Category: News

On International Women’s Day last year we brought you news of Her Audio Bible, a project that ‘brings together women from a diversity of backgrounds to read from a place of personal faith’. This year we revisit the project and find new readings, this time Timothy 1 and 2 and read by Annika Matthews currently based in the South East of England. You can listen to her readings here:

https://www.heraudiobible.org.uk/1-timothy

https://www.heraudiobible.org.uk/2-timothy

The readings on this site are a joy to listen and now include:

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Galatians

Ephesians

Collosians

James

Revelations

Every year members of Corstorphine Craigsbank and East Craigs donate Christmas gifts to the children of those in our prison system. Your generosity is always much appreciated. 2025 will be the 40th year this collection has been running, It will also be Colin O’Flaherty’s 25th & last collection as he is retiring after 40 years in the prison service. Colin has sent the following thank you letter and asked that it be shared with all.

Dearest Friends,

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Thank you, for your support for the Edinburgh prison Christmas gift collection.

Your kindness and generosity made sure that two hundred and twenty-three children had Christmas presents to open on Christmas morning.  

The gifts were given out at the six Christmas parties organised between the family contact officers and the Barnardo’s staff from the visitor’s centre.  The Christmas parties took place in the visit room in the prison allowing the children’s parent or guardian to take part.  Gifts were also given out directly from the visitors, collected by the parent or guardian of the children.

The number of children that received gifts was down on last year’s wonderful achievement.  This was because the number of children that passed through the visitor’s centre was down on last year.   We achieved our aim, which is to ensure that every child that visited the visitors centre received Christmas presents.

We did receive some media interest the Scotsman and the BBC did an article about the gift collection.  The Justice Minister Angela Constance when she heard about the gift collection, took time out of her schedule to visit the visitors’ centre and helped with wrapping of some of the gifts. 

My thanks as always go to you.  Without your support the Edinburgh prison Christmas gift collection have stopped a long time ago.

My thanks also go to the Barnardo’s staff in the visitors’ centre Shona, Patrizia and Ann all played an important part in making it a success.

My thanks also go to the senior managers of the prison for supporting me and allowing me to organise the gift collection.

I am already looking forward to this year’s 2025 Christmas gift collection.  It will be the fortieth year in a row that the gift collection started by Rev John Murie will have taken place.  

Thank you again.

Colin 

If you are on our postal mailing list, you should receive your copy of the Christmas Bulletin over the next few days. If not and you would like to be, please do let Sarah Keith in our office know. administrator@craigsbankchurch.org.uk

But you can read it or download it here too! We hope you enjoy it.

With best wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas from all of us.

Join us at one of our services over the next few weeks. Our morning services always begin at 10.30am and all are welcome. Do join us when you can.

• 19 April – 10.30am Craigsbank – Service led by Alan Childs
• 26 April – 10.30am East Craigs – Service led by Moira McDonald
• For services at Corstorphine Old Parish please check the existing website until a new site is created. Corstorphine Old Parish.

• Corstorphine Craigsbank Church – 19 Craigs Bank, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 8HD, 10.30am, on the first and third Sunday of the month. Directions
• East Craigs Church Centre – 8 Bughtlin Market, East Craigs, Edinburgh EH12 8XP, 10.30am, on the second and fourth Sunday of the month. Directions
• Cafe Church – 19 Craigs Bank, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 8HD, 10.30am, on a fifth Sunday of any month. Directions
• Please note that Craigsbank is now part of Corstorphine Old and New Church and as such our worship centres include the Old Parish Church – 2a Corstorphine High Street EH12 7ST
• You can also watch a shortened version of our service online every Sunday on YouTube.

We are currently working towards a new website for our united Church, Edinburgh: Corstorphine Old and New Parish Church. The launch of the site will be announced here, in worship services and in our communications including our newsletter and magazine.

Christmas Chaos and Carols – Turnhouse, Edinburgh

Sunday 8 December 4.00pm – 5.00pm, Turnhouse Golf Club

Come and join us for a FREE festive family hour of Christmas Chaos and Carols at Turnhouse Golf Club. This is a chance for those who have moved into West Craigs and the Western expansion (and those who have lived there for years) to say a relaxed hello to new neighbours – children meet children, adults meet adults – enjoy storytelling for kids, crafts, coffee and mince pies and lift your voice in Christmas Carols and songs (or just listen in!). Everyone is welcome – new friendships really can last a lifetime.

Don’t miss out on this fun event to get you in the mood for Christmas in your new home.

A warm welcome awaits from your local parish churches.

Click here to BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW ON EVENTBRITE. TICKETS ARE FREE TO ALL BUT LIMITED TO 100 in total.

Please note that the previously suggested congregational meeting of 20 or 27 October for voting on our Basis of Union with Corstorphine Old Parish Church has been postponed until further notice. The main reasons being delays in Presbytery and uncertainty about the implications of the possible dissolution of St Andrew’s Clermiston on our own unification process with the Old Parish. More information to follow soon.

Join us on Saturday 26th October from 2.00pm – 4.30pm, starting and finishing at East Craigs Church Centre.

We are off for a community, family walk from the Church Centre round to Craigievar Park and back (weather permitting of course and failing that the event will be held within the Church Centre grounds) and will rediscover our community apple trees in both areas.

All families are invited to come along to this event and should meet at the Church Centre behind the Dental Surgery at Bughtlin at 2.00pm to register and then start the fun for the afternoon. If the weather is fair, a Treasure Hunt will see us started and will lead round to Craigievar Park where games will be organised for young and old after which we will proceed back to the Church Centre to share in refreshments with other activities. 

