
Our People
Meet the team! These are some of the people you might see around Holy Cross, but many others contribute to our community in different ways.
Rector: Revd Dr Stephen Holmes

Stephen came to Holy Cross in February 2020, just before the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. He was previously Rector of Padstow in Cornwall and Associate Rector of St John’s, Princes Street, Edinburgh. He is married to Izzy and they have one daughter.
For 18 years Father Stephen was a Benedictine monk and he maintains a strong interest in Christian spirituality and worship. Educated at the Universities of St Andrews, Cambridge and Edinburgh, he teaches trainee priests at the Scottish Episcopal Institute and is passionate about making the riches of the Christian tradition accessible to all. He is also a historian and has published a number of books and articles, mainly on Christian worship and Scottish church history.
Stephen can be contacted at: rector.hce@gmail.com or on 0131 629 1966.
Organist: Vaughan Townhill
Formed in the tradition of Anglican cathedral music at Edinburgh and Peterborough, Vaughan is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama and was Director of Music at Cargilfield School in Edinburgh. He is principal clarinet of the Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra, a member of Doune Wind Quintet and soloist with other orchestral ensembles. Vaughan is also founder committee member of Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust, an organisation promoting orchestral playing for young people.
Assistant Organist: David Townhill
Educated at Fettes and St John’s College Cambridge, David is a classically trained concert pianist and violin and viola player. He has a wide range of musical experience including solo performance, accompanying and repetiteur work as a pianist, keyboard player for various bands and musical theatre, and is a chamber and orchestral violist. He is also a keen composer and is currently working on a musical. He works as a music teacher and freelance musician in Edinburgh and is very happy to be part of the musical life of Holy Cross.
Children’s Minister : Izzy Armstrong-Holmes

Izzy was appointed as our Children’s Minister in 2021. She is the mum of a toddler, which is probably the most relevant part of her life experience to date: being at church in the role of the parent has been eye-opening! Izzy is currently starting up a new ministry for children and families at Holy Cross and is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Children’s Chapel team, recording short services for children which are broadcast on YouTube and Facebook. Izzy has helped lead Children’s Ministry at St Petroc’s, Padstow and St John’s, Princes Street and has worked as a Teaching Assistant at Padstow Primary School. In York she worked as a voluntary classroom assistant in primary schools, helped out at a Cub Scout group, and was part of the creative team of a community theatre group which worked with children from disadvantaged backgrounds and adults with additional needs. Izzy originally trained as an art historian, and she sings and plays the viola, but is probably happiest doing bizarre and often completely unrecognisable craft projects with her toddler.
Izzy can be contacted at: families.hce@gmail.com.
Church Office Bearers
Vestry is a committee which supports the Rector in the leadership of the church and has care of the property and finances of the congregation. Vestry is chaired by the Rector and its members are the trustees of the church as a charity. In addition to the Church Wardens, Secretary, Treasurer and Lay Representative (who represents Holy Cross on Diocesan Synod), there are also Ordinary Members who are elected at the Annual Meeting. The safeguarding coordinators and website contact report to Vestry but are not necessarily members.
Rector’s Warden: Alan Kirkpatrick
People’s Warden: Sally Mair
Vestry Secretary: Nicole Elvin
Treasurer: Colin Mair
Lay Representative: Andrew Vass
Safeguarding Coordinators: Izzy Armstrong-Holmes & Alan Kirkpatrick
Contact for Website: Angela Gardner, web@holycrossedinburgh.org
Volunteers
There are many opportunities to serve, in addition to supporting our charity works and the St Salvador’s Foodbank.
Holy Cross can only operate and flourish with the help of many volunteers. Activities and roles include:
Sacristans, who prepare the church for services
Servers, welcomers and readers for church services
Flower arranging and church decoration
Preparing and serving refreshments
Gardening
Church cleaning and polishing
Are you interested in volunteering for any of these or other activities in the life of our church?
Please speak to the Rector or get in touch at web@holycrossedinburgh.org