church-Clarkston-169821876450577 Current Description of our Church Community 140-150 members, most of whom live in Clarkston, Giffnock, Newton Mearns, Eaglesham, with some further afield. Majority pensioners, also young families. A third of the membership joined in last eight years. What our Congregation Does Well Full integration of children in worship. Good collaborative relations in the region. Good ecumenical network in Clarkston. Dedicated Sunday School team. Worship supported by dedicated organist and choir, servers, sidespeople, flower arrangers, cleaners and others. Annual St Aidan's Lectures. What our Congregation is Working to Improve First engaged in MAP process in 2010, priorities changed over time. Worship & Spirituality and Learning & Discipleship "strands", but understood broadly and not exclusively. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Active involvement in local Christian Aid Committee, Peace & Justice Forum. Annual financial support for KwaMkono Mission in Tanzania. SECMA subscriptions. Support for toddler group meeting in the church hall. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Fairtrade congregation. Christian Aid. Eastwood Peace & Justice Forum.

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Glasgow – Hillington Church of the Good Shepherd 38 Hillington Road South, G52 2AA Website and Social Media www.glasgowgoodshepherd.org www.facebook.com/GlasgowGoodShepherd Current Description of our Church Community Since November 2016, the Church of the Good Shepherd has been linked with Holy Trinity and St Barnabas, Paisley. There are three worship leaders, including Marie Ferrari who is our Pastoral Assistant. All take turns to regularly lead our worship and officiate at services of Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament when appropriate; there is also one Eucharistic Assistant. In addition, we have an organised rota for church readings and prayers by members of the congregation. What our Congregation Does Well We are a very welcoming church. Our church family all support each other. We are involved in the local G52 churches together. We host the annual Carols by Candlelight service which is always very well attended by the local congregations. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We feel that as a congregation we have a lot to be thankful for. We hope with the renewal of the church fabrics we will also be renewed to continue to do God’s work by reaching out to the local community. We aim to expand our existing bible study and fellowship group and also hope to increase our membership. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We have with the support of the Diocese and the congregation completed a new roof, repainted the inside of the church, repaired gas leaks in the kitchen and refurbished the hall toilets and also restored the garden to allow a better play area for the nursery children. We also have Canon 35 approval for a new disabled toilet and small meeting room, which we hope will help us to connect during the weekdays with the local community, which is now in progress. Our church supports an established on-site nursery and a community choir. Affiliated Groups and Organisations G52 Churches Together. Diocesan Regional Council. Additional Information We support three different charities each year by organising church lunches and mission donations. Last year we supported Glasgow City Mission, SECMA and Richmond Hope.

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Glasgow - King's Park & Castlemilk St Oswald's Episcopal Church 260 Castlemilk Road, Glasgow, G44 4LB Website and Social Media www.stoswaldskingspark.org.uk www.facebook.com/stoswaldsglasgow Current Description of our Church Community We are a church family averaging 25 people at Sunday services, the age range is from 4 to 92, mostly in the upper age range. We are enabled in our discipleship by our priest-in- charge who is a 'pioneer priest'. We have struggled to grow numerically from our core inherited group, although we do have five new members, these replace those who have passed away or moved away. We mostly live in areas far away from the church; this is challenging for the members and the priest. Many of us do not have transport to attend other church projects during the week and rely on a few who 'taxi' us on Sunday mornings, making volunteering for anything that the priest and vestry may wish to provide outwith the Sunday service and the building difficult. Not many of us have computers or mobile phones; this makes communication very slow, the connection to the website comes only via the secretary or the priest. The outreach groups, however, are growing. What our Congregation Does Well The core members keep in touch with one another by telephone and provide support for each other. Some of us pray for specific initiatives with good effect. The contemporary 'application' Bible study is very good. This is led by lay people and the priest. It is a joint project with St Aidan's, Clarkston. We are amazing hosts for other groups who use our building. We are welcoming and loving. Our gardens are a delight, and our shared meals are amazing. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our prayer life, our personal electronic communication and connection. Our singing. Our presence in the wider community. Other people’s understanding of what the Episcopal Church is and how it adds value to the lives and the community it serves. Our own core understanding of Mission and Evangelism. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We have an open bible study on Monday evenings which is very good at building a deeper understanding and relationships of the characters of others and God. We have Community Yoga on Tuesday Evenings; we charge £3 per person to ensure that it is affordable to all. The money it brings go towards other outreach initiatives, e.g. Christmas and Easter gifts and tracts to the local shopkeepers and passers-by. We have a new initiative as a result of the bible study. It is called Yeast Fellowship. People from the community and the church family can come and share creative ways of connecting to God. Painting, drawing, breadmaking, felting. This is developing well.

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Affiliated Groups and Organisations Eco-congregation, Mary's Meals, Castlemilk foodbank, Glasgow Mission, Slimming world - who have a lovely connection with us, and members come to speak to the priest about all sorts of life challenges. Additional Information We are next door to a large Church of Scotland congregation and surrounded by many other denominations too. Often, when we have advertised or invited people to come to our services/events, they go to the Church of Scotland next door by mistake. Our building is not in a good position and has been hidden in plain sight for many years. Our priest has worked hard to represent the 'curb appeal' of the building, as a sanctuary and life building place to be. It will take some time to undo a long history of invisibility in the community.

Glasgow - Newlands St Margaret’s Episcopal Church 353/355 Kilmarnock Road, Newlands, Glasgow, G43 2DS Website and Social Media www.episcopalnewlands.org.uk www.facebook.com/StMargaretsNewlands www.twitter.com/StMNewlands

Current Description of our Church Community Built at the beginning of the last century, St Margaret’s is an architecturally significant building situated on the edge of Newlands in the South Side of Glasgow. It strives to be an inclusive, affirming community, where all are welcome to explore faith and doubt, to come to a deeper understanding of God’s call in their own lives and to engage in the wider mission of the church. It has a steady membership of around 160 who come from a wide area. Sunday service attendances average around 70. There is a good sense of family with a healthy generational mix. The Rector of eight years is Rev Canon Dr Scott Robertson, regularly assisted by Assistant Priests Rev Maggie McTernan and Rev Canon Prof Charlotte Methuen in non-stipendiary positions. Rev McTernan is also employed as Project Manager for St Margaret’s 2020 Vision project on a temporary basis. There is an engaged and effective vestry. What our Congregation Does Well Worship is central. On Sundays, our Said Eucharist is at 9.00 am and Sung Eucharist is at 10.30 am. Morning and Evening Prayer services, led by lay leaders, as well as clergy are also held each weekday, other than Tuesday when a Said Eucharist is held. Evensong is held periodically and occasional special services are also arranged, including the “Time to Remember” service held in November. Short reflective services - ‘Short and Sweet’ - are held once a month on a weekday evening, led by members of the congregation. There is a strong choral tradition which continues

