Ecumenical relations in Scotland go from strength to strength

Published on 17 September 2025 2 minutes read

Ecumenical relations in Scotland are going from strength to strength following a historic statement of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.

The Saint Ninian Declaration was signed yesterday at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral and St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, both in Edinburgh.

It will support further friendship and cooperation between the two denominations.

Rev Fiona Smith-Leo Cushley — L-R - Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, outside the Kirk Offices on George Street, Edinburgh.

Representatives from the Church of Scotland participated in the celebrations, which included a walk between the two cathedrals via the Church of Scotland's offices on George Street, followed by a service at the Episcopal Cathedral.

The statement, named after the eighth-century missionary to what is now Scotland, acknowledges that the relationship between the churches "has not always been a happy one, even including violence done in the name of religion; but we also see that there has been friendship and cooperation in the past."

Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said: "I'm delighted to be able to be part of a walk that represents not only the signing of a declaration of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland but also to salute our friends of the Church of Scotland, as we walk between the two cathedrals and to be able to pray with them later on and demonstrate to the rest of the country that Christians do stand together, and want to be friends and look forward to the future."

Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: "It was wonderful to welcome Archbishop Leo and Bishop Mark here at the church offices of the Church of Scotland as they celebrate the signing of the St Ninian Declaration with the same joy and commitment that we at the Church of Scotland signed the St Andrew Declaration in 2021 and the St Margaret Declaration in 2022."

Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: "Coming down from the far north as I did from Caithness, I passed churches after churches and community after community served by us all over the centuries.

"If churches are divided why would anyone want to believe in us?

"It can only really work when we are prepared to sit down and speak to each other."

The Church of Scotland has entered into a series of Declarations with partner churches in