preview

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Welcome to March's Newsletter!

Information on courses, awareness dates, events, etc, are available via our Adventures in Faith pages:

Congratulations, Bishop Dagmar!

As you are probably already aware, the Right Reverend Dr Dagmar Winter was elected on Saturday 14 February as the Bishop-Elect of Edinburgh Diocese. Bishop Dagmar currently serves as the Bishop of Huntingdon, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ely. Since 2023 she is also Acting Bishop of Ely.

Following the election, Bishop-Elect Dagmar said: “I am hugely honoured to have been elected as the next Bishop of Edinburgh and would like to thank most warmly all those involved in the thorough process, indeed, in electing me.

“I rejoice in the diversity and inclusivity of the Diocese of Edinburgh and can’t wait to get to know all the clergy and people in the charges from the Tweed to the Firth of Forth – your joys, your challenges, your opportunities. I firmly believe that the Scottish Episcopal Church has a unique voice to share in today’s world, and I am committed to supporting and encouraging all who contribute to its mission and ministry and to raising its profile further. I also look forward to joining the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

“As I pray for you, please pray for me as I prepare to leave Ely and join you in Edinburgh."

Please keep Bishop Dagmar in your prayers as we work towards her installation on Saturday 30 May 2026 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh.

News and Highlights

Financial Stewardship Webpage. A Financial Stewardship webpage is now live on the diocesan website. This is a collection of resources and ideas to help all congregations to think through the sometimes thorny issue of money, from theology to fundraising, online giving to the offertory. It complements the wider-ranging Stewardship page we have, which links stewardship very much to discipleship.

To easily see the growing range of resources we have to support you, check out (and bookmark!) our For Clergy page.

Diocesan Synod Saturday 14 March

Papers are now available for the Diocesan Synod, which takes place on Saturday 14 March at Ps & Gs, eucharist at 8:30am. More information here.

beHeld: Youth & Children’s Ministry Training Days

In 2026, all involved in youth and children's ministry are invited to a fresh series of training days at Ps & Gs Church called 'beHeld'. The first is on 21 March (future dates are 23 May, 26 September, 28 November). Each event will be on a Saturday morning, 9am–1pm, with light refreshments, worship, and the chance to hear from experts on key subjects like trauma-informed practice. Get more information about the first session on the Ps & Gs Facebook page.

beHeld costs £15 per session, but the diocese will cover the cost of one ticket per charge. Just email us at [email protected] with your name and charge, and we'll book you in for the 21 March session.

Scottish Parliament Election Hustings Guidance has now been produced by the Province, which can be accessed on the SEC website.

Access here.

End of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

This scheme, which essentially ran as a VAT reclaim scheme for listed places of worship, ends on 1 April. A replacement for England has been announced but it is unclear what the future might be in Scotland. The Net Zero Team are monitoring, and direct people to the National Churches Trust 'Fact Check' article here.

There is also now news of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum making representations to our Parliaments.

Lent to Easter

Lent Appeal 2026 - Aberlour

Aberlour Children’s Charity works to provide tailored support to families facing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. It provides support at the earliest opportunity by offering a range of services across Scotland, utilising the voices of those impacted to create and implement tools for change. The charity has been in operation for just over 150 years, with a long and varied history, although giving every child the best possible start in life has always been at the heart of what they do.

Find out more on our website.

Lent Course. St James, Leith have produced their own Lent course entitled The Gospel of the Wild Messiah. This 6-session course uses lectio divina and visio divina amongst other prayerful responses to reflect on the theme. The outline is below; please contact the DMMC Team if you would like a copy of the resources.

1 - Intro to the Wild Messiah Course.

2 - Tearing Open Ceilings to let Mercy in (The Paraplegic).

3 - Attentive to Inconvenient Cries (Blind Bartimeus).

4 - Touching the Untouchable & Inviting the Forgotten Home (Haemorrhaging Woman).

5 - Naming the Silenced, Holding the Haunted (Legion).

