Holy Trinity & St Barnabas Scottish Episcopal Church, Paisley

22/05/2026

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Mark Strange congratulated those elected as MSPs and appointed to the Government, and asked for prayer for all those who will govern and scrutinise over the next five years.

Following the election that took place on 7 May and the election of John Swinney MSP as First Minister, the Scottish Parliament today confirms the appointment of the new Scottish Government.

The Primus said: "Please join me in prayer for those who have been chosen to serve as MSPs, and as members of the Government in this new session of Parliament.

"We hold them in prayer as they start in new roles, or take up existing ones, in the hope that they will serve their constituents and the country with consideration for others in service of our national wellbeing.

"In the Scottish Episcopal Church we will continue to engage positively and proactively with issues of human dignity, climate change, and matters that affect the life and work of the Church."

Image: the 129 Members of the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament. Credit: Scottish Parliament Photographer

22/05/2026

Winter is coming! Our next podcast will feature our soon-to-be Bishop in Edinburgh, Dagmar Winter. She took time out from the business of winding up one job and packing up a house to speak with Pip about her life, her faith and what she looks forward to in her move up north.

22/05/2026

Bishop Ian Paton was the Scottish Episcopal Church representative at this year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Here, he reflects on issues where the two churches have common interests, and asks if the Saint Andrew Declaration can lead us to address these issues together.

“It was a privilege and pleasure to be an ecumenical guest at the General Assembly, and to receive such a warm welcome,” writes the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane. “It was striking that many of the issues and challenges being reported on, debated and decided by the Commissioners (members) of the Assembly were similar or identical to those we are facing in the SEC and will be discussing at our own General Synod. Issues such as education and formation for ministry; the causes of decline in the Church and what they mean for mission; climate justice and the environment; and the challenge of local ecumenism; and many more, are equally our concern and part of our agenda in the SEC.

“I asked myself the question - and asked it of the Assembly, as I would of our own Synod - how can we find more ways of addressing some of this together, to make our Saint Andrew Declaration a living part of our life?

“One of the important moments in the Assembly was the presentation of the Report on the Legacy of Slavery, another issue we have in common, and on which our own Working Group will be reporting to Synod. The Assembly approved an Apology for the historic involvement of the Church of Scotland in chattel slavery, which was presented to representatives from the Caribbean and West Africa.

“Responding to the apology, the Moderator of the Church in Ghana described two kinds of tree in his country, the plantain and the banana, which can only be distinguished by the fruit. He asked a question about the need for an apology to bear fruit in the Church today - is this apology a plantain or a banana tree? We’ll only know when there is fruit.

“This was a powerful question about any response to the legacy of slavery. But it’s also a question about the Saint Andrew Declaration between our two Churches - is it a plantain or a banana? We will only know by the fruits it bears.”

09/05/2026

22/04/2026

The Rt Rev Dr Nicholas Bundock is pleased to announce that he has chosen the Rev Canon Matthew Little to serve as the new Dean of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway from 10 May 2026.

Matthew will continue as Rector of St Mary’s, Hamilton and St Andrew’s, Uddingston, along with his new duties, which include working closely with the Bishop, the Diocesan Centre Team, the Property Committee, the Bishop’s Core Group and the Diocesan Council.

The Very Rev Reuben Preston will demit office and the new Dean will be licensed and installed at a special service of Evensong at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow on Sunday, 10 May 2026 at 5pm (cassock, surplice, and black tippet for clergy or blue scarf for Lay Readers).

Matthew says: “I am deeply grateful to Bishop Nick for the trust he has placed in me in appointing me as Dean of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. It has been a privilege to serve as Bishop’s Chaplain over the past few years, and I have greatly valued all that that role has allowed. I take up this new responsibility with a strong sense of commitment and hope. I look forward to working more closely with Bishop Nick, alongside colleagues at the Diocesan Centre, and with clergy and congregations across the diocese. Together, I am confident that we can continue to nurture the mission and ministry of the Church in our Diocese, building on the strong foundations already laid.
Please be assured of my prayers as we move forward together in faith and service.”

As this new chapter in the life of the Diocese begins, we lift up Matthew and Reuben in our prayers.

05/04/2026

𝘼𝙣 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙫 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚, 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙀𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝

As we rejoice at the dawning of Easter we do so with the knowledge that we are living in a world of conflict. The list of countries caught up in war and deprivation seems to grow longer each year. Yet the family of the Church still gathers in communities across the world to rejoice at the resurrection, despite the seemingly increasing attempts of some to cause division amongst those who believe in Christ.

It was a joy last week to travel across the Highlands, visiting congregations who had taken time to prepare prayer stations, vigils and services to offer prayer and support to the people of the Middle East.

I was challenged by one person who asked why we weren’t praying for our own people. My reply was “we are”. The Church is a family spread across the world, and the people in church this morning in Jerusalem, New York, Hong Kong and Inverness are part of one family. If others are hurting, then so are we and when we rejoice we want all our sisters and brothers to rejoice.

I have listened to politicians attempting to use Christianity as a weapon of exclusion and division. “The Church is ours not yours.” It is therefore important that we declare this Easter morning that Jesus Christ is risen having freed his earthly family from sin, the family which his Father gave him, the family which is the people of this world.

A glorious Easter to our family across the world, may peace overcome and joy return as we pray for you as I know you pray for us.

Alleluia.

03/04/2026

May your abundant blessing, Lord,
come down upon your people
who have devoutly recalled the death of your Son
in the sure and certain hope of their resurrection:
grant them pardon, bring them comfort,
may their faith grow stronger,
and their eternal salvation be assured;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

29/03/2026

On the Tuesday of Holy Week (31 March), churches across the Scottish Episcopal Church are invited to open their doors as places of prayer, peace, and welcome as the College of Bishops has invited the Church to take part in a Day of Prayer for the churches and people of the Middle East.

Resources, suggested readings, and links to other prayer materials for the day have been published at our website here: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/day-of-prayer-for-the-people-of-the-middle-east/

These are intended as starting points rather than a fixed programme. You are warmly encouraged to use what is helpful, to adapt freely, and to respond to the needs of your own community and context.

11/03/2026

We encircle in prayer the people of Glasgow today, as we grapple with the devastation caused by the Union Corner building fire.

We lift up our hearts in gratitute to the members of the emergency services who have worked tirelessly to limit and control the blaze and to ensure the safety of the people around. We remember those whose businesses were destroyed and their livelihoods are now uncertain. We pray also for the tens of thousands of people travelling, now affected by the closure of Glasgow Central Station.

We pray for our city, in the knowledge that people make Glasgow.
Lord, through the despair of ash and rubble, let Glasgow flourish. Amen.

05/03/2026

Join us on the 24 of each month to pray and hear from partners and friends of Christian Aid.