COVID-19 - updates

LATEST GOVERNMENT INFO

22 December

Due to latest Scottish Goverment and Church of Scotland guidelines it has been necessary to close the Sanctuary until further notice. Services will be continuing on Zoom and if possible a written one sent to those who are unable to access Zoom

08 November 2020
BACK IN CHURCH - Remembrance Service will be held in the Sanctuary and also online

23 October 2020
It is now 32weeks since we were in the Sanctuary and after submitting our Risk Assessment, Checklist, Mitigation Report, Reopening Guidelines Summary, Floor and Seating Plans, we are delighted to announce that Presbytery have advised that we can reopen our Sanctuary for Public Worship. The date will be decided by Kirk Session and published asap.

Information regards Floor and Seating can be found in this document <Re-opening info>

07 October 2020
Video uploaded to advise entering, seating and exiting the Sanctuary.

30 September 2020
Kirk Session met tonight and have agreed that the Sanctuary can re-open for Public Worship. The Documentation will be submitted to Church of Scotland and Edinburgh Presbytery for their approval.

September  2020 
Electrical work has started and hoping to be completed soon. We are grateful to all our dedicated volunteers who are willing to give up their weekdays and weekends. 

31 August  2020 
A weekly CHURCH PREMISES CHECK has started on 01/08/2020 to adhere to Insurance compliance and will continue until Church premises are occupied.
Fire Check completed
Lighting required from EICR report  - some procured and ready for installation

14 August  2020
Electrical Safety Check (EICR)  has been carried out, with a few outstanding issues to be actioned.

28 July 2020
Measures have been taken for Re-opening the church buildings.
Since the Scottish Goverment decision to allow churches to re-open their buildings for Public Worship the Church of Scotland have advised ministers of the process.

The Management Team have met regularly on Zoom since the announcement and formed a Task Force Team who have met to discuss the Risk Assessment which must be submitted to the Church of Scotland and passed before the buildings are able to re-open. 

Unfortunately there is no confirmed date, as to when this might be but the team are working hard to complete the necessary documention. 
There are a number of items which are outstanding, including, a Fire Check and Electrical Safety Check, both of which are in hand at this time of publication. 

14 April 2020
On Sunday at 10.30am  and until further notice, there will be an online Zoom service. If you have not received an email invitation by Saturday, please contact Rev Dr Tom Kisitu with your current email address and an invitation will be sent out.
Please be advised that details will not be published on social media. 
Please check your junk mail for the invitation.

17 March 2020

Worship - Cancellation of Services

The Scottish Government now advises that people should minimise social contact by avoiding crowded areas and large gatherings, including religious congregations, and smaller gatherings.

The Church of Scotland now asks, in the strongest terms, that all gatherings for worship should cease until further notice, with effect from Tuesday 17 March 2020. Other Scottish Churches are taking similar actions. This obviously includes Easter services. Some Presbyteries have already instructed this action. This will include, but not be restricted to: housegroups, meetings for youth work, and church cafes. It will still be possible for an individual to offer a livestream of a sermon and prayers. Further information on livestreaming, including information on copyright, can be found in this circular on the Law Department’s webpages here. Sunday broadcasts of a weekly service take place on Radio 4, and also on Radio Scotland; other radio stations are available. Several churches currently offer livestreams or recorded services; a list can be found on our website.

Church buildings can be kept open as a place for people to come and pray. Notices should be clearly displayed asking that visitors observe robust hand hygiene.

Wednesday 18 March 2020. <read here for more>

16 March 2020

*** Attention Girlguiding *** - This article has been extracted from Girlguiding - "We have taken the decision therefore, to suspend UK Girlguiding unit meetings with immediate effect."