Scotland's Churches Trust

26/08/2026

A fabulous opportunity if you would like to know more about the Leith St. Andrew's Trust's ambitions for this wonderful historic building that sits at the bottom of Easter Road in Edinburgh, just on the edge of Leith Links.

More details in the post below 👇

Come and join us for our open day and AGM on Saturday 5th September.

The historic church and halls will be open from 10.30 - 3.30 to explore, with lots of activities on throughout the day.

With live music from Live music from Trad Folk, Arbor Green and Uke O Ono in the Sanctuary.

Capoeira demonstrations and Think Circus family sessions.

Explore the historic church and take in our local history exhibition.

Meet and hear from lots of local community groups and services who use this fantastic space for the benefit of all Leithers.

This is also your chance to get involved, learn about the Trust's work and plans for the future of Leith St Andrew's.

Sign up via Eventbrite to join our AGM or drop in for free at any point during the day. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leith-st-andrews-trust-annual-general-meeting-2026-tickets-1998616777583?aff=oddtdtcreator

We can't wait to see you there!

26/08/2026

, Holy Rude Viewfield Church, Stirling, has notable stained glass by leading artists including Adam & Small, James Ballantine, Cottier & Co, W & J J Keir, Crear McCartney and Douglas Strachan.

More on our site here 👇
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/church-of-the-holy-rude-stirling/

It also houses the largest pipe organ in Scotland, built by the famous Liverpool organ-builders Rushworth & Dreaper in 1940. It was carefully restored and rebuilt in 1994.

More to read on the organ and have a listen to 👇
https://holyrude.org/styled-12/styled-2/index.html

More shots of the remarkable windows here 👇
https://www.derekcrowe.com/photoset.aspx?id=62

26/08/2026

The amazing volunteers from the Aberdeen Church Recorders were out documenting another historic church this week, this time visiting the beautiful St Machar's Episcopal Church in Bucksburn.

Our volunteers attempt to document everything within a church building that could potentially be removed, painted over or discarded at some point in the future, to ensure that future researchers will always have a record of what was once in these precious buildings, generations from now.

In St Machar's, the recorders documented everything from the genuinely remarkable Douglas Strachan murals in the chancel to the "loveliness" of Ladybird Books (yes, that is collective noun for ladybirds) located in the vestry, to ensure as complete a record as possible is created.

Our thanks to these wonderful volunteers for their continuing contribution to this nationwide heritage project and to the congregation of St Machar's for warmly welcoming them into their beautiful church.

You can read more about our church recording project on our website.

(Images: Ali Cameron)

26/08/2026

The Church of Scotland has formally asked Historic Environment Scotland to take Dunfermline Abbey Church into state care.

The historic building currently faces an estimated £4m repair bill over the next 3-5 years and its congregation is unlikely to be able to meet that financial burden.

Read the full story here👇

The Church of Scotland has asked Historic Environment Scotland to consider looking after the kirk.

26/08/2026

"Our Holy Redeemer closed due to health and safety fears"

A Clydebank church, built by the noted architect Peter Paul Pugin from 1901-03 and a remarkable survivor of the cataclysmic Clydebank Blitz of 13-14 March 1941, has been closed "until further notice" by the Archdiocese of Glasgow due to "fears over the structural integrity of the building."

Read the full story in the Clydebank Post here 👇

A Clydebank church has announced its sudden closure due to 'health and safety concerns'

25/08/2026

Despite being nearly 200 years old, this Baroque place of worship "continues to be one of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets."

Read the story of St Mark’s Unitarian Church, located on the city's picturesque Castle Terrace 👇

This article has been kindly provided by Martyn Baguley to explain the story of St Mark’s Unitarian Church on Castle Terrace. In the early hours of 1st May 1685, 58-year-old John Brown, a devout Presbyterian, having led family prayers, left his home at Priesthill in Ayrshire to cut peat. As he wor...

24/08/2026

Founded in 1129 as the parish church of Stirling, Holy Rude Viewfield Church, Stirling, our , was largely re-built after a fire in 1405.

The open-timbered oak roof of 1414 in the nave is one of very few medieval timber roofs still surviving in Scotland.

Its choir and apse were added in 1555, the work of John Coutts, one of the greatest master masons of the later Middle Ages.

This church can lay claim to being one of only two active churches in the British Isles, the other being Westminster Abbey, to have hosted a royal coronation. On the 29th July 1567, King James VI of Scotland was crowned here in a ceremony at which the famous theologian John Knox preached.

Read more on our site 👇
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/church-of-the-holy-rude-stirling/

24/08/2026

"New fund hope for Glasgow church after £200k repair setback"

Carntyne and Cranhill Parish Church's congregation began a £1m repair prior to the UK Government suddenly terminating the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme that would have allowed it to reclaim VAT on these repairs.

The congregation is now hoping to be able to reclaim some of this sum via a new Scottish scheme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Historic Environment Scotland.

Read more here 👇

A historic church who was forced to cutback repair work after UK Government funding was pulled, has welcomed a new initiative which could put them…

22/08/2026

Let's take a final visit this week to our beautiful , Christ Church Morningside, in Edinburgh.

Like many other churches across Scotland, you can visit this gorgeous Gothic gem, designed by Hippolyte Blanc, in person during next month's Doors Open Days weekends.

You can also find out more about this historic church on our website.

21/08/2026

Still time for a post from our , Christ Church Morningside in Edinburgh.

Their magnificent Gothic baptismal font was designed as a companion piece to the even more striking pulpit by architect Hippolyte Blanc and carved by noted local sculptor John Rhind..

Both were recently lovingly restored and reinstalled in the church. You can read more about the restoration and this superb church on our website.