Advent and Christmas in the Diocese of Edinburgh: Part One
There’s lots going on in the Diocese of Edinburgh during Advent and Christmas 2025.
Below we’ve listed Advent retreats and services at our churches until 14 December. By mid-December we’ll publish another list that takes you up to Christmas.
You can find out more about each of our churches, including where they appear on a map, in our Church Directory.
We also have an Events Calendar where you can find more events that are running in the next few weeks.
ADVENT RETREATS IN THE DIOCESE
St Mark’s, Portobello
Morning of Quiet and Meditation to Start Advent
Saturday 29 November, 9.30am to 1pm
Free, finishes with light lunch. Details here.
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Holy Trinity, Haddington
Gifts Past, and Gifts to Come
Saturday 29 November, 10am to 1pm.
Free, run by Holy Trinity, Haddington’s Lantern Group. More details here.
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St Michael and All Angels, Tollcross
The Sacred Art of Contemplative Writing
Sunday 30 November, 1pm to 3pm. Closing event Sunday 21 December, 1pm to 3pm.
Free, run by Jenna Bauer. More details, and registration, here.
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St James the Less, Leith
Mary & Elizabeth
Monday 1 December, 9.30am to 4pm
Cost £75/70. Run by Carol Marples of ‘Soul Marks’. More details here.
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St Columba’s by the Castle
‘And Mary said YES’
Saturday 13 December, 10am to 1pm
Free, donations welcomed. More details here.
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For a full list of retreat venues in and beyond the diocese, check our Retreat Venues page. You can also sign up to receive our monthly Adventures in Faith newsletter, which lists upcoming retreats.
ADVENT SERVICES AND OTHER EVENTS
St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh
https://www.cathedral.net/whats-on/christmas-2025
Sunday 30 November, 6.30pm: Advent Sunday: Music and Words
Saturday 13 December, 2pm: Community Carols, followed by seasonal refreshments
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St Mungo’s, Balerno
https://www.stmungos.org/christmas-2025
Sunday 7 December, 6.30pm: Advent Worship, Balerno Parish Church (free, but ticketed)
Thursday 11 December, 7.30pm: Livingston Coffee Shop Carols, Trail Bean Coffee Shop, Livingston (ticketed, £5)
Sunday 14 December, 7pm: Livingston Christmas Carol Service, St Margaret’s Academy (free, but ticketed)
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St Columba’s, Bathgate
https://stcolumbasbathgate.org.uk
Sunday 30 November, 7pm: A Service of Music and Readings for Advent, with Bathgate Churches Together
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St Catharine’s, Bo’ness
St Catharine’s Bo’ness – St Mary’s, Grangemouth and St Catharine’s, Bo’ness Episcopal Churches
Sunday 30 November, 10.30am: Joint Advent service at St Mary’s, Grangemouth
Sunday 14 December, 10.30am: Nine Lessons and Carols at St Mary’s, Grangemouth
Sunday 14 December, 3.30pm: Service around the Christmas Tree, St Catharine’s garden
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St Mary’s, Dalmahoy
https://stmarysdalmahoy.org.uk/
13 December, 3pm: Carol Service
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St Anne’s, Dunbar
https://www.stannesdunbar.org.uk/what-s-on-at-st-anne-s
Sunday 30 November, 10.30am: All-Age Advent Service with Young Church Activities
Saturday 6 December, 10.30am: Silent Reflective Morning, Advent theme
Saturday 6 December, 6pm: Community Carols, Comrie Avenue Play Park
Monday 8 December, 7pm: Nine Lessons and Carols with Belhaven Hill School Choir and Dunbar Choral Society
Friday 12 December, 6pm: Community Carols, Moray Avenue Small Park
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Christ Church, Morningside
https://www.christchurchmorningside.org
Sunday 30 November (Advent Sunday), 4pm: Advent Carol Service
Wednesday 3 December, 6pm: Carol Singing for the Bruntsfield Lights at McLarens on the Corner
Wednesday 10 December, 2.30pm: CAMEO Christmas Celebration
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The Good Shepherd, Murrayfield
https://www.goodshepherdmurrayfield.org.uk/events
Sunday 30 November, 4pm: Advent Carol Service with Murrayfield Churches Together
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Holy Cross, Davidson’s Mains
https://holycrossedinburgh.org/
Thursday 11 December, 7.30pm: Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
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Old Saint Paul’s, Edinburgh
Sunday 30 November, 6.30pm: Advent Carol Service
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St Barnabas, Moredun
https://stbarnabasmoredun.co.uk/diary/
Sunday 30 December (Advent Sunday), 10.30am: Sung Communion
Saturday 13 December, 12 noon: Carol singing at Morrisons
