One Day at the Cathedral
Our Advisor for Christian Life, the Revd Fee Reynolds, was at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday 9 May and found herself inspired and encouraged by a busy day.
People from across Scotland, as well as locals, converged on St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh for a variety of reasons on Saturday 9 May. In one 24-hour period, the following events were held, all dovetailing together into hopeful community:
- Friends of St Mary’s Annual Open Day
- Each Child a Light Exhibition and Launch
- The Provincial Youth Mid-Exam Chill
- Active Travel Active Hope.
Friends of St Mary’s Annual Open Day
The Friends of St Mary’s added to the usual visitor experience by offering tours of the bell tower as well as the Song School murals, access to rarely seen archives and vestments, plus hot drinks throughout the morning and early afternoon. I was there to highlight the place of the Cathedral in the wider life of the diocese and answer many questions about our next bishop.
Each Child a Light Exhibition and Launch
In the Resurrection Chapel, an exhibition of just part of a memorial quilt began. Each Child a Light is a global movement of individuals and communities sewing to remember the 20,000+ children killed in Gaza since October 2023. The beautiful uniqueness of each square sits alongside the growing number of squares, only some of which are on display. In the afternoon, the Edinburgh exhibition was officially launched with speeches, singing, and workshops.
The Provincial Youth Mid-Exam Chill
In the afternoon, the chance to spend some time away from study and with friends drew a small group of young people from across Scotland to the inaugural Mid-Exam Chill. This event, led by the Provincial Youth Team in collaboration with the diocese, saw plenty of tea, cake, and cookies consumed. Each person was able to craft or play games as they wished, as the topics of conversation varied across exams, to Yeek, to newly found connections and friends-in-common. The event closed with an intimate, Taizé-inspired eucharist in the Song School.
Active Travel Active Hope
Throughout it all, and indeed through the night, the Active Travel Active Hope relay encircled the Cathedral grounds. Led by the A+E team, and supported by the Eco-Congregation Scotland Chaplain, the SEC Net Zero Team, and many others, the relay and attendant events sought to demonstrate the power of individual and collective action to foster hope. The relay was started by the young people of Ring Out for Climate Justice, who monthly ring the bells of St Mary’s to call the city to climate action.
Interested? Inspired? Find out more at the following links.
Each Child a Light current exhibition and events