79 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway to thrive under a talented Director of Music who guides the strong choir supported by two choral scholars from the Royal Conservatoire. In recent years the excellent organ has been fully restored. Sunday School, with fluctuating members, is an important component of the congregation. It plays a pivotal part in seasonal services. A Pastoral Care Team assists the clergy in home visits. Study groups and reading groups are arranged regularly, aligned with the church calendar. What our Congregation is Working to Improve St Margaret’s, like so many other churches, lives with the challenges of popular perceptions of organised religion in an increasingly secular western world. We live with the tension of seeking to be relevant to contemporary society without compromising the traditions of the church which have made it what it is. We are concerned that, though, the church office is open daily that the church itself is often unavailable to people for private prayer. Again, like a number of churches we are concerned with retaining our young members. We would like to strengthen the existing ecumenical links and enhance the already strong collegial links within our Glasgow South Region. We are actively working with our role in the community through our 2020 Vision. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects At St Margaret’s 2015 AGM the vestry sought and gained the endorsement of the congregation to amend the churches reserves policy to permit the release of monies from its endowment fund for the purposes of mission. This launched St Margaret’s 2020 Vision, the overall aim of the project is “to develop the mission of St Margaret’s, by developing networks and activities that promote social inclusion in the south of Glasgow”. After a slow start, this has picked up with objectives of developing social activities in and around St Margaret’s, entering into partnership funding with community-based projects and organisations, and developing ecumenical, interfaith and third sector networks. To date funds have been shared with a number of organisations (e.g. MusicALL, Home Start South, The Well) and activities have been expanded within St Margaret’s (e.g. Knit and Natter, Children’s Choir; Tot’s Music; Book Group; Film Group). The recent appointment of the Project Manager will be reviewed after a year. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Fairtrade church. Eco-congregation. Sukhita Child Charity. Glasgow City Mission. Newlands Community Council. RSCM. Pollokshaws Community Hub. Additional Information As well as being a place of worship, the configuration of buildings at St Margaret’s offer a valuable community asset. Spaces are available for public let and a number of regular groups make use of the facilities. In 2017 a substantial investment was made in the kitchens to upgrade them. The church itself is also regularly used for concerts, bringing large numbers of people into the building. The congregation is committed to the Fairtrade movement and the church is designated an eco-congregation. A Fairtrade stall is opened each Sunday after the morning service, recycling is strongly promoted and there is a policy of purchasing only eco-friendly cleaning materials. The vestry gives careful attention to the maintenance and enhancement of the fabric of the church and ancillary properties. The cost implications of many smaller scale maintenance and fabric issues are minimised through the generous giving of time and skills by members of the congregation.

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Glasgow - Pollokshields St Ninian's Episcopal Church 1 Albert Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, G41 2PE Website and Social Media www.stniniansglasgow.org.uk www.facebook.com/StNiniansPollokshields

Current Description of our Church Community Relaxed liberal "high church" (1970 and 1982 liturgies used). Midweek and two Eucharists on Sunday, Said and Sung with incense. We are surrounded by high-density ethnic minorities (majority Pakistani and largest Sikh Temple in Scotland). Next door is the Tramway Theatre with Scottish Ballet. Only a small number of the congregation live in Pollokshields. Over both days for services, numbers average 40. Rector is assisted by two NSM priests, a Deacon and Eucharistic Assistants. Laity assist during liturgy. In 2016-17 giving was £50,359; costs £88,933 (tax recovered £10,280). In 2017-18 we raised £7000 for good causes. The age profile is majority over 60 with younger adults and children. Challenge is to raise numbers. What our Congregation Does Well We are good at blending traditional and modern in worship; high musical standards; hospitality; ecumenical relationships (we have a Polish language community that worship with us); monthly Healing Services; regular discussion group; Advent and Lent discussion groups; Taizé services; fundraising for others and ourselves; lively social gatherings (parish lunches and BBQ); staging Christmas pantomimes; supporting Fairtrade; and an excellent online presence. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Refurbish vestibule; renew carpets in the church; and encourage new members. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Monthly coffee mornings; regular services with other Christian Churches via Pollokshields Churches Together; links with Tramway Theatre; developing a new long let of church hall with Scottish Ballet together with existing use of the hall by community groups and volunteers who support The Well Multicultural Resource Centre. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Support for local Glasgow South Side foodbank.

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LANARKSHIRE

Cambuslang St Cuthbert's Episcopal Church 3 Brownside Road, Cambuslang, Glasgow G72 8NL Website and Social Media www.stcuthbertscambuslang.jimdo.com www.facebook.com/groups/65604489455 8662 Current Description of our Church Community We are a small congregation of about 20 people who worship with a Sung Eucharist on Sundays at 9.30 am. We have Reserved Sacrament, vestments, candles, readers and servers and recorded music. We are a linked charge with St Mark’s, East Kilbride. We have a small stone church building, with kitchen, accessible toilet and church hall upstairs, with ancillary smaller rooms downstairs. The majority of the space is rented to a nursery. We have access to the building in the evenings and weekends, and other times by agreement. The income for the rent is increasing to £15k per annum. Cambuslang is an older established community, with some areas of poverty, as well as areas of considerable wealth. What our Congregation Does Well We have long-standing friends among the congregation, who worship together and we are re- establishing some social, annual events, such as a Cheese and Wine with Party Games, Coffee Morning, Burns’ Supper and others. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We are exploring opportunities for outreach, however, insurance problems have left us with great difficulties. We are gently recovering from a long period of upheaval and vacancies. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Our social life is our outreach. We share ecumenically with the neighbouring Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland congregations.

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East Kilbride St Mark’s Episcopal Church 2 Telford Road, The Murray, East Kilbride, G75 0HN Website and Social Media www.stmarkseastkilbride.jimdo.com www.facebook.com/stmarksek Current Description of our Church Community Our main focus of activity is on Sunday at 11 am, followed by Wednesday at 10.30 am. St Mark’s has a varied congregation: some of whom enjoy a regular Sunday Sung Eucharist Service with vestments, candles, servers, Readers, intercessor and hymns. Some enjoy the service accompanied by a music group and some an occasional All-Age Activity-based service. The Sacrament is Reserved. The congregation has approximately 50 members and sometimes we reach a Sunday congregation of over forty, and sometimes we are well down towards twenty. On a seasonal occasion, we have had over sixty for a nativity service with carols and readings. We can collect seven pre- and primary school-aged children, a teenager, five adults in their 20s, a group in their 50s, otherwise, we are predominantly in our 70s-80s, with two attending 93-year-olds! We gather socially as well: with great success drawing people from out- with the church membership. We have a current annual income of £56k (which includes £12k per annum. from St. Cuthbert’s, Cambuslang, our linked charge.) East Kilbride is a new town to the south of Glasgow. It is arranged into numerous communities, with their own small shopping squares, churches of numerous denominations, primary schools and secondary schools. The main town centre includes a hospital, some council offices, emergency services, health centre and a large shopping mall, recently renovated, with food hub and many chain stores. However, a growing number of shop units are closed and the current economic situation has seen many closures. There are other retail, industrial, and business parks, several well-known hotels. While there is much employment there have been notable closures and removals: most renowned has been Rolls Royce. What our Congregation Does Well Partnerships: Unity (Enterprise), providing a twice-weekly cafe and help with our Lunch Club, Local Ecumenical Partnership with Righead URC, and also the Salvation Army and South Parish Church of Scotland. We also have ecumenical relations with other denominations and areas. Linked Charge with St. Cuthbert’s Cambuslang. Ecumenical Chaplaincy in Righead School. South Lanarkshire Youth work: Universal Connections. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Outreach into the community via our M&D group, the SPARKS Café, Friendship Circle and Lunch Club, as well as our social life. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects SPARKS Café with Unity Enterprise Lunch Club, Friendship Circle, M&D Group. Drama, such as Murder Mystery Dinners for the congregation. Ecumenical invitation and in Kilbride Hospice, Murray Ecumenical Partnership, Quiz Nights, Nativity Plays, Acoustic Café, Burns’ Supper,