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St Columba’s-by-the-Castle, Edinburgh
https://www.facebook.com/stcolumbasbythecastle
Sunday 30 November (Advent Sunday), 10am: Stars and Promises: The story begins here: All-Age Service
Sunday 14 December, 7pm: Candlelight Carols
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St Cuthbert’s, Colinton
https://stcuthbertscolinton.org.uk/advent-and-christmas-2025/
Thursday 4 December, 2.30pm: The Four Pillars of Advent
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St Fillan’s, Buckstone
https://stfillans.org.uk/?page_id=51
Sunday 14 December, 6pm: Carol Service
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St James the Less, Leith
https://www.stjamesleith.org.uk/whats-on
Saturday 29 November, 4pm: ADVENTFEST: Seeds of Hope
Saturday 6 December, 7pm: The Well: A community dry night of music, carols and spoken word
Sunday 7 December, 7pm: Second Sunday SacREd Space
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St Mark’s, Portobello
https://stmarksportobello.org/
Sunday 7 December, 7pm: Blue Christmas
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St Martin of Tours, Gorgie-Dalry
https://www.stmartinsedinburgh.org.uk
Saturday 29 November, 4pm: Advent Angels Service
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St Michael and All Saints, Tollcross
Sunday 30 November, 6pm: Advent Carol Service
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St Ninian’s, Comely Bank
Sunday 7 December, 6pm: Choral Evensong for Advent
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St Paul’s and St George’s (Ps & Gs), Edinburgh
https://www.psandgs.org.uk/christmas
Sunday 7 December, 5pm and 7.30pm: Alt Carols, for youth and adults
Sunday 14 December, 2.30pm: Carols for All, particularly primary-age children
Sunday 14 December, 5pm and 7.30pm: Carols by Candlelight, for youth and adults
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St Peter’s, Lutton Place
https://stpetersedinburgh.org/advent-carol-service-christmas-2025-and-2026-new-year-services
Sunday 30 November, 5pm: Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday 14 December, 6.30pm: Christmas Carol Service
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St Vincent’s Chapel, Stockbridge
https://www.stvincentschapel.org.uk/
Sunday 7 December, 6.30pm: Arise, O Morning Star … Carols and Readings for the Advent Season
Sunday 14 December, 12.30pm: Carol Singing outside M&S Raeburn Place
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St Mary’s, Grangemouth
St Mary’s, Grangemouth – St Mary’s, Grangemouth and St Catharine’s, Bo’ness Episcopal Churches
Sunday 30 November, 10.30am: Joint Advent service (with St Catharine’s, Bo’ness) at St Mary’s, Grangemouth
Sunday 14 December, 10.30am: Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday 14 December, 3.30pm: Service around the Christmas Tree, garden of St Catharine’s, Bo’ness
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St Adrian’s, Gullane
Sunday 30 November, 5pm: Advent Evening Service
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Holy Trinity, Haddington
https://holytrinityhaddington.co.uk/christmas-services/
Sunday 14 December, 6.30pm: Ecumenical Carol Service
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St Cuthbert’s, Hawick and Wilf’s Place, Burnfoot
https://www.facebook.com/people/St-Cuthberts-Episcopal-Church-Hawick/61555632966731
https://www.facebook.com/WilfsPlace
Friday 12 December, 6pm: Community Carol Singing at Burnfoot Hub
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St Peter’s, Linlithgow
https://www.stpeterslinlithgow.co.uk
Sunday 30 November, 6.30pm: Ecumenical Advent Service at St Michael’s RC
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Holy Trinity, Melrose
https://www.holytrinitymelrose.org/notices-1
Sunday 30 November, 6.30pm: Advent Carol Service
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St Peter’s, Musselburgh
Sunday 30 November, 10am: Café style service exploring LOVE, with clips from Paddington
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St James the Less, Penicuik
St James the Less Episcopal Church, Penicuik – Rector: The Rev’d Nick Bowry
Wednesday 10 December, 7.30pm: ‘Light in the Darkness’ service, for those who find this season difficult.
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St John’s, Selkirk
http://www.stjohnselkirk.org.uk/
Sunday 14 December, 3pm: Christmas Carols with Voices O’ the Borders and Borders Bellas
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St Mungo’s, West Linton
St Mungo’s Episcopal Church, West Linton – Rector: The Rev’d Nick Bowry
Monday 8 December, 7.30pm: ‘Light in the Darkness’ service, for those who find this season difficult.
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To be continued … check back after 15 December for listings up to and including Christmas Day!
