ST COLUMBA'S BY THE CASTLE

New Website now online

2008-03-22T22:22:00.003Z

You've reached our old website at stcolumbasbythecastle.blogspot.com.

You can find the most up-to-date information about St. Columba's as well as details of our Hall to let on our new website at:

www.stcolumbasbythecastle.org.uk

Please bookmark the new site for future reference.

What's on in October 2007

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Sunday 7 October 10am All Age Eucharist for Creation, harvest and St Francis
Group C lunch
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 14 October 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Rector
11.45-12.45pm
Christian Education Second Sunday series resumes with the
Rev John Whitley 'The people of God at worship in the early church'
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 21 October 10.30am TLC Joint Service with the Bishop of Edinburgh
followed by bring and share lunch All welcome!
8pm Taize service

Sunday 28 October 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon Canon John Richardson
8pm Extended Eucharist

Getting into the Rat Race

2007-07-18T22:32:00.000+01:00

This is Team 49 otherwise known as the Greyfriars on Saturday evening in Princes Street gardens getting ready for the next leg of the Rat Race.

Peter, Colm and Doneil are raising money for the Kirkhouse project.

Sunny Hill Walk

2007-07-18T22:21:00.000+01:00

Despite all the recent rain, the sun shone brightly on those who joined Alan Grieve as he led us on a very enjoyable hill walk in the Pentlands near West Linton.

After the walk, the hikers enjoyed a well-deserved drink at the Allan Ramsay Hotel.

Easter Sunday Eucharist

2007-07-18T22:07:00.000+01:00

Early on Easter morning, an ecumenical communion in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Summer at St Columba's

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Sunday 1st July 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon & Children's Address The Revd John Whitley
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 8th July 10am Sung Eucharist & Holy Baptism for Grace Flowerdew Sermon Canon John Richardson

Sunday 15th July 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Rector
Today we have our regular trip to see Harry Potter 1.15pm at the Odeon

Sunday 22nd July 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon Canon John Richardson
Coffee is served at the back of church

Sunday 29th July 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Rector
Coffee is served at the back of church

Sunday 5th August 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Revd John Whitley
Coffee is served at the back of church

Sunday 12th August 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Revd Robert Gould
(Parish Weekend at the Cathedral of the Isles on Cumbrae)

Sunday 19th August Sung Eucharist and Holy Baptism Sermon Canon John Richardson

Sunday 26th August 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Revd Robert Gould
TLC trip to Inchcolm Abbey Leaves Queensferry at 10.30am

Sunday 2nd September 10am Sung Eucharist
Underchurch resumes in the hall

Pentecost Eucharist on Lindisfarne

2007-06-26T22:59:00.000+01:00

On Sunday 27th May, Pentecost 2007, people travelled from four different congregations in Edinburgh to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to be renewed and perhaps to find a new experience. This echoes the account of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles when people came together from different traditions to worship God and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What's happening in June 2007?

2007-05-31T19:00:00.000+01:00

Sunday 3rd June Trinity Sunday
10am Sung Eucharist Sermon: The Revd Robert Gould
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 10th June Patronal Festival
10am All Age Eucharist for St Columba followed by bring and share parish lunch
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 17th June
10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Revd Jenny Williams, chaplain to the Christian Fellowship of Healing
11.45-12.30pm Resources Company AGM
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 24th June
10am Sung Eucharist Sermon: The Revd Alison Wagstaff
8pm Extended Eucharist

Holy Week and Easter 2007

2007-04-02T18:36:00.000+01:00

Palm Sunday 10am Procession with Palms followed by a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel
8pm Taize Service (next one Sunday 3rd June 8pm)

Monday in Holy Week 8am Said Eucharist
Tuesday in Holy Week 8am Said Eucharist
Wednesday in Holy Week 8am Said Eucharist

Maundy Thursday 8am Said Eucharist and 7.30pm Aramaic Lord's Prayer with the Revd Jenny Williams and Holy Communion at Greyfriats Tolbooth and Highland Kirk

Good Friday 8am Mass of the pre-sancitfied
12noon - 3pm Three Hours Service at Augustine United with Aawar Anwar and Stewart Cunningham, Human Rights' lawyers from Glasgow. 8.30pm Tenebrae at St Columba's-by-the-Castle Episcopal Church

Holy Saturday 8am Morning Prayer

Easter Sunday 10am Procession with the Easter Candle followed by Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Rector
8pm Extended Eucharist