6 - Let us be: Wounded, Wild & Faithful

Rev Prof Swarup Bar is presenting a series of four talks on Monday evenings in Lent titled ‘Indian Christian Theologies Part II: Contextual Theologies’. If you miss any, you'll be able to catch up on the Scottish Episcopal Church YouTube channel. The lectures are:

▶ 2 March, 7pm: Dalit Theology

▶ 9 March, 7pm: Tribal & Adivasi Theology

▶ 6 March, 7pm: Feminist Theology

▶ 23 March, 7pm: Ecotheology

Chrism Mass.

The date for Chrism Mass has been set for Thursday, 19 March 2026 at 5.30pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. The date and time have been agreed with the Provost and in consideration of Bishop Mark’s availability.

There will be tea and coffee after the service.

Easter-Pentecost Resources. Work is being done in the next few days to update the webpage of resources to include Easter to Pentecost. Please check it as you're planning your services from Easter onwards: Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost | Diocese of Edinburgh

New Books!

Saints of Scotland by Revd Scott Brown CBE. A devotional guide, with a short history of each Saint of Scotland, and a Collect/Prayer. It is available on Amazon at £10.99. Scott is able to offer the book at an author’s discounted rate of £7.50, plus postage, allowing you to retail it for the same price as Amazon, raising money for local funds.

Email Scott for more information.

Scott is currently a Kirk Minister, now transitioning towards ministry in the Episcopal Church. He has served as a Naval Chaplain, including Chaplain of the Fleet, and a Parish Minister.

Faith, Hope and Autism by Revd John Allister. Neurodiversity is big news these days, especially in its most common forms, ADHD and Autism: this book looks at this from a Christian and church perspective. John Allister, a vicar who is also autistic, shares honest stories, practical insights, and heartfelt letters to his younger self. He opens up a window into the joys and challenges of growing up autistic, discovering faith, and finding a place in the church. Blending personal experience with down-to-earth guidance, John helps readers understand how autistic people experience the world, why inclusion matters, and what real welcome can look like. Purchase here.

John is a Church of England vicar in Nottingham. (If you recognize the surname, he is the son of Bishop Donald and Janice Allister of St Peter's Lutton Place.)

SEI Journal Spring 2026: Pastoral Supervision.

The latest SEI Journal has now been published on the topic of Pastoral Supervision. Guest edited by Supervisor and Trainer Revd Liz Crumlish, it is a creative collection of articles that think about pastoral supervision in a range of contexts and how this practice assists those with high pressured/emotionally strained vocations. The articles cover both the practical elements of pastoral supervision and the theory and theology behind adopting it in church contexts.

Learning & Development Opportunities

For detailed listings across a range of providers, check out the Courses page. This is updated very regularly and is a one-stop-shop for you to browse any time.

Safeguarding Training: Tuesday 24 March 2026

All those in authorised ministry, and PVG Coordinators, are invited to attend training on Tuesday 24 March at St Columba's-by-the-Castle, starting at 10am. Please register attendance with the Diocesan Protection Officer, Hannah Harcus, via email, and further details will be shared in due course.

CMD Day: Tuesday 19 May 2026

We will be joined at St James-the-Less, Leith, on Tuesday 19 May by the Revd Dr Gillian Straine, the CEO of Go Health and an SEI Associate Tutor to reflect on Regenerative Leadership. Gillian comes highly recommended by many across the Diocese and SEC, so do make time and prioritise joining us as you are able. Register here.

Pre-Retirement Day: Thursday 25 June 2026

Please save the date for our next 'Pre-Retirement Day' in the Walpole Hall in June. There will be two parts to the day. The morning will be most relevant to those approaching retirement in the next few years, led by the Revd Canon Cedric Blakey. This will cover the 'less quantifiable' aspects of retirement, e.g. vocation, identity, purpose, etc. The afternoon will be for anyone interested in learning more about pensions and retirement housing, led by GSO's Neil Wright.

Further details and a registration form to follow.

Thriving Biodiversity: Caring for God's Creation, 12 March, 1–2pm, online

In this webinar, Sharon Hall will introduce Operation Noah's Church Land Use Vision about using church land for climate and nature benefit, and how you and your church can be part of it. Sharon will share some inspiring case studies from other churches and Christian landowners, and offer some free resources to give practical suggestions for local church groups and campaigning for wider influence.

There will be a chance to ask questions and share from your own local context. You can get the link for the event by emailing Jack Nevin of the Net Zero Team.

