Welcome to our News page.
We currently hold one weekly service beginning at 10.30am every Sunday morning, and a monthly united evening service at 7pm on the last Sunday of each month. Visitors are always welcome at any of our services. Please be aware that the church is situated within the City Council’s designated Low Emission Zone. Regular parking restrictions are in force between 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Sundays, and we are conveniently placed for the 35 bus route. The morning service is livestreamed and available on this homepage. And why not follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Open Kirk – We rely on volunteers to keep the church open to the public on Saturdays, morning and afternoon, and Sundays – afternoon only. If the doors are open, do come in. It’s free to look around although we do appreciate donations!
Read the latest edition of our MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. Paper copies can be sent out on request.
Our weekly Sunday service is livestreamed at 10.30am. Click on the picture below to watch.
Click here for the order of service for Sunday 19th October – 18th After Trinity
Watch previous services on our You Tube channel
Monthly Evening Service
Join us on the last Sunday of each month here at Canongate Kirk for our monthly united evening service with St Giles’ when we are joined by a quartet of singers in the gallery.
Our next evening service is on Sunday 26th October.
All welcome!
Rededication of Memorial Wall
The Minister was invited to play a part in the rededication of a memorial wall in the Eastern Cemetery on 14th October 2025. Plaques bearing the names of veterans who lived at Whitefoord House in the first half of the 20th century have been recently restored thanks to an initiative from today’s residents.
Kirk Redecoration Project
The Kirk will be closed from January to end March 2026 for redecoration (don’t worry – we won’t be changing the blue pews!). Church services will continue as normal but will move to the Harry Younger Hall for the duration of the redecoration work. We are having a number of events to raise money for this expensive but necessary project. The first is a concert on 7th November 2025 at 7pm – a wonderful evening of jazz and classical favourites. Tickets are £10 on the door.
New Governor’s Installation
Major-General Bob Bruce CBE DSO, Governor of Edinburgh Castle, was formally installed in a colourful parade on Wednesday 30th April, in which the Minister of Canongate Kirk, as Chaplain to the Governor, took part.
Order of St John
We were delighted to host a significant service for the Priory of Scotland, attended by HRH The Duke of Gloucester and other representatives from around the United Kingdom, on 26th February 2025.
Order of St John Carol Service
The Minister is joined by The Lord Provost and Prof Paul Mealor after the first carol service held by the Order of St John in Canongate Kirk. Music was supplied by the St John Festival Choir, directed by Paul, and a retiring offering of £1,100 was raised for the Lord Provost’s One City Trust.
St Margaret’s Day at Canongate Kirk
The Minister is joined by The Most Reverend Leo Cushley, The Right Reverend John Armes and The Very Reverend Colin Sinclair, representing the Roman Catholic Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland respectively, in leading the annual service for St Margaret’s Chapel Guild in Canongate Kirk on St Margaret’s Day, 16th November 2024.
250th Anniversary of the Death of Robert Fergusson
On Sunday 13th October we marked the 250th anniversary of the death of the poet Robert Fergusson (1750 – 1774) who is buried in our kirkyard . Flowers were laid by his grave and the Minister gave a short commemoration, reading a prayer by Henry Newman.
Royal Banner and Prayer
The banner which hangs on our north wall to the left hand side was temporarily returned to the Cathedral for the Service of Thanksgiving during which HM The King was presented with the Honours of Scotland in July 2023. It hung again exactly where it did on 24th June 1953, when The late Queen attended a similar service soon after her own coronation. In connection with the more recent service our Minister was asked to write the following prayer for the Church of Scotland website:
Loving God, centuries ago you kindled a flame of love in the heart of your servant Queen Margaret and by her humility and kindness made clear the way of royal service in this land. Now as we give thanks for our newly-crowned Sovereign King Charles, we pray that having been called to an earthly throne he might advance your heavenly Kingdom. Amidst all the panoply of Church and State, may our ancient ceremonies and symbols reflect your unchanging purpose of peace and goodwill. May they speak not just of our history and heritage but of our hope for years to come. For our hope is rooted in faith, and our faith rooted in Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Amen.
Bird’s Eye Views of Canongate Kirk
Taken from a drone during a recent roof inspection.
