Saint Ninian’s Declaration is signed in Edinburgh

On 16 September the Saint Ninian’s Declaration, a historic declaration of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland, was signed in Edinburgh by Archbishop Leo Cushley on behalf of the Conference of Bishops of the Catholic Church in Scotland and by the Most Revd Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Joint signings took place at Edinburgh’s St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in York Place, and then at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Palmerston Place. On the walk between the two cathedrals, the Declaration party was met by representatives of the Church of Scotland outside their offices in George Street, in a show of support and ever-strengthening ecumenical relationships.

Archbishop Leo Cushley said: “This declaration is not only for us, but for the people of Scotland whom we are called to serve. By deepening the friendship, we strengthen our common witness to the Gospel in a world that longs for hope and reconciliation. True friendship does not demand uniformity, but grows through honesty, trust, and love.

“As we sign this declaration, we are saying to our people: let us walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let our unity in Christ be a sign of God’s love for all.

“As we sign this declaration, we are saying to our people: let us walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let our unity in Christ be a sign of God’s love for all. May this moment encourage us to look outward, shoulder to shoulder, as friends and partners in mission.”

Bishop Mark Strange said: “We sign this declaration on the feast day of St Ninian remembering the saint who first carried the Gospel to this land.

“Through this act we in the Scottish Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches are committing to walk forward together as friends, on the same journey of faith that Ninian started over a thousand years ago.”

You can read the Saint Ninian Declaration here and the full story on the SEC website here. For more pictures and video footage, see Facebook posts of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh on 17 September and 18 September and the Facebook page of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Photographer: Andrew O’Brien