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Autumn and Summer Ceilidhs with the Cameron Brothers. Online link to over 400 individuals who worked with Rolls Royce in East Kilbride. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Local education through chaplaincy. Local council youth work. URC through LEP. Church of Scotland through Hamilton Presbytery.

Hamilton St Mary’s Episcopal Church Auchingramont Road, Hamilton, ML3 6JT Website and Social Media www.stmarysepiscopalhamilton.co.uk www.twitter.com/stmarysforall www.facebook.com/stmarysepiscopalchurchhamilton Current Description of our Church Community St Mary's is a liberal catholic church with a predominately liturgical style of worship. On average we expect 70-90 communicants weekly: 60 at the 10 am Sung Eucharist, ten at the 8:30 am Holy Communion and 20 communicants at the Wednesday 10 am Eucharist. The ministry team consists of the Rector (who is also currently Dean of the diocese), a curate who joined in 2017 and will remain until 2020, and one assistant priest. We have five lay pastoral assistants. Music is very much part of our tradition and we have a very able organist and choirmaster who has supported St Mary's for 25 years. We have two bible study groups and seasonal study groups. A prayer chain is active. There is an active children's group of 30 children aged six months to 16 years. There is a small Mothers' Union Branch of ten members. What our Congregation Does Well Our congregation welcomes and invites: it is familial, pastoral, ecumenical and connects to the local community. We have managed to grow in size and organisationally, and have welcomed new people while saying our farewell to many older loyal and faithful church members who have sadly died but left an excellent legacy for the other members of the congregation to follow. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The church has a group working on Mission Action Planning and the current priorities are to continue to support children and young families as well as develop improvements to social media and communications. The church held a Listening and Visioning Day in November 2017 which aided the above improvements. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Mary's has built a reputation for working within the social needs of the population. It has its own Family Support project operating the Hamilton Child Contact Centre and working in partnership with Relationships Scotland, we have developed with three other local Church of Scotland churches a detached youth project working in partnership with the local authority.

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Members of St Mary's continue to be involved with the Hamilton Churches Drop-in Centre for the homeless. The church has a related charity - St Mary's For All - which developed from our community work and a large capital project which modernised the non-worship spaces for community and church use. Users include a large Beaver/Cub and Brownies/Guide community alongside two AA groups, regular use by Women's Aid and a counselling group, as well as Citizens Advice Bureau and many other community organisations. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Apart from the local and regional partnerships and affiliations mentioned above the church supports many charities both national and international. It gives particular support to a missionary charity introduced by one of our members working in the favelas (slums) of São Paulo in Brazil. Additional Information The current Rector has been with us for 21 years and there have only been three Rectors in 45 years. This has created stability to church life and has offered a clear positive direction. The congregation has worked hard not to decline in numbers and there is an active and welcoming atmosphere.

Lanark Christ Church Hope Street, Lanark, ML11 7NE Website and Social Media www.christchurchlanark.com www.facebook.com/Christ-Church- Lanark-570891253050937

Current Description of our Church Community Christ Church is situated just off the town centre of the busy market town of Lanark. Our gathered congregation is drawn from an area covering some 400 square miles, right at the heart of the diocese, taking in the towns of Lanark, New Lanark, Carluke, Nemphlar, Kirkfieldbank, Cleghorn, Braidwood, Law, Forth, Symington, Thankerton, Newbigging, Biggar, Lamington, Abington, Crawford, Lesmahagow and Hawksland. We have small numbers in their teens and twenties; the vast majority of the congregation is aged between 50 and 91! On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Said Eucharist at 9 am. There is a Sung Eucharist every Sunday at 10.30 am. The Sung Eucharist on the Second Sunday of the month is an All-Age Service with the full participation of our small number of children and young people. Average attendance on a Sunday morning is between 50 and 60, the number swelling to 70 and 80 at Festival times. The ministry team currently consists of a Rector, a Curate (starting 30th September) and two Lay Readers. We have five Eucharistic Assistants and a team of twelve helping with pastoral care.

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What our Congregation Does Well Our congregation is a very talented and active one. It has a reputation in the locality for doing welcome and hospitality extremely well. Liturgy and music are great strengths. Another charism is ecumenism, the Episcopal Church being a great “bridge” church as the via media. Pastoral care is a top priority. Our buildings are greatly admired and very well maintained. There is a refreshingly open, forward-looking, risk-taking attitude in the congregation, which makes for exciting and, thus far pain-free, mission and ministry! What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our latest Mission Action Plan highlights four areas for development in the coming year: improving our online presence, exploring new approaches in our ministry to children and young people’s, developing our Tuesday Lunch Club and advertising the fellowship we offer in it more widely in Clydesdale, the forming of a “Friends of Christ Church” as a means of “working our sizeable fringe” and stimulating growth. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We support four Away Giving Campaigns per year. This year we are devoting a quarter each to Cornerstone Foundation, The Bishop’s Lent Appeal in support of Research into Motor Neuron Disease, New Beginnings/Clydesdale foodbank and Children in Distress. (New Beginnings and Children in Distress are regular recipients of the congregation’s generosity and care). Since the arrival of the new Rector we have established “The Lanark Wombles” – an ecumenical litter picking group, which seeks to care for God’s creation and clean up on a regular, month by month basis the rubbish lying on the verges of the main roads in and out of Lanark and at particular gathering points throughout Clydesdale. The group is now 20 strong and supported by the local council. Other members of the congregation are very involved with Clydesdale Community Initiative, which supports the socially isolated by bringing them together to work in gardens and offers workshops enabling them to make a contribution. In the course of the year, our Tuesday Lunch Club is going to develop a regular café for those with dementia. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Most of our support goes into local and regional groups - Clydesdale foodbank, New Beginnings. We also support Eco-congregation, Alzheimer Scotland and Toilet Twinning.

