Category: News

This sign was spotted on the door of St Mary’s Church in Bridgwater, Somerset. It certainly makes you think! We are equally inclusive but perhaps we need to shout louder.

Craigsbank was one of the buildings that flung its doors wide open on Doors Open Sunday this year. And the result was really very positive indeed. John Baker arranged the weekend’s activities and he was ably supported by a strong team of volunteers.

64 individuals visited the buildings over the weekend. Below are just a few of the comments received:

• Fantastic experience: wonderful building: everyone so friendly and helpful.
• Thanks for taking part in Doors Open Day – loved the building and music
• So impressed! This “hidden gem” is amazing. Intriguing architecture. Even more I admire the way you form and run your church community. Our visit has been well worthwhile.
• Beautiful     Magical     Spiritual   Many thanks 
• It was a thrill to find such a beautiful modernist building in a part of Edinburgh we did not know. The quality of light and the serenity of the building make it very special apart from it’s functional success.
• Amazing architecture Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. This is a hidden gem.
• Having been Christened here on 8 August 1943, I found my visit a quite moving and enjoyable event. (Also repeated his visit to deliver copies of the October 1943 and March 1959  Intimations and family contributions)
• Very beautiful building, inside and out.
• Great to visit again and enjoyed Tree’s piece! ( Composer) Compliments the perfectly-realised minimalism of the architecture perfectly !
• The nicest church I have visited in a long time. Architecturally stunning and a surprisingly warm and inviting space. A reflection of the congregation, no doubt.
• Beautiful architectural lines. A hidden gem thanks to “Doors Open Day”
• This church has the WOW! Factor from the moment you catch sight of it coming round the corner and on entering – so unexpected to see the configuration which is so dramatic and inspiring. A wonderful space for worship – what a lucky congregation you are to have this gem. So pleased to hear that it has been recognised as “A” listed. Thank you for opening up today.
• We enjoyed the very warm welcome and were inspired by the beautiful airy space. The architecture is truly magnificent and is in great condition.
• An amazing place- well hosted – such a great performance and what a hidden gem. Wonderful.
• A wonderful display for a magnificent building! I appreciated the exhibits showing the construction of the complex. Great to see a hidden modernist gem in the City.
• A truly striking building beautifully looked after. Marion and John were brilliantly knowledgeable.
• A beautiful piece of Architecture. Really enjoyed talking to the volunteers and getting to experience the space and its wonderful light. Thank you

Our popular Network group is starting up again for the winter on 2 October. The full programme of speakers and events for the year is below. Do come along. You will be made very welcome. For more information, contact Susan Ross.

Network Syllabus 2023/2024

2023

2 October – The role of a Kings Chaplain – Rev Moira McDonald

16 October – Tracing your Family History – Alex Wood

30 October – Travelling Scotland with one Yellow Wellie – Reta MacLennan

13 November – Thimble Collection – Anne McMillan

27 November – Christmas Crafts – Cherry Gilmour

11 December – Christmas Meal

2024

8 January – Corstorphine Transport Through the Ages – Ian Anderson

22 January – Scottish Music & Words – Robin & Mairi Leach (Fundraiser)

5 February – Life after Westminster – John Barrett

19 February – Ronald McDonald House – Julia Coley

4 March – TBC

18 March – Cheese & Wine and AGM

Our new signs went up at Craigsbank last week and look smart and bright… and can be seen from a good distance. The banner for Open Doors can be rolled up and stored for next year and all years to come.
East Craigs next!

The ACORN is an inter church group which meets on the last Monday of every month from September to May for a morning of fun, chat, faith and fellowship, meeting up with friends from many of the Corstorphine churches for coffee and entertainment, sometimes with a speaker, or sometimes finding interesting stories from among our own members. To give you a little glimpse – for our last meeting, we had Margaret Grant, with a guest pianist and some of the Springwell Golden Voices choir, who joined us for a session of pure nostalgia, singing hymns and choruses remembered from days gone by, some as far back as childhood. A great time was had by all!   

Why not brighten your Monday morning once a month? We’d love to see you.

The first meeting of the new season will be on 25th September, at 10.30am in the Belgrave Room in St Anne’s Church, Kaimes Road , Corstorphine.

