First Minister of Scotland John Swinney shared soup and biscuits at St John’s Church in Edinburgh on Easter Monday as he met those who lead and are supported by a fast-growing initiative that is beating poverty and loneliness.
Mr Swinney spent an hour at the Princes Street church’s Warm Welcome Space which, since its founding in October 2023, has grown to provide as many as fifty people per week with food, heat, fellowship and support.
The Space at St John’s is one of 211 Warm Welcome Spaces in Scotland – and one of 5,250 across the UK – that operate as part of the Warm Welcome Campaign. Many are located in churches.
St John’s initially set up its Space to provide warmth during the colder months. But due to high numbers – especially among the city’s homeless population – it has continued to operate every Monday between 4pm and 6pm.
The Warm Welcome Campaign has seen a 30% increase over the last quarter in the use of its Scottish Spaces, which are designed to bring people together whether they are looking to keep warm, meet new friends or read a book.
The First Minister discussed the Warm Welcome Space at St John’s with its Associate Rector, the Revd Dr David Bagnall, and learned about the Campaign’s wider success in the UK’s four Nations from its Campaign Director, David Barclay, and its Senior Director of Public Affairs, David Linden.
First Minister John Swinney said: “This week I am convening a gathering with political, faith and community leaders to discuss how we can strengthen and protect the values of democracy and respect, which are so integral to our nation’s prosperity.
The compassion and resilience of our local communities in Scotland has the ability to bring people together, particularly in times of hardship and division.
“Projects like the one at St John’s in Edinburgh demonstrate this exactly – the compassion and resilience of our local communities in Scotland has the ability to bring people together, particularly in times of hardship and division.
“It was a privilege to meet guests and volunteers at St. John’s – one of over 5,250 Warm Welcome Spaces across the UK. Spaces like this can be a lifeline to people who are struggling to keep warm and those feeling lonely.
“Whilst we face an incredibly challenging set of circumstances at this moment, the inherent strengths of Scotland, our people and our communities, I believe can create great possibilities for our country.”
The Revd Dr David Bagnall, Associate Rector of St John’s Church, Edinburgh, said: “The First Minister and I spoke in depth about the evolving role of churches in twenty-first-century Scotland, and of how the call deep within our faith to serve the poor and welcome the outcast and stranger translates into our contemporary life and witness.
“As a churchgoer himself, the First Minister spoke warmly of the church’s role in contemporary Scotland and was visibly moved at the sight of St John’s bustling with life and people.
“We’re right in the middle of the city and there’s a growing homeless community here. So we founded the Space about 18 months ago to feed those who are naturally coming into our walls, and it’s grown and grown ever since.
“It was initially only supposed to be a winter thing, but at the end of our first winter, the community here asked if we could keep it open, because it’s their community. They gather here, they have a bowl of soup, they have a cup of tea, a cup of coffee, and they have good conversation with each other, and what’s really important to us is that it’s as much their church as it is anybody else’s, and that’s why we continue to run it, and it’s part of our mission and part of who we are as a church.”
The Welcome Space at St John’s is open every Monday between 4pm and 6pm. Details of other spaces in Edinburgh and Scotland are available here and here.
Photo credits: St John’s, Princes Street
Video reel and story: Robert Guthrie