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Monklands St Paul’s & St John’s Episcopal Church Springwells Avenue, Airdrie, ML6 6EA Website and Social Media www.monklands.church.scot www.facebook.com/monklandsepiscopal Current Description of our Church Community This is a congregation which has in the past nine months emerged from a long interregnum of almost three years. During that time numbers have been constant, the vestry has steered the congregation through the challenging time of vacancy and has additionally also managed to complete the work required for the quinquennial inspection. The church buildings and rectory are in good repair. Since the appointment of the new rector, there has been an assessment of where the church is, planning of mission and outreach strategy and the commencement of those plans. Links previously lost have been re-established, actions are taken to reach out to the local community, policies reviewed, and updates put into place. It is understandable that during a long gap there is a loss of confidence. However, despite the increasing age profile of the congregation, there is a willingness to engage with continuing to provide an Episcopalian witness to the Monklands area. What Our Congregation Does Well This is a welcoming and open congregation, which is historically, an amalgamation of three churches. The lessons learned from these events inform the action of welcome now. The vestry is keen to be able to provide welcome pastorally and liturgically. This is of particular importance when referring to the occasional offices. This congregation has implemented the change to facilitate same-sex marriage. The congregation is aware that to provide a witness to the Kingdom in Monklands they must reach out and while there is still a way to go, some steps have been taken. Links have been re-established with the local schools; there has been a renewal in involvement with the Airdrie Council of Churches. In addition to this, there is provision made for vulnerable groups to come and use the church and hall facilities as well as the involvement of church volunteers with the local Citizens Advice Bureau. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The congregation is aware they should reach out more to the local community and build on recent work. There is also an awareness of the need to be more effective in the methods of fundraising and stewardship. There is also an awareness that there is a tendency to look inwards and not consider the wider perspective, due to being on the periphery of the diocese, so building on links and participating further in diocesan events and activities is important. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Support to local Citizens Advice centre. Support to local women and children's refuge. Links to local churches. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Mission to seamen. Christian Aid. Leprosy Mission. Royal British Legion. Shelter.

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Motherwell Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Crawford Street, Motherwell, ML1 3AD Website and Social Media www.holytrinitymotherwell.org.uk www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityMotherwell Current Description of our Church Community Communicant roll of 61, with 30 as regular Sunday congregation. Eucharistic worship Sundays and Wednesdays. In Prayer and Spirituality, Learning and Discipleship - we are a welcoming community, strong in our prayer and worship. Good at working together. Well-supported weekday Eucharist. In our outreach to local communities, we have a clearer vision of community needs arising from community audit. Good central location. What our Congregation Does Well Well organised liturgical life with shared tasks and leadership in public worship for reading, intercessions, and serving at the altar. Highly motivated and organised for social and fundraising activities and support for appeal and fundraising for giving to charities and congregational needs. Generous giving and committed attendance. Provide good publicity with regular social media and web posts, and reports in the local press. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Making progress on Mission Action Planning to bring about healthy belief and action in prayer, spirituality, learning and discipleship. Pursuing ecumenical relationships, support for leadership in mission, and deepening prayer and study. Developing access to our facilities in practical and productive ways to better serve the community. Developing the membership and programme of the Branch of the Mothers' Union to grow numerically and work out the aims and objects of the Mothers' Union to improve outcomes where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Following on from our community survey (July 2018), we would like to continue to lead on our Community Access project to provide a place for community groups to thrive with our support. To grow our partnerships with North Lanarkshire Culture and Leisure, Community Learning and Development and others. As above especially with Mothers' Union agenda: to promote and support married life. To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children. To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service. To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children. To help those whose family life has met with adversity. Affiliated Groups and Organisations Reinforce and develop life of linked congregations. Participation in diocesan regional council and clergy chapter, local ecumenical activity including events, services and ministers' group local and ecumenical activity including events, services and ministers' group. Developing focus annually on

88 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway the Bishop's Lent Appeal to broaden and deepen awareness across the congregation and increase involvement nationally or internationally. Support for international work particularly the Mothers' Union programmes worldwide and longstanding relationship with Mission to Seafarers and Leprosy Mission. Additional Information Vision: Identifying and making use of existing skills of members. Developing individual ministries. Reaching out to the community despite setbacks. Working with other denominations. Being an Episcopalian presence. Values: Love of God and of neighbours. Sense of family and community. Good informal communications. Generosity and hospitality. Prayerfulness. Inclusivity.

Uddingston St Andrew's Episcopal Church 4 Bothwell Road, Uddingston, G71 4ET Current Description of our Church Community St Andrew's is a small community of 25 members. The charge is linked with St Mary's, Hamilton. There has been a steady improvement in weekly attendance and some growth. The church hall is used by a nursery and relations are very good. The village of Uddingston has good ecumenical links and there are well attended shared services at Christmas and Easter. Since the link with St Mary's in 2016, there has been more scope for activity and events, and three clergy are available. What our Congregation Does Well The congregation's focus is the weekly Eucharist and there is good lay participation, welcoming, serving, and leading intercessions. Members care well for one another. The church property is well cared for, there has been some discussion with the Diocesan Architect about adaptations for community use. What our Congregation is Working to Improve The congregation is seeking to grow. A better social media presence is being investigated. A young organist has been welcomed. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Work has started with the Cinnamon Network to develop a community focus with several other churches in the village. Affiliated Groups and Organisations The church has Fairtrade links and tertiary Franciscan link.

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Wishaw St Andrew's Episcopal Church Bellhaven Terrace, Wishaw, ML2 7AY Website and Social Media www.standrewswishaw.org.uk www.facebook.com/StAndrewsWishaw

Current Description of our Church Community Communicant roll of 27 (2017) with regular attendance of 14-16. The congregation is static and largely “mature”. Where younger people are involved their gifts and talents are acknowledged and celebrated and they are encouraged and included. The congregation always endeavours to offer a warm, family atmosphere to anyone attending our church. We are keen to encourage anyone new into our congregation and would always hope that we offer friendly, spiritual guidance to anyone wishing to worship within the Episcopal and/or Anglican Church. What Our Congregation Does Well St Andrew's is a committed, energetic and generous congregation. The congregation supports weekly Eucharistic Sunday worship with readers and server/Eucharistic assistant. We have a willing, singing congregation. Presently, our music is provided through a well-managed PA sound system playing hymns from CDs, utilising “Hymns Old & New – One Church, One Faith, One Lord”. These books have recently been updated and offer a wide and varied selection of hymns. The grounds and church building are very well maintained throughout the year by committed volunteers. We regularly collaborate with our linked congregation at Holy Trinity, Motherwell. What our Congregation is Working to Improve We continue to work with our linked charge of Holy Trinity, Motherwell in implementing Mission Action Planning. The areas we have identified to grow are in learning and discipleship and outreach into the community. We seek to address: low profile of SEC nationally. Perceived as ‘the English Church’. Hard to find our building. Missing age group. We have established new leadership for mission and congregational life with appointment of new Rector in 2018. We are working with the Digital Missioner to establish a new website. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We make a positive outreach in attracting groups to use our hall. Activities include dance classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, and gymnastics. St Andrew's actively supports ecumenical projects locally including Wishaw Churches Together Council, 'alternativity' Christmas toy shop in the town and foodbank contributions. Work with the Girls' Brigade is being reconsidered for future development. With Mothers' Union at Holy Trinity, Motherwell and the Scottish Book Trust we have had 'Book Bug' Training for working with parents and children to meet objectives of the Mothers’ Union in our work with families.

