Restoration of Dalkeith church under way
Work has started on repairs to weather-ravaged roof and walls of St John’s and King’s Park Church in Dalkeith. More than £266,000 will be spent on the mid-Victorian building to the west of the town centre with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, and WREN. While the funding package left a £40,000 [...]
Kirk welcomes move to retain religious observance in schools
The Church welcomes the move from Gary Bennett, an Edinburgh father, who has launched a petition for religious observance in schools to be protected. His submission follows a move from Veronica Wikman, mother of one, who has urged Councillors to remove religious observance from non-denominational primary and secondary schools. Mr Bennett said that his petition [...]
Church-goers out to save school prayer in Edinburgh
Church members have struck back in a battle over religious assemblies in Edinburgh schools by lodging a petition for them to be protected. Education chiefs will consider a petition from father-of-three Gary Bennett alongside an earlier submission calling for a vote on removing religious observance (RO) from non-denominational primary and secondary schools. Mr Bennett, 43, [...]
The extraordinary story behind Mirror man’s golden wedding
When people hear the story of my wedding half a century ago, they often say, “how romantic”, writes Paul Routledge. It wasn’t like that at the time. It was a secret battle against my father Harry and the magistrates who refused to let me marry my teenage sweetheart Lynne. We eloped to Scotland in the [...]
Choir walks out after row with Edinburgh church
An unholy row has erupted at an Edinburgh church, prompting a walk-out by the choir. The choir, choirmaster and organist have all walked out of historic St Patrick’s Parish Church in the Cowgate following a bitter spat with church bosses. The choirmaster and organist are said to have found it “increasingly difficult” to work with [...]
‘Kirk families threaten to batter’ PC elder found guilty of sex assault on girl
A kirk-going police officer has been warned to stay away from his church after he sexually assaulting a girl during a cinema showing of The Hobbit. Disgraced Steven Kellock, 40, pawed the 15-year-old and thrust his hand under her top during a screening of the blockbuster at the Vue cinema in Edinburgh. The kirk elder [...]
PC sexually assaulted girl at church cinema trip
A police officer and kirk elder who sexually assaulted a 15-year old girl in an Edinburgh cinema during a church youth group outing has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Forty-year old Steven Kellock, a constable with Lothian & Borders Police, pled guilty in Edinburgh Sheriff Court today to repeatedly touching the girl on [...]
Church-goers slate plans for Sunday parking charge
Church-goers at Scotland’s largest cathedral have slammed controversial plans to charge for Sunday parking. A petition has been lodged by St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in the West End opposing the proposal, which city council chiefs said would improve “turnover” of bays and boost trade. Cathedral secretary Judith Lewis said about 230 signatures had been collected [...]
New minister for Leith Free Church 'makes history'
A Free Church of Scotland congregation in Edinburgh is set to create history after an Italian preacher agreed to become their next minister. It is understood that Rev Gavino Fioretti, who is set to take over at Leith Free Church, will be the capital’s first-ever Protestant Italian minister. A special welcoming service for the 38-year-old [...]
Work on surgery starts at St Mary’s Cathedral
WORK to build a doctors’ surgery which will serve 8000 people is under way in the grounds of one of the Capital’s most famous landmarks. The £4 million West End Medical Practice development has been hailed as the surgery of the future due to its modern internal open-plan design, eight consultancy rooms and treatment rooms. [...]
