• We are a church of people, and for people, in all stages and walks of life.
• We are an inclusive church of people from all backgrounds, going forwards into many different futures.
• We trust in Jesus Christ.
• We are young; we are old.
• We are traditional; we are modern.
• We are small in number; we are big in ambition.
• We are Scottish; we are international.
• We are noisy; we are quiet..
• We are reflective; we are active.
• We welcome you!

Scottish?

The Scottish Episcopal Church is rooted in the earliest days of Christianity in Scotland, when the Romans were moving into Scotland’s southern regions, and when significant saints of Scotland – St Columba, St Ninian, St Margaret and many others – were influencing the people’s beliefs and practices.

We are a church of the people of Scotland, not imposed from elsewhere, but through the times of Scotland’s reformation, becoming a church that cares deeply about our common inheritance, and has always been part of the story of the growing concerns of the people.

We are not the state church. As a result, we can offer an independent voice on the current issues of relevance and concern to all of Scotland’s people, built on the Bible, offering challenge, and growing from the Christian foundations of faith, hope and love.

The SEC sees its relationship with the people of Scotland as being a friendship, offering an openness to all. We are a church of diversity and difference, of acceptance and welcome, bound together by our oneness in Jesus Christ.  

Episcopal?

Through time, Scotland has known periods of strength, of unrest, of unity, of disunity. Since Christianity arrived on our shores, this history has formed what the Scottish Episcopal Church is today.

An Episcopal church is a church governed by Bishops. The Scottish Episcopal Church has seven Bishops, each with responsibility for supporting the church in one area – diocese – of Scotland.

One of the Bishops is elected ‘Primus inter pares’ (first among equals). He or she is not in a position of authority over the others but is a national representative of the seven Bishops. The Bishops guide and support the clergy, priests and deacons, who hold responsibility for churches in their diocese.

The SEC is not a church dominated by those in authority however. The SEC is the people of the SEC; lay members play essential roles in the worship and pastoral care of the church, and in prayerful development of church law, through representation on the Synod alongside priests and Bishops.

Church?

There are many and varied wonderful buildings in which congregations of the Scottish Episcopal Church meet, worship, pray and work together. But the way to really get to know the SEC is to meet the people, because the church is the people.

Our services are usually built around our ancient and modern, and ever-developing Scottish Liturgy which provides a form for worship and incorporates the ancient creeds (statements of our belief) and prayers. Services in the Scottish Episcopal Church are characterised by music, colours (that change with the seasons), drama, movement, and poetic words (new and old) expressing the mystery of Christian faith.

Attendance at one of our services is both participative and personally reflective. Shared delight and searching for truth in Scripture, in tradition, and in reflection on our daily lives, and all Creation are married with wonder, mystery, and faith in Christ.

The Eucharistic celebration, where we gather around God’s table to be renewed by God’s offering of new life in consecrated bread and wine, is at the heart of our church’s life. All who are baptised are welcome to share in this.