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Affiliated Groups and Organisations The congregation participates in the Wishaw Churches Together Council, the Diocesan Regional Council and clergy chapter. Members of the congregation have joined with the branch of the Mothers' Union at Holy Trinity to develop the MU agenda where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships. Additional Information Vision: Identifying and making use of existing skills of members. Developing individual ministries. Reaching out to the community despite setbacks. Working with other denominations. Being an Episcopalian presence. Values: Love of God and of neighbours. Sense of family and community. Good informal communications. Generosity and hospitality. Prayerfulness. Inclusivity.

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RENFREWSHIRE

Bridge of Weir St Mary’s Episcopal Church Johnstone Road, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3RA Website and Social Media www.heartlandsec.org/BOW/ www.facebook.com/StMarysBoW

Current Description of our Church Community Bridge of Weir is a village eight miles north of Paisley. Predominantly a dormitory settlement for Glasgow and Paisley; it has a community feel. It enjoys a small range of shops, doctors’ surgery, vets, Take-Away shops, cafés, and two excellent restaurants. There are two Church of Scotland congregations and a Brethren Assembly in the town. St Mary's is just outside the village which makes integration challenging. The well-maintained building is small but this leads to its charm and its local nickname, "The Little White Church in the Wood". The elderly congregation averages 18-20 at its one Eucharistic Sunday service. Matins is said on the third Sunday of the month. The last Wednesday of the month the church holds a growing Healing Service led by the Associate Priest who has pastoral oversight of the congregation. It is a welcoming church community. It is open and liberal-catholic in its churchmanship. Morning prayer is said each Tuesday by a member of the Ministry Team (two Clergy and Lay Reader) and attended by five to eight congregants. A weekly Fellowship takes place at the Associate Priest's house each Monday with a varied and dynamic programme throughout the year focusing on fellowship and growth in faith. The meeting called Coffee Cake and Prayer (CCP) ends with SEC Evening Prayer. What our Congregation Does Well St Mary’s has a small and very committed congregation, who work well together under the leadership of their Rector and Associate Priest. They are an outward-looking congregation open to new ideas and wish to see growth in their numbers. Their outreach tends to be cerebral as in their annual lecture where speakers are chosen for their Christian faith, sharp intellect and ability to springboard discussion if not friendly controversy. Their small numbers make being friendly easy but it does mean everyone has to pull their weight, which they do. Members of the congregation volunteer regularly in St Mary's, Port Glasgow outreach and mission. What our Congregation is Working to Improve St Mary's, under the current Heartland Rector, took an Away Day to see what God was saying to them in 2015. The outcome was a common conviction of the need to grow in numbers and getting St Mary’s on the mental map of local people. From this, the church has seen four new members, marriages, baptisms, confirmations and special services being held. An Annual Festival of Art and Faith has seen the number of people going through the Church doors over the years increase from about 600 in 2012 to over 2000 in 2017. The congregation is building on this. Unfortunately, there is no church hall nor space to build one, but a new kitchen, complete re- decoration of the church, new easy to read and colourful Service Sheets are evidence of growth and change. The grounds are maintained by the county’s Community Service, with whom the

92 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway church has a warm and productive relationship. More members are sought and a programme of outreach and invitation is now urgently needed. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Mary's is ecumenically minded and support the activities of other churches in the town. They were instrumental in forming "The Bridge" - a churches-led Post Office and community centre some years ago. Their Pet Service and Festival, Annual Lecture and famous Carols by Candlelight Service are popular and reach out and mission to Bridge of Weir. They support a local foodbank monthly. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Mary's supports a local foodbank, Christian Aid, Farm Africa, Fairtrade and are members of NCT and SCT. They are joint trustees of the Ecumenical Initiative "The Bridge".

Gourock St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Barrhill Road, Gourock, PA19 1JX Website and Social Media www.stbartholomewsgourock.org www.facebook.com/Saint-Bartholomews- Scottish-Episcopal-Church-Gourock- 2045125272188308

Current Description of our Church Community St Bartholomew’s has a stunningly beautiful setting, placed as it is on a hill overlooking the Firth of Clyde and mountains of Argyll. The building is a small mid-Victorian gem. The liturgical emphasis is Eucharistic. Currently, there is a service each Sunday evening at which there are about 16 communicants, with most of these being elderly. The congregation is served by the Revd Canon Gordon Fyfe, Synod Clerk and the Rector of St Columba’s, Largs. St Bartholomew’s has laity involvement of two Eucharistic Assistants and three members that regularly read the lessons in public worship. The annual income is £10,675 and the annual expenditure is £10,167. Since the last Episcopal vacancy, the size of the congregation at Gourock has decreased considerably. The informal link with St John’s, Greenock ended in 2016 with the departure of the previous incumbent. St Bartholomew’s building has, in the past ten years, undergone a great deal of upgrading and the space now not only offers a beautifully restored sanctuary but also small hall space and refurbished kitchen as well as disability access and a toilet for the disabled.

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What Our Congregation Does Well Though small in number, members are friendly, sociable, committed and also very open to ideas that might ensure the growth of the congregation. The building is used on occasion by a few local community groups. What Our Congregation Is Working To Improve St Bartholomew’s is one of Gourock’s best-kept secrets. The beauty of the building and the welcome of the people are largely unknown to many in the town. We intend to become known and to open the invitation to ‘come and see’ in the months ahead by developing our presence online via a new website and Facebook page. We will also explore ways in which we might offer the use of our building for more community activities and strengthen connections with those who live and work in Gourock.