Craigsbank threw open the doors to the church and halls over the weekend, 28 and 29 September 2024 as part of the annual Edinburgh Doors Open Festival.

67 people came through our doors during the day on the Saturday and the afternoon of the Sunday. Here’s a taste of what they thought:

‘My wife had visited a few years back and thought I would like it – she was right!’ (A well known Edinburgh writer)

‘I never realised this was here. It is absolutely lovely, serene and peaceful. My top place of Doors Open Days 2024. Thank you.’

‘Very impressive. One of the best modern churches I have visited. And very welcoming.      (Glasgow)’

‘What a fascinating find – I had no idea this church was here. I love the concept of the Covenanters’ gatherings in the hollows of the Pentlands reflected here.   Thank you’

‘Very impressive! Thanks for letting us see it.’

‘Thanks!  A very interesting and inspirational building! Super space with such a lot of thought put into the planning. Thank you for showing me around and sharing the knowledge and history of the building.’

‘A wonderful space! Thanks for the kindness of everyone.’

‘I’ve always wanted to visit Le Corbusier’s Church in France – it will probably never happen so it’s a delight to visit Craigsbank – A stunning design inside and out – Also a welcoming space which inspires a quiet awe…’

‘I’m so happy to have seen the interior of this remarkable building. Thank you for your warm welcome and information. I particularly liked the design on the chairs and altar (square shapes drawing included)’ 

‘Thank you for showing us around, we live nearby and it’s been interesting to learn more about the history and activity of the church’

‘I liked the bell and the doors…’ ( age 3 )

‘A beautiful space with beautiful people –thank you for opening up your church for us.’

‘Thanks for the hospitality! Very calm and peaceful spaces – we’re big fans of Modernist design and the use of natural / artificial light, natural wood and moss green is perfect.  Delighted your refurb has solved the water leak issues so you can continue to enjoy your space.’

‘Thoroughly enjoyed our visit today. Wonderful peaceful time viewing all the various spaces belonging to the church. We were made so welcome by everyone. Enjoyed reading about the history. Thank you (from Glasgow)’

‘Kudos to Architect for such a brave initiative in 1966. It brings so much peace just sitting in.  The only window on the façade is the mistake but it brought different character to the building.’

‘I really enjoyed the structure of the church! And the way the architect styled and designed the church. Thank you for the tour.’ ( age 11 )

‘Stunning !  Amazing design. The natural light flooding in is absolutely phenomenal. Very peaceful and inspiring experience. Thank you’

‘A wonderful space full of life and light!’

‘Fabulous church ! What an impressive and tranquil design. Many thanks.’

‘Been living in this street since 2013, yet I didn’t get to come in once! Such a fascinating building and history. Thanks’

‘Beautiful Building. Very friendly and informative people showing us round. Thank you so much.’

‘A great architectural building …nice rooms…cool shape…family friendly…clubs 😊…very nice people…’ (age 11)

‘A hidden gem of Architecture in Edinburgh. So happy to have seen it. Thank you’

‘A truly beautiful space and a very warm welcome. Thank you so much for a lovely Sunday afternoon.’

‘An amazing relaxing and inviting space. Gorgeous…’

‘Thank you  😊’

With grateful thanks to John and Els Baker and all who volunteered over the weekend

Our ‘Toastie Thursdays’ project, jointly delivered by Craigsbank and the Old Parish, has made the headlines and now the success of the project has been introduced to MSPs in the debating hall of the Scottish Parliament.

On 25 September, the Rev Moira McDonald, told MSPs from all parties of the success of the initiative which has seen more than 16,000 toasties served to local secondary school pupils over the last two years. The community has pulled together to offer around 300 pupils the regular chance to attend Toastie Thursday at Craigsbank Parish Church.

Moira said that Toastie Thursday is the highlight of the week for many people:

“For the pupils who enjoy the food, the fresh air and the break from school,” she added.

“For the staff at Craigmount who feel the busyness of the school easing a little as pupils disappear to the church hall.

“For the parents who normally provide packed lunches but find they don’t need to on Thursdays, although they do have to find £2 from the back of the sofa.

“For the toastie makers and servers, volunteers who have bonded over the challenges of serving 300 teenagers and discovered friendships and possibilities in the process.

“Friendships and possibilities that are reflected in the relationships formed between the pupils and the volunteers, in the relationship between the churches and the school, and with our local shops and supermarkets where we buy the supplies.”

You can read the full address on the Church of Scotland website.

Network have announced their winter syllabus with much to enjoy. The events are held on Monday evenings in the Craigsbank Chancel Hall from 7pm (probably ending no later than 9.30pm). Details below and for more information contact the Church office.

Network Syllabus 2024/2025

2024

7 October – Post War Cinemas in Edinburgh – Part 1 – Keith Walker

21 October – Sunflower Scotland – Oleg Dmitriev

4 November – Tunnels of Edinburgh – Maurice McIlwrick

18 November – Christmas Crafts – Cherry Gilmour

2 December – Teaching & Life in Zambia – Rev William Watt

16 December – Christmas Meal

2025

13 January – Post War Cinemas in Edinburgh – Part 2 – Keith Walker

27 January – Islands of the Atlantic – Craig Robertson

10 February – The Edinburgh of Burke & Hare – Eric Melvin

24 February – Restoration of the Corstorphine Astoria Cinema Organ – Ian Anderson

10 March – Issues & Incidents – did that actually happen? – Tom Gordon

24 March – Cheese & Wine and AGM

29 April – Meal out