Issues in Gender and Liturgy Conference

A conference on Issues in Gender and Liturgy, sponsored by the Scottish Episcopal Institute, will take place on Monday 23 March 2026, from 9am–4.30pm. Eight speakers will give a short presentation on their essays published in two recent editions of the Scottish Episcopal Institute Journal: Gender (spring 2025) and The Future of Liturgy (autumn 2025). The conference will be hybrid format, taking place at St John’s Episcopal Church on Princes Street and online.
Complete this form to attend in person (cost £5).

Email Dr Victoria Turner to attend online: [email protected]

The Scottish Episcopal Institute offers courses that SEC clergy and readers can audit for free, or study for credit at minimal cost.

▶ Reflective Practice: Leadership and Collaboration, with the Revd Keith Thomasson. Tuesdays 2–4pm, 24 Mar–9 Jun.

▶ Intermediate Biblical Greek, with Dr Patrick Murray. Thursdays, 7–8pm, 14 May–16 Jul.

Interested? Email [email protected]

The College of Preachers offers a series of seminars and talks via Zoom. The regular Zoom seminars take place from 10:30am–1pm, and cost £15.

▶ Thu 12 Mar: Preaching with the Lectionary

▶ Mon 16 Mar: Preaching and Poetry

▶ Mon 23 Mar: How to use Humour in Preaching

▶ Wed 15 Apr: Preaching to the Non-Religious

▶ Mon 27 Apr: Lessons for the Preacher to Learn from Jack Reacher

When Women Lead the Way, Tuesday 21 April to Thursday 23 April, The Bield at Blackruthven

What does it look like when we amplify the stories of women in scripture and take lessons in leadership from women like Miriam, Deborah, Jael, Vashti and countless unnamed women when they are released from the confines of patriarchy? This retreat, led by Rev Liz Crumlish, focuses on cultivating leadership practices rooted in the ancient wisdom of women, drawing on examples of inspirational leadership found in the, often hidden, stories of Biblical women.

More information on The Bield's website.

Children & Young People

Wondering how to cater for younger members?

Thinking about all-age worship?

Is your current Roots subscription due for renewal?

The Diocese is a subscription ‘hub’ for ROOTS on the Web, enabling congregations to sign-up for access to Lectionary-based digital resources (including the 20-year back catalogue) for the subsidised cost of £20 for the year. Interested congregations should register via this form. One-month free trial here.

Provincial Youth Overnighter for Palm Sunday, 28–29 March, St Paul's, Kinlochleven. The next Provincial Youth Overnight Event is taking place in the stunning location of Kinlochleven, between Glencoe and Fort William, in the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles. The usual pattern of these events will be followed: fun, games, and creativity in the afternoon before preparing to help lead worship for Palm Sunday in the morning. All meals are provided and a non-residential option is available, too. Click the link below for more information and to register by 12 March.

Information and Registration Form Here!

Save the Date!

Saturday 9 May, late afternoon and evening.

Some time to chill in the midst of the exam season.

More details to follow!

Morland Choristers' Camp, 26 July–2 August 2026

This annual residential summer course for young singers aged 9-17 offers a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of singing in a 100-strong 4-part choir and to enjoy a week of outdoor activities in the Eden Valley. Anyone can apply: all that is needed is a love of singing and lots of energy.

The cost is £475 (discounts and bursaries available).

More Information and Registration Here!

Adventures in Faith

Remember: you can cut and paste anything from this newsletter into your own communication channels!

The monthly Adventures in Faith Newsletter from Edinburgh Diocese shares lots of ideas for your ongoing Christian life. Each month, there are news items, courses, events, and ideas for you to explore. You can read past mailings, and sign up to receive future ones, via the diocesan website (tinyurl.com/EdinburghAIF).

Awareness Days

We list Awareness Days that may be relevant for congregations to consider on our website here. Most entries have links to external websites that provide information and resources for the particular cause or event.

Lord's Prayer in Finnish. We have now updated our Porvoo Communion webpage to include the Lord's Prayer in Finnish, along with a recording of how it sounds (this is a YouTube video, which means you can slow it down to learn the sounds a little easier).

Find it here, and share with your congregation/s!