Greenock St John’s Episcopal Church Union Street, Greenock, PA16 8JJ Website and Social Media www.greenockepiscopal.com www.facebook.com/StJohnsGreenock

Current Description of our Church Community St John the Evangelist, Greenock is situated just west of the town centre within the Greenock West conservation area. Ours is a town-based church with membership across the Inverclyde area. The present church building was consecrated in 1878. The church hall was completely restored in 2013 and is now in use daily. The average attendance on Sundays is 40 to 50 from a congregational roll of approximately 170. There is a very small Sunday School. Although there is a mix of younger families and middle-aged members, like many congregations, our is biased towards the retired and strongly represented by women members. The social mix includes professionals, sales assistants, labourers and others. The Rector, Rev Wilhelmina Nesbitt, was instituted in April 2017. She is supported in her ministry by a team of lay people consisting of readers, intercessors and Eucharistic assistants. There is a Sacristan who assists in the preparation for communion. A group of sidespeople lead our welcome to the church each Sunday. The parish holds investments and the annual income from these helps to meet outgoings. In the financial year to 30 June 2017, the total income was £60,712. Total funds at the date were £325,043. What our Congregation Does Well Our worship is liturgical and Eucharistic, blending the best of the traditional with the best of the contemporary. St John’s has a rich tradition of music. Our worship is led by an adult choir of six to eight persons occasionally augmented by friends when there is a special service. The choir sustains a wide repertoire of pieces from the sixteenth century to contemporary works which are

94 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway sung during communion. There is a small team of Pastoral Visitors. Home communion visits are undertaken and services provided in local care homes. There is an active prayer group within St John’s, who say the daily office within their own homes. On the first Friday of the month, the group meets in the Lady Chapel to say the office together. The church building is maintained at a good level of repair and upkeep. A team of guides welcomes visitors to the church on days when cruise ships call and on Inverclyde Doors Open Days. Away Giving donations through almsgiving of votive candles, bucket of change, retiring collections and donations in kind currently support a number of local projects. Individual members of the congregation offer their particular skills. There is a strong commitment to the church family. What our Congregation is Working to Improve With the appointment of a new organist, we will seek to develop our musical ministry. We are looking for ways to increase the attendance of children and young people. We plan to develop the building’s attractiveness for visitors, and fitness for worship and church community use. We seek to extend our pastoral work and to find ways into Ecumenical working. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Members of the congregation through donations both in money and in kind and through volunteering support a wide range of local projects: Inverclyde foodbank, Mind Mosaic, Compassionate Inverclyde, Inverclyde Family Contact Centre, Starter Packs Inverclyde. A Heritage Group has been set up with a view to developing a History feature in the church placing our Scottish Episcopal Church within the historic narrative of Greenock. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St John’s is a member of Scotland’s Churches Trust. We have enjoyed great co-operation with our EMU partners (with the Methodists and URC church here in Greenock) but the Methodist Church has now closed and the URC minister is moving on. There is no current formal ecumenical structure for working together. Additional Information We're a small but active and lively group, ready for development and to receive ideas and direction.

Johnstone St John’s Episcopal Church Floors Street, Johnstone, PA5 8QS Current Description of our Church Community Currently in a vacancy (August 2018). Ministry team - one Worship Leader, one Pastoral visitor, a team of readers and intercessors, four Eucharistic assistants. Two organists, small choir of five. Small Sunday School, currently four awaiting confirmation. Annual giving - £22,000 and

95 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway annual expenditure, excluding stipend - £16,000. The congregation has about 40 members. On average about 25 communicants every Sunday. At Wednesday afternoon service on average about 14 communicants. What our Congregation Does Well It is very welcoming to everyone - especially visitors. Great friendship between everybody in the congregation who help each other out. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our congregation is trying to slowly grow our numbers and participate in other ways of outreach. Currently, we are planning to make the church building into a more multifunctional building to allow it to be used for more activities than just Sunday and Wednesday services. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects We take part in all ecumenical activities in the local area. Affiliated Groups and Organisations The congregation supports the local foodbank, Mission to Seafarers and Water Aid.

Kilmacolm St Fillan’s Episcopal Church Moss Road, Kilmacolm, PA13 4DL Website and Social Media www.heartlandsec.org/KLM www.facebook.com/stfillanssec Current Description of our Church Community Kilmacolm is a small middle-class town two miles south of Port Glasgow. Predominantly a dormitory settlement for Glasgow, it supports a diverse range of shops, two doctors’ surgeries, two Take-Away shops, cafés, Boots the Chemist and a pub/restaurant. The town's fabric is dominated by St Columba’s church tower. There are three Church of Scotland congregations and a Roman Catholic church. St Fillan's is off the main thoroughfare in a low rise, well- maintained building built in the early 20th century. The ageing congregation averages 20-30 people at its one Sunday service. The church community is well organised and welcoming. Its congregation comprises traditional and liberal-catholic churchmanship. A midweek Holy Communion service is held each Wednesday and attended by five to eight people. Morning prayer is said each Thursday by the Clergy or Lay Reader with Matins on the first Sunday and Said Evensong on the last Sunday of the month led by the Pastoral Worker. A Heartland Group Bible Study and a more general, Bible and Supper Evening, are held monthly. What our Congregation Does Well St Fillan’s is always immaculate in its presentation, both its interior and grounds. The recently erected liturgical Banners, introduced by the Associate Priest, have enhanced the ambience and sense of the "holy" at the Church. Members are loyal to St Fillan's and are both friendly and

96 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway welcoming to newcomers. Its monthly lunches - called "Brunch and Browse" attract many local people and are supported by other Heartland charges. It hosts a children's Community Choir called Angel Voices. What our Congregation is Working to Improve St Fillan’s has, under the current Heartland Rector, started a reflective and participative process of church growth (2018) - embracing spiritual and missional challenges as well as seeking numerical growth. Members who have passed on or moved away over the last ten years have not been replaced by new members and this is where the charge seeks to find God's direction for them as a congregation in the future. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Fillan’s Church Growth Away Days (September 2018) will be considering our future mission and outreach in Kilmacolm. The outcome is intended to be a congregation-wide Action Plan delivering mission and outreach in the town and so achieve church growth. Financially, we support international aid agencies and local causes. Its annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols is a very popular service in the town Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Fillan's support a foodbank in Port Glasgow and aims to be a dementia-friendly Church. ACTS, Christian Aid. NCT and SCT.

Paisley Holy Trinity & St Barnabas Episcopal Church St James’ Place, Bank Sneddon Street, Paisley, PA3 2AF Website and Social Media www.episcopalpaisley.org.uk www.facebook.com/HTSBPaisley Current Description of our Church Community Holy Trinity and Saint Barnabas, Paisley is a town centre church in Scotland’s fifth largest settlement. It also serves the neighbouring town of Barrhead and the villages of Neilston, Uplawmoor and Inchinnan. We are a “modern catholic” congregation with a strong choral tradition which uses incense on festivals. As well as the main Sunday service, we have a midweek service every Wednesday and Choral Evensong once a month. Our Sunday School is small but well served by a very capable team of teachers. Although most of the congregation live in Paisley we also attract people from outwith our boundaries either because of family connections or the choir. There are typically around 35 to 40 communicants at the main Sunday Service and around 80% of our congregation are over 50 years old. In 2016 we became a linked charge with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Hillington.

