Music at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh

15/06/2026

On Saturday, pilgrims from St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral and beyond walked the Seven Hills Pilgrimage. This year the focus of the 17-mile route was “The Seven Joys of Mary”, with participants praying and singing at the summit of each of Edinburgh’s seven major hills.

The final hill was Calton Hill, where pilgrims were met by the Schola Cantorum, and everyone joined together in a final hymn to Our Lady before returning to the Cathedral.

Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us!

🎥 Strength in Motion

21/05/2026

On 17 August the Cathedral's Schola Cantorum choir will present a special concert inspired by Timothy Schmlaz’s powerful 'Homeless Jesus' sculpture, which has recently been installed outside St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral.

Part of Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, the evening will contemplate homelessness and marginalisation through a programme of breathtaking choral music that speaks of mercy, compassion, and hope.

The evening will include a live performance of Gavin Bryars’ iconic composition “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet”, which is built around a haunting loop of an unknown homeless man singing an improvised refrain.

The concert will also form part of a documentary film, which the Schola Cantorum is currently producing in partnership with Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, and in collaboration with the Grassmarket Community Project, the Bethany Christian Trust, and St Catherine’s Convent of Mercy at Lauriston.
Tickets are £15 (£10 child) — booking link in comments.

St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts
Sculpture BY Timothy Schmalz
Grassmarket Community Project
Bethany Christian Trust
Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh

08/05/2026

Last night Tom Wilkinson, cathedral organist, gave a special recital of music from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. He played the concert in the Cathedral's music room on an historic 19th-century Bach revival era piano.

Sincere thanks to Tom, and to those who came along to the recital!

24/04/2026

Easter Vigil 2026 at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh

20/04/2026

The Easter Vigil 2026

19/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who came along to Tom Wilkinson's request recital this afternoon.

Here is Tom playing the march from Disney's 'Robin Hood' film, which was requested by his four-year-old daughter, Franny!

16/04/2026

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of Sister Clare Crockett: teacher, musician, missionary, and Servant Sister of the Home of the Mother.

Raised in Derry in Northern Ireland, Sister Clare gave up a burgeoning career as a TV presenter and film actress to put her life and gifts at the service of Christ and His Church. Telling her shocked family and friends “with a beer in one hand, and a cigarette in the other” that she was going to become a nun, her story is a triumph of authenticity over superficiality, and the life of the spirit over the life of the ego.

Sister Clare had a particular talent for music and drama. She is a great example to those who seek to place their gifts at the service of the Church, and she’s a role model and spiritual friend to the musical life of St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral.

Though her earthly life was cut short by the earthquake in Ecuador on 16 April 2016, Sister Clare’s story has touched many people throughout the world. Last January she was formally be declared a “Servant of God” by the Church, as she takes the first step towards potentially being declared a Saint.

You could do much worse than to watch Sister Clare’s amazing story for yourself in the documentary film: “All or Nothing: Sister Clare Crockett” — link in the comments.

Or read Sr Kristen Gardner’s excellent book “Alone with Christ Alone: Sister Clare Crockett”, available via the Cathedral bookshop.

Sister Clare, Servant of God, pray for us!

15/04/2026

15/04/2026

This Sunday 19 April at 1:30pm cathedral organist Tom Wilkinson will give a request recital and demonstration of our Matthew Copley organ.

Come along to hear Tom put the mighty instrument through its paces, with music by Saint Saëns, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and John Williams, among others.

Entry is free with retiring collection in support of Tom's participation in an international conference on the music of J.S. Bach in Leipzig this summer.

26/12/2025

Another recording of the Schola Cantorum from Midnight Mass — here singing John Rutter's 'Nativity Carol'.

Listen carefully and you might even hear the Christ Child in the manger at the end...