Bring someone to visit Craigsbank on Doors Open Weekend in September

We are delighted to report that Craigsbank will once again be open to the public as part of Doors Open Weekend in September – 23 and 24 September. It would be really wonderful if we could all bring one person (or more!) along who doesn’t know the building.

The entire building will be open – sanctuary and halls – so that visitors can see how the site responded to the demands for more space.

Between 11.00 am and 2.00pm on Saturday 23rd September cellist Joanna Stark will give performances of a composition by Tree Burton, for Craigsbank Church. The piece, ‘Floating Sanctuary’ is informed by the architecture and design of the church and was first presented at Doors Open Day 2017.

Open-times:

10.00am – 3.00pm Saturday 23 September

1.00pm – 3.00pm Sunday 24 September

Read more about Doors Open Day and our involvement here.

Craigsbank is much in demand from visitors with an interest in architecture.

The 20th Century Society visited Craigsbank Church on 4th June 23 as part of their Edinburgh ‘Sold Out’ Weekend. The Society has a passion for 20th Century Architecture, iconic buildings and design and arranges a range of visits, campaigns and seminars.

The visit to Craigsbank Church by 35 visitors as part of their Tour of Edinburgh’s 20th Century Architectural Highlights was really enjoyed and everyone appreciated experiencing the Sanctuary. During the visit comments were made about the quality of the Sanctuary space design and especially the daylighting, also admiring the building’s condition and potential for a range of activities.

One visitor, who had lived locally in his youth, clearly remembered being impressed and ‘spellbound’ by the changing daylighting patterns on the walls and thoroughly enjoyed returning to experience the space again.

The Corstorphine Dementia Project

Are you called to give back to your local community? The Jubilee Club (day-centre) is looking for volunteers to help out weekly between 9.45am and 2.15pm

And their Teatime Club (supper club) for volunteers to help every first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. 

Do get in touch direct for more information

Email: contact@cdp-edinburgh.org.uk

Phone: 0131 478 7784

Did you spot The Coat of Hopes as it travelled from Edinburgh to The Great Tapestry of Scotland centre in Galashiels?

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Have you heard of the Coat of Hopes? It was the vision of one person during lockdown and created by many hands on the long walk to Cop26, each person hand-stitching their story of hope on to pieces of blanket before attaching them to the coat. 700 people carried the coat on their back during the nine week pilgrimage from Newhaven on the south coast of England to Glasgow and throughout Cop26, each sharing their hopes and prayers for the future. Above you can see the coat before the patches of hope and prayer for the future were added and as it was early last week with so many stories captured on its long flowing skirts.

You can read the background on the Coat of Hopes website and see pics of the Coat at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral where it was displayed during the Fringe.

After that, on 30 August, it was walked over the course of a day from Edinburgh to Dalkeith, then from Dalkeith to North Middleton, North Middleton on to Fountainhall, and Fountainhall to Galashiels, with a special event at the centre for The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels on the morning of Sunday 3 September. Late that afternoon those accompanying the Coat of Hopes set off again, this time to Newstead.

Interested to know what the early Christian church really believed and how they lay the foundation for what became the largest, most influential religion in history?

No previous experience or knowledge needed. All are welcome. If you want more information or want to note your interest, send an email to administrator@craigsbankchurch.org.uk.

Dates planned for the 8 sessions, each taking place in the Iona Room at Craigsbank:

• 13/9 Session 1
• 20/9 Session 2
• 27/9 Session 3
• 4/10 no Bible study
• 11/10 Session 4
• 18/10 no Bible study
• 25/10 Session 5
• 1/11  no Bible study
• 8/11 Session 6
• 15/11 Session 7
• 22/11 Session 8

So what’s this rumour about a possible new parish church for the western expansion of Edinburgh?

We plan to have an information session for the members of the congregations of Craigsbank and Corstorphine Old Parish who might want to know more about the possibility of a church plant in the Western Expansion, i.e. the new developments to the west of Maybury and further west.

The date is 28 August 7.00 – 9.00pm and the venue is the Turnhouse Golf Club function room.

RSVP to the church office at administrator@craigsbankchurch.org.uk.