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.

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