Low Sunday 15th April 10am Sung Eucharist and Holy Baptism, Sermon The Revd Alison Wagstaff, followed by Parish Lunch
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 22nd April 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon: The Rector
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 29th April 10am Sermon The Revd Robert Gould
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 6th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon The Revd Alison Wagstaff
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 13th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon David Wedderburn, Lay Reader
11.45am Christian Education Session on 'Claire of Assisi' with Liza Coates TSSF
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 20th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon Canon John Richardson
11.45am Social Responsibility Session Fair
12.30pm Hill Walk see Alan Grieve
8pm Extended Eucharist

Pentecost Sunday 27th May
TLC trip to Lindisfarne coach leaves 9am and returns by 6pm
11am Ecumenical Communion service with the Revd David Coleman at Augustine United
8pm Extended Eucharist at STCS

Looking forward to Lent - What's on in February and March

2007-02-17T17:03:00.000Z

Sunday 18th February 10.30am Joint Service at Greyfriars Kirk
6.30pm Planning meeting for youth trip to Iona 2007
8pm Extended Eucharist at church

Shrove Tuesday 5.30-7.30pm Pancake Party at Church

Ash Wednesday 12.30pm Said Eucharist
7.30pm Sung Eucharist for Ash Wednesday

Sunday 25th February 10am Sung Eucharist for Lent 1

Sunday 4th March 10am Sung Eucharist for Lent 2

Sunday 11th March 10am Sung Eucharist for Lent 3

Sunday 18th march 10am Sung Eucharist for Lent 4

Sunday 25th March 10am Sung Eucharist and Baptism for Lent 5

Sunday 1st April 10am Procession with Palms and Sung Eucharist with Dramatic Reading of the Passion Gospel

Hall and Garden to Let

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Hall and Garden for morning, afternoon or evening sessions every day except Sunday

Commerical rates: Daytime £15 per hour
6 pm to 10 pm £30 per hour
10 pm to midnight £40 per hour

Community rates by agreement with the hall administrator.

Please contact the Hall Administrator on 07815 865467
No lets during the Edinburgh Festival (Thursday 19th July - Friday 31st August 2006)

A view of the garden east to west

A view of the Hall

What's on in January 2007

2007-01-04T09:03:00.000Z

Saturday 6th January Feast of the Epiphany
3pm short service and party for children and their families
7.30pm Eucharist in the round followed by bring and share wine and nibbles

Sunday 7th January Baptism of the Lord
10am Sung Eucharist
3-5pm Area Council Labyrinth walk at St Mark's Portobello
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 14th January Epiphany 2
10am Sung Eucharist
11.45-12.45 hymns of liberation with the Rector
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 21st January Epiphany 3
10am Sung Eucharist
6.30pm Joint informal service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St Columba's
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 28th January Epiphany 4
10am Sung Eucharist followed by celebration birthday lunch for the Whiskerds'
8pm Extended Eucharist

Christmas at St. Columba's

2006-12-23T15:46:00.000Z

All are welcome to our services

Sunday 24th December - Christmas Eve

10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
Sermon: Canon John Richardson

3.30 p.m. Family Christingle Service

11.30 p.m. Sung Eucharist for Christmas Eve
Sermon: Revd Alison Wagstaff

Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day

10 a.m. Sung Eucharist for Christmas Day
Sermon: Revd John Whitley

All Saint's Day at St. Columba's

2006-11-11T16:05:00.000Z

The Bishop of Edinburgh, Right Rev'd Brian Smith joined us at our All Saint's Day Eucharist to reaffirm David Wedderburn's Lay Reader's Licence. This was our first opportunity to see David in his Lay Reader's robes.

To celebrate the occasion, we enjoyed a party in the hall after the service.

We look forward to sharing in David's Lay Reader ministry at St. Columba's.

What's On in November 2006

2006-11-01T11:32:00.000Z

Wednesday 1st November Feast of All Saints' 12.30pm Said Eucharist
7.30pm Sung Eucharist with the Bishop of Edinburgh followed by refreshments

Thursday 2nd November Feast of All Souls' 7.30pm Said Eucharist
followed by Choir Practice

Sunday 5th November 10.30am JOINT SERVICE at Augustine United on George IV Bridge
Sermon : The Very Revd Ed Hone, St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
8pm Said Eucharist at St Columba's

Sunday 12th November 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Rector

Sunday 19th November 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : Canon John Richardson

Sunday 26th November Christ the King & Inter-Faith Sunday
Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Rector
11.30am-1pm Annual General Meeting of the congregation (with creche cover and soup)
8pm Said Eucharist

Taizé Service

2006-10-08T20:14:00.000+01:00

A Taizé service was held at St. Columba's on Sunday 24th September at 8.00 p.m. Most of the chairs were removed and candles were lit to create an open, welcoming worship space.