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What our Congregation Does Well We have a strong liturgical tradition which attracts people to the church. Although the congregation is predominantly over 50, we still have a good mix of ages. The congregation is warm and friendly and sees social activities as playing an important role in our life, especially when so many people live alone. We host a number of user groups to our halls whose primary work is social outreach so the church is identified quite strongly with this work. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Our local profile needs to be improved as people are still unaware that there is a local Anglican/Episcopalian church. More of our people should be involved in the soup-kitchens and drop-ins. As a gathered congregation we have little contact with our immediate geographical area. However, our halls create opportunities for social outreach in the community and for people to get to know the congregation through coming to the halls. The town centre is beginning to be re-populated, so there is an increasing local residential community, rather than just businesses to introduce ourselves to. We are always involved in Doors Open Day and take the opportunity to promote our congregational life as well as our building. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Our congregation supports - through the use of our halls - a variety of mission outreach and community projects including weekly day-time and twice-weekly evening drop-in centres. These are open to all and a hot meal is provided. We also support yoga classes, dog training sessions, sewing circles, a Polish Community group, and local choirs. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We support the work of the Cornerstone Drop-In Centre and the St Vincent de Paul Society who operate out of our halls to provide a kind ear and food for anyone in need. We raise funds for local and national charities - our nominated charity for this year is Lymphoma Action but this year we have also raised money for MND as part of the Bishop's Lent Appeal and for Christian Aid. We collect garments for Smalls for All.

Port Glasgow St Mary’s Episcopal Church Bardrainney Avenue, PA14 6HB Website www.heartlandsec.org/PGW Current Description of our Church Community St Mary’s started in 1850 with a monetary gift from a local Laird's daughter, one of Florence Nightingale's nurses. It moved to its present location in 1983. It is a gathered congregation, drawing Episcopalians from a wide area in Inverclyde: from Gourock in the north to Bishopton and Renfrew in the south. Port Glasgow is a historic town and former important global shipbuilding centre. Since the demise of the shipbuilding industry, Port Glasgow has become Scotland third most deprived town with many social challenges. However, into this situation, St Mary's shines with its vibrant

98 Diocesan Description 2018 United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway and leading missional outreach and ministry to the town. More recently the town has seen the shoots of economic rebirth with a smart retail park, new middle-class housing developments and an exciting riverside parkland development. The well looked after church sits high above the town in a distinctive modern building. It has recently added a beautiful and peaceful Memorial Garden. Newly landscaped rear grounds allow the Rectory to overlook the town and Clyde estuary to the Trossachs National Park beyond. The ageing congregation averages 40-58 people at its two Sunday service. The church community is hardworking and welcoming. Its churchmanship is traditional but lively and open. A Midweek Coffee & Communion service is held each Wednesday and attended by up to 25 people. Morning prayer is said each Friday. The church community is supportive of all Heartland initiatives and events. What our Congregation Does Well St Mary’s committed congregation are no strangers to hard work and work well together under the leadership of their Rectors. They are an outward-looking congregation open to new ideas and exploring where they can best serve the town. Their Lunch club for former shipyard workers, dementia-friendly seniors club, After-School club, Women’s Zumba for Health classes and hosting Slimming World addresses the urgent health issues of the local community. The congregation encourage engagement with the demographic process by hosting local councillor surgeries and opening the church buildings for use as a Polling Station. The local authority's housing of Syrian and Afghani refugees is adding another opportunity for English classes and interfaith understanding. What our Congregation is Working to Improve St Mary’s congregational focus has been to raise almost £500,000 for a new roof. This has been achieved in a short time but they are suffering from "overload" on the issue of money and need to look at their own spiritual growth to accompany needed evangelical outreach to Port Glasgow. Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects St Mary's is a missional church and recognised far and wide as such. Its Lunch club for former shipyard workers (Clydemen) has a membership of over 90 - and most attend! The dementia- friendly seniors Club (Heartland Circle) is recognised by Alzheimer's Scotland as a place of competence. Its L-Club - After-School Club for 7-12-year olds is a place of safety and Christian learning. Other projects are mentioned in the section above, but the church also runs a charity shop which is known for its compassionate care and informal counselling for the many who come to its premises in the Port. The church supplies a local Women's Refuge with foodstuff each week. Affiliated Groups and Organisations St Mary’s, Port Glasgow is linked to Interfaith Scotland, Alzheimer's Scotland, Erskine, Farm Africa, Mission to Seafarers, NCT and SCT.

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Renfrew St Margaret's Episcopal Church 1 Oxford Road, Renfrew, PA4 0SJ Website and Social Media www.stmargaretsrenfrew.org.uk www.facebook.com/stmargaretsrenfrew. org.uk

Current Description of our Church Community St Margaret’s is a relatively small, but extremely lively and vibrant church, linked with St John’s, Johnstone, and with a quiet but determined desire to share our faith in the loving and redemptive power of Jesus Christ amongst ourselves and, more importantly, with those who are not yet our members. We are awaiting the arrival of our new priest in October 2018, whom we feel ideally placed to build upon our huge strengths of friendliness, openness and inclusivity, and to lead us into a period of growth. We have a wide age-range in our faith community, and a real ‘family feel’ that manifests itself in our Sunday and midweek Eucharists as well as an equally wide range of social activities and outings together, coupled with various examples of community outreach as detailed below. What our Congregation Does Well At St Margaret’s we pride ourselves on the fact that visitors – and new members – frequently comment upon the welcome they receive to our family, and how quickly they are made to feel at home, and amongst friends. Although small in size, we feel that we ‘punch above our weight’, because so many members contribute so much to the church’s activities in so many fields. Such activities include: service involvement (reading, intercession leadership, Sunday School, worship leading); maintenance of church fabric (new roof recently completed, as well as new ‘welcoming’ glass doors); floral displays; involvement in local community and ecumenical initiatives; social committee activities involving non-members; generous responses to charitable appeals and – more recently – a growing awareness of the need to utilise social media in our attempts at outreach. What our Congregation is Working to Improve Following on from the final illustration of ‘what we do well’, we should also admit that we need to do more in the field of digital outreach. Our website and (recently introduced) Facebook page have been responsible for the majority of new members and visitors we have welcomed in the last six to nine months, and we need to develop these fields more. Also, although we have demonstrated success in many strands of the Diocesan Mission Action Plan, we have not formally engaged with the process as much as we might have done. Finally, we are working to improve our compliance with the requirements of the recently implemented General Data Protection Regulations.

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Mission, Outreach, and Community Projects Members of the congregation are heavily involved with local groups and community projects. These include: Brownies/Guides (who use our hall) and ENABLE (a charity supporting people with learning difficulties); our hall is used by Alcoholics Anonymous and a Cocaine Anonymous group, as well as groups such as Slimming World, and dance clubs who use our hall. Our social nights, such as concerts by a Russian Choir, Flower Festivals, Open Doors days, Quiz Nights and Burns’ Suppers attract visitors from all faiths and none and ensure we remain a visible and high-profile beacon of faith in Renfrew and surrounding areas. Affiliated Groups and Organisations We support the work of Renfrewshire foodbank by making regular weekly donations. For over 35 years we have supported individual children through sponsorship arrangements: currently, this is channelled through the work of Compassion UK (where we support two children) as well as the work of Tearfund. We regularly support the work of Christian Aid, Missions to Seafarers, ACCORD Hospice and other local and national groups on an ad hoc basis. A young member of the congregation has recently returned from Malawi, where she helped to rebuild and refurbish a school over a two-week period, an endeavour supported by the congregation in significant financial measure. Additional Information At St Margaret’s, we benefit from an attractive geographical position in a reasonably high-profile location. We have long been known as a ‘small and friendly church’, but with the arrival of a new Rector, we believe that we can become a ‘friendly, growing, and much larger’ church, building upon our strengths of a welcoming and inclusive community, and moving forward to spread our living faith amongst the people of Renfrew and beyond. We have recently held our first same-sex marriage, and the love and joy experienced on that day reflected our forward-looking approach, as well as our desire to reflect God’s love in our everyday encounters throughout God’s creation.

