Reverend Neil Gardner, MA BD DL – Minister
Neil Gardner has served in Canongate Kirk since 2006 . During that time, he has extended the Kirk’s involvement in the Parish and in the wider community and has led the modernisation of the Kirk’s approaches to congregational and community fellowship, while maintaining the Kirk’s liturgical and historic traditions.
Neil was inducted to Canongate Kirk in June 2006 after seven years as minister of Alyth Parish Church in rural Perthshire. Prior to that he served with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department in Germany, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Surrey, and Hampshire.
Simon Leach, Organist and Director of Music
Simon graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music and is a former organ scholar of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. He combines the post at Canongate with teaching posts at the ESMS Schools in Edinburgh and St Mary’s Melrose. He is the organ tutor at Manchester University, an Academy tutor for the Royal College of Organists and an examiner for the ABRSM. Simon enjoys giving solo recitals in this country and abroad and has particularly enjoyed performing at Westminster Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral and St Thomas 5th Ave, New York and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. He is on the team of organists that play for the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service and has played the organ for ITV’s Coronation Street on several occasions. Prior to his appointment at the Canongate Kirk, Simon held positions at the Holy Name Church, Manchester and St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh. He is married to Helen and they have six children. In his spare time Simon enjoys reading, listening to Radio 4 and walking in the Scottish Borders and the North West Highlands.
Imogen Gibson – Kirk Secretary
Imogen has been Kirk Secretary since January 2016. A graduate of Edinburgh University, she lived in Istanbul for a number of years running an international publisher’s office. Since returning to the UK she continued to work in the world of publishing followed by 15 years at the NHS. As well as her role at Canongate, she is also communications officer for the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Festival in the Fringe.