At the heart of a Taizé service is meditative prayer and singing. Taizé songs are short songs, repeated over and over again. With just a few words, they express a basic reality of faith, which gradually penetrates the whole being as the words are sung many times. During the service there was a long period of silence to help quieten the mind and soul to focus on God.

More information about Taizé worship and the Taizé community can be found on the Taizé Community website.

The next Taizé service will be held on Sunday 29th October at St. Columba's at 8.00 p.m. All welcome.

What's On Autumn 2006

2006-09-13T20:40:00.000+01:00

September

Sunday 3 September 10am Sung Eucharist
Underchurch resumes in the Hall

Sunday 10 September 10am Sung Eucharist
Baptism Austen Burdon-Williams followed by lunch

Sunday 17 September 10am Sung Eucharist
Theme : Eco-Congregation followed by a beach walk

Sunday 24 September 10am Sung Eucharist
8pm Taizé Service All Welcome

October

Sunday 1 October 10am Sung Eucharist
Baptism Archie Macdonell
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 8 October 10am Sung Eucharist
followed by Second Sunday series i Early Hymns with Judith George
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 15 October 10am Sung Eucharist
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 22 October 10am Sung Eucharist
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 29 October 10am Sung Eucharist
8pm Extended Eucharist

November

Sunday 5 November
10.30am Joint Service at Augustine United, George IV Bridge.
All Welcome. No services in St Columba's today

Sunday 12 November 10am Sung Eucharist
Second Sunday series ii Wesley Hymns with Iain Thompson
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 19 November 10am Sung Eucharist
8pm Extended Eucharist

What's on in July 2006

2006-07-09T00:00:00.000+01:00

Sun 2 July
10am Sung Eucharist Proper 13 Sermon Canon Richardson

8pm Extended Eucharist at Church

Wed 4 July
12.30pm Said Eucharist at Church

Fri 7 – Sun 9 July
Parish Visit to Cumbrae

Sun 9 July
10am Sung Eucharist Proper 14 Sermon The Revd A Wagstaff

Wed 12 Jul
12.30pm Said Eucharist at Church

Sun 16 July
10am Sung Eucharist Proper 15 Sermon The Revd A Wagstaff
8pm Extended Eucharist at Church

Wed 19 July
12.30pm Said Eucharist in the Upper Room

Sun 23 July
10am Sung Eucharist Proper 16 Sermon The Revd Robert Gould

Wed 26 July
12.30pm Said Eucharist in the Upper Room

Sunday 30 July
10am Sung Eucharist Proper 17 Sermon Canon John Richardson

12 noon Beach Walk at Gullane. See Alan Grieve for details.

NO 8pm Extended Eucharist

Patronal Festival

2006-06-04T21:51:00.000+01:00

St Columba's Day
Friday 9th June
Sung Eucharist 7.30pm followed by a party
All Welcome!

Special Announcement

2006-05-24T19:13:00.000+01:00

The Three Churches Joint Service on June 4th will now be held at Greyfriar's Kirk instead of St. Columba's.

This is because of the closure of Johnston Terrace due to rock fall. The Council cannot yet confirm when the road will be re-opened.

What's On in June

2006-05-14T22:30:00.000+01:00

Sunday 4th June 10.30am Joint Sung Eucharist with Augustine United and Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
Sermon : Helen Hood, delegate to the World Council of Churches' meeting in Brasil
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 11th June 10am Sung Eucharist 11.45-12.45 Second Sunday series John Richardson on Ambrose 11.45-12.30 Parents of Young Children meet in the Upper Room 12.30pm Hill Walk Contact Alan Grieve for more details
8pm No service this evening

Sunday 18th June 10am Sung Eucharist 12-1pm Professor Yasir Suliemann on 'The Koran - a Sacred Text'
8pm Extemded Eucharist

Sunday 25th June 10am Sung Eucharist 11.45-12.30pm Resources Company AGM
8pm Extended Eucharist

What's On in May

2006-05-14T22:27:00.000+01:00

Sunday 7th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Rector 8pm Said Eucharist

Sunday 14th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Revd Jenny Williams, Chaplain, Christian Fellowship of Healing
8pm Extended Eucharist

Sunday 21st May 10am Sung Eucharist and Holy Baptism James Campbell Richardson Sermon : The Revd Mario Ribas
8pm Extended Eucharist

ASCENSION DAY EUCHARIST 7.30pm Sermon Canon John Richardson

Sunday 28th May 10am Sung Eucharist Sermon : The Rector 8pm Extended Eucharist

Holy Week and Easter 2006

2006-03-31T05:05:00.000+01:00

Sunday 9 April 10am Blessing of Palms and Sung Eucharist with a Dramatic Reading of the Gospel