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Addendum: Conversations from Synod

On 22 September 2018, the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway held a special synod to elect representatives to the Preparatory Committee and to review the Diocesan Description. As part of this time together, all members of the Synod were given the opportunity to discuss three questions in randomly assigned small groups. The questions covered the areas of Pastoral Care, Administrative Needs, and Mission Strategy. The fifteen groups had approximately twenty minutes to discuss each question. At the end of the discussion period, the groups were asked to summarise their conversation into no more than three key points they would like included in the Diocesan Description. The additional notes from those conversations are being compiled and shared with the Diocesan Council, Bishop’s Staff Group, and Cathedral Chapter where they will inform the direction of conversations regarding the work of the Diocese. The following pages are the addendum composed of the summary points supplied by groups.

Pastoral – Because the Bishop is the “Chief Priest and Pastor” of the Diocese, we want to ensure that the candidates have an understanding of the unique pastoral concerns of the Diocese at this time. In light of what you have already read in the Diocesan Description, please discuss what pastoral considerations you would like to ensure are highlighted for the panel and candidates. Pastoral Care • Primary function of a bishop is pastoral. (i.e. the care of the clergy and soft skills required to communicate well with clergy and to offer the right support and care required.) • Pastoral care is about being kind, fair, and able to make a decision (and to communicate that effectively) – not just about niceness. • We need a bishop who will be pastoral, caring, sympathetic, tolerant of difference and empathetic. • We would like our bishop to be a spiritual and prayerful parent-leader to all. They would act as a kind and judicious parent: someone who is accessible, encourages and builds on existing good practice, a trusting enabler, and a minster for unity. • Being an attentive listener – listening to the people of the church, society as a whole, the Word of God, where the Holy Spirit is already moving, etc… • Care of Clergy and Lay Ministers o A support structure for clergy is needed – should there be a Diocesan Chaplain? o Develop and continue to develop clergy support by communication between clergy and support processes for clergy.

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o Be a pastor to the pastors. Someone who is humble and approachable but also pro-active in supporting those who minister in the Diocese: both lay and ordained. A servant to those who serve. o The Bishop needs to be a team player and lead with care, direction, and support for clergy and cognisant of cultural and theological diversity.

Geography • In a diocese that is so geographically large, we must ask what we mean when we say “pastoral.” • Recognising the socio-economic, cultural diversity, and geographical size of the Diocese – we hope that our new bishop will have an understanding of working in areas where working-age clergy and congregations are diminishing. • Importance of being visible, present, and available in all parts of the Diocese.

Unity • To promote and inspire prayer and discipleship within the Diocese, serving it with flexibility and discerning the different demands present to each charge. • Capacity to hold together people who hold different theological stances on issues as we move forward together. • The Bishop should be a minister of the Church’s unity and also the focus of charity and compassion – especially in times of conflict. This should lead to a focus on a cohesive diocese and less feeling of personal or congregational isolation.

Administrative – There is nothing in the ordinal about the Bishop being an administrative leader or CEO of a diocese. That being said, administrative competence is a crucial part of the day-to-day workings of the Diocese and the ministry of the Bishop. As members of local congregations who must relate to the Diocese, what administrative skills will a modern bishop require to effectively coordinate mission and ministry? Communication • Filling the present gap in the media to promote and articulate a Christian voice in society and with current issues. • Communication is key. In a diocese that is so spread out and comprised of so many different congregations and groups it is vital that the Bishop has the ability to communicate – both face to face as well as digitally and long hand.

Delegation • We feel that primarily the Bishop needs to be seen throughout the Diocese. The Bishop should have a good relationship with the office team and senior clergy and be skilled at delegation so that the day-to-day administration is minimal – admin should not be the primary concern of the Bishop. • The Bishop should take the time to get to know the Diocese, the charges, and the basic administrative needs while remembering that admin cannot/should not overshadow the pastoral or missional role of a bishop. • The task is to plan the overall diocesan strategy and possess the skills that lead to successful delegation and implementation. • Someone with the ability to delegate: for example, someone who is aware of social media and its power but not necessarily a digital native.

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Teamwork • Acknowledge the priority of the role isn’t to micro-manage or lead administratively/organisationally; but to work at the head of teams who give the appropriate support. Keeping the spiritual edge. We would like a leader more than a manager. • We need a bishop who recognises that spiritual gifts come in a variety of forms and with that wisdom to empower those in administrative roles to exercise their gifts to the glory of God. • Evaluate the ministry of clergy and lay leaders by affirming strengths and looking at possible weaknesses with a view to developing strength and supporting areas of growth.

Mission Strategy– The Bishop is the “lead[er] of mission” in the Diocese. As such, it is the Bishop’s prerogative to chart strategic direction for mission. Based on what you know of recent mission strategy and what you have read in the Description, what style of missional leadership would benefit the clergy and congregations as they seek to follow the Spirit’s guidance? Cultural Relevance • Needs an awareness of SEC history and culture and the challenges of mission in the Scottish culture today. • The importance of a bishop to maintain the inclusive ethos of the SEC. • Understanding our Eucharistic centred and inclusive way of doing business in a national Scottish context and being able to articulate this both within the Diocese and the wider world. • Able and willing to use opportunities for mission, particularly looking at today’s issues of justice (refugees, homelessness, etc…), and skilled in the use of social and other media.

Vision • We’d like to see a vision that is outward looking, accentuates the positive, and celebrates where we are and what we do – a vision that clergy and congregations can be excited about. • We need a bishop with a vision to discern a new mission strategy for a new era in the church. • Seeking a bishop with long-term vision that is both incarnational and prophetic. • Creating a supportive culture of risk taking. • The Bishop should be able to enthuse the Diocese with a vision of mission based on deep spiritual growth. • The number one priority should be encouragement of children and youth to take part in the life of the Church. (This point received a round of enthusiastic applause from the body of the synod when read aloud.)

Missional Leadership • Mission flows from episcopal teaching/vision, so a competent practical theologian with the ability to connect and engage with a changing society is imperative. • The Bishop exercises proactive, imaginative, and courageous leadership towards numerical and spiritual growth. • We hope for a bishop with the desire to build on the good work that has already been done in very recent years, but also with a willingness to collaborate on the development of a clear and powerful vision of where we should go next. o To revisit the MAP and to avoid top-down led missional leadership because congregations vary greatly.

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