Monday in Holy Week 8am Ecumenical Eucharist followed by a simple breakfast at St Columba's
7pm Stations of the Cross - a Play by Joy Graham-Marr at Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
Tuesday in Holy Week 8am Ecumenical Eucharist followed by a simple breakfast at St Columba's
7pm Stations of the Cross - a Play by Joy Graham-Marr at greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
Wednesday in Holy Week 8am Ecumenical Eucharist followed by a simple breakfast in St Columba's

Maundy Thursday
8am Ecumenical Eucharist at St Columba's
7.30pm Sung Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar at St Columba's. Sermon : Canon John Richardson

Good Friday
8am Mass of the Pre-sanctified
12-3pm Guest Speaker Richard Holloway at Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
8.30pm Tenebrae at St Columba's

Holy Saturday 8am Morning Prayer at St Columba's
10am-12noon Decorating the church and making the Easter garden at St Columba's
2.30pm The Easter Play in Princes Street gardens

Easter Sunday
8am Ecumenical Communion at Augustine United followed by breakfast at The Elephant House
10am Lighting of the Easter Fire, Procession from the Garden & Sung Eucharist at St Columba's. Sermon The Rector

What's On in March 2006

2006-03-18T11:23:00.001Z

Sunday 19th March
10 a.m. All Age Eucharist - suitable for young families

Sunday 26th March
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
11.45 a.m. Social Responsibility Session - Dr. Colin Pritchard discusses Alternative Technologies

Bishop Brian visits St. Columba's

2006-02-05T22:43:00.000Z

Bishop Brian visited St. Columba's last Sunday for the baptism of Orla and the confirmation of Peter and Catarina (pictured).

Congratulations to all three of them, on what was a very special day.

Many Columbans contributed towards a delicious spread for the Parish Lunch that was held after the service.

Get the weekly notice sheet delivered to your inbox

2006-02-04T12:19:00.000Z

If you are a church member and would like to sign-up to receive the weekly notice sheet in PDF format by email, please click on the Email link in the right-hand column, stating 'Subscribe to notice sheet' in the title and you will be added to our mailing list.

Local Church Joint Service

2006-02-04T12:13:00.000Z

The next Local Church Joint Service will be held on Sunday 5th March (Lent 1)
10.30 a.m at Greyfriarks Tolbooth and Highland Kirk
Sermon - Rev'd Dr Richard Fraser

What's On in February 2006

2006-02-04T12:03:00.000Z

Sunday 5th February
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
Sermon - Rector
8 p.m. Extended Eucharist

Sunday 12th February
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
Sermon - Rector
11.45 a.m. Second Sunday Series - Robin Angus on St. Augustine
8 p.m. Extended Eucharist

Sunday 19th February
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
Sermon - Canon John Richardson
11.45 a.m. Special Congregational Meeting on Baptismal Liturgy
8 p.m. Extended Eucharist

Sunday 26th February
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist
Sermon - Rev'd Alison Wagstaff
11.45 a.m. Special congregational meeting - Music in Church.
8 p.m. No Extended Eucharist

What's On in January 2006

2005-12-28T10:31:00.000Z

Sunday 1st January 10.30 a.m.
Sung Eucharist (please note later time as the roads around the church will be closed until 10 a.m.)
NO 8 p.m. Service

Sunday 8th January 11.45 - 12.45
2nd Sunday Meeting - Ethics in the New Testament 'Wealth' led by Canon John Richardson

Sunday 15th January 12.30 p.m.
Hill walk - contact Alan Grieve

Sunday 29th January 10 a.m.
Sung Eucharist and Confirmation with the Bishop of Edinburgh
followed by Parish Lunch

Christmas Services

2005-12-18T22:12:00.000Z

Sunday 18th December 6 p.m. Carol Service

Saturday 24th December Eucharist for Christmas Eve 11.30 p.m

Sunday 25th December Eucharist for Christmas Day 10.00 a.m.

Local Church Ceilidh and Carols at Greyfriars Kirk - 11th December

2005-12-18T21:53:00.001Z

Greyfriars Kirk hosted the annual Three Churches Ceilidh and Carols evening. The nave of the Kirk was cleared to make space for an evening of energetic singing and dancing for all the family.

Advent Sunday Hill Walk 2005

2005-12-01T20:37:00.000Z

The Rector (far left) with members of the congregation at the beginning of the hill walk around Red Moss reservoirs on the Pentland Hills

Alan Grieve, our sacristan and intrepid hill walk leader for the past 15 years, points us in the right direction.

We stop for lunch at the pumping station.

It's a clear still day and the afternoon sun begins to fade.

John Blair-Fish, an avid fell runner and member of the Green party, raced past us. John is chair of the Edinburgh and Lothians Branch of the World Development Movement and on the Steering Group of WDM Scotland.

John is also a member of the Scottish Green Party, and a council member. He is also active in the local Edinburgh group and recently stood as a candidate for Edinburgh South West in the May 2005 Westminster election.

What's On in Advent

2005-11-24T11:06:00.000Z

Sunday 27th November Hill Walk after church. Contact Alan Grieve.
4pm at the Mound, the Blessing of the Crib organised jointly by Edinburgh Churches Together and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Sunday 11th December 6pm Carols and Ceilidh at Greyfriars Kirk. All Welcome.

Sunday 18th December 6pm A Service of Carols and Readings. All Welcome.

Annual General Meeting 2005

2005-11-24T11:00:00.000Z

This year we elected a new People's Warden, Mark Woods, a new Lay Representative, Penny Grieve, a new Alternative Lay Representative, Doneil Macleod, and two ordinary members of Vestry, Liza Coates and David Leaver.
Heartfelt thanks were given to our outgoing vestry members, Val Bland, Nigel Holmes, Mary Moffett, Caroline Burdon-Cooper and Marian Richardson.

The meeting was shorter than usual, with all the reports tabled in advance, in order that we could go to our Harry Potter film at the Odeon at 1pm. Over 130 adults and children came to the movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and some of us met afterwards at the Filmhouse for Hot Chocolate and chat.

The next Vestry meeting is scheduled for Monday 5th December 7.30pm at the Church.

What's On

2005-10-30T20:00:00.000Z

What's on at St Columba's over the next few months:

Tuesday 1 November
7.30pm Sung Eucharist for All Saints' Day

Wednesday 2 November
7.30pm Said Eucharist for All Souls' Day
At this service during the intercessions, we remember those whom we love but see no longer

Sunday 20 November
Annual General Meeting, 11.30 am - 1 pm. Childcare and a light lunch will be provided

The Local Church outings

2005-10-30T19:12:00.001Z

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Sunday 20th November 2pm at the Odeon Cinema on Lothian Road
Children under 16 go free
Hot chocolate at the Filmhouse cafe after the show
Please give your names to the Rev'd Alison Fuller, the Rev'd Richard Frazer or the Rev'd Mitchell Bunting by Sunday 6th November

Carol Ceilidh
Sunday 11th december 6-8.30pm at Greyfriars Kirk
Admission free but contributions appreciated
If you would like to contribute a Christmas poem or reading please contact the Greyfriars office on 220 1900

Inchmahome Priory

2005-08-28T20:41:00.000+01:00

Pictures from our trip to Inchmahome Priory, near Callander.

A little rain never hurt anyone.

At the ruins.

Parish Trip to Cumbrae

2005-07-29T23:51:00.000+01:00

The Rector using a story from the Old Testament with the families during the Parish Trip to Cumbrae July 2005.

Hall Lets

2005-07-29T21:17:00.000+01:00

The church and hall were built in the 1840's to serve the people of Edinburgh's Old Town. In 1998 we renovated the buildings.

The Hall and Garden are available to let every day apart from Sundays and the month of August, with community and commercial rates.

Please contact the Hall Administrator by phone or email (see right hand column for contact details).

Services

2005-07-29T21:13:00.000+01:00

All are welcome at our services. We have a hearing loop system and disabled access.

For Baptisms, Weddings, Blessings or Funerals, please contact the Rector on the Clergy Mobile.

Sundays

10 am: Sung Eucharist with creche and underchurch during school term time. On the first Sunday of the month there are prayers for healing and anointing.

8 pm: Extended Eucharist (from the Reserved Sacrament), a short quiet service for those unable to attend church in the morning. NO 8PM SERVICES ON 27th NOVEMBER, 4th DECEMBER, 25th DECEMBER 2005 AND 1 JANUARY 2006.

THURSDAYS

12.30 pm: Said Eucharist observing the feast day of the week.

About our church

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We are a lively gathered congregation in the centre of Edinburgh.

Our Rector is the Reverend Alison J Fuller.

We belong to the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Province of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Our Bishop is the Right Reverend Brian Smith.

We are in communion with the Episcopal Church in the USA, the Anglican Church of Canada and other churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

We are linked to Edinburgh Churches Together and covenanted with Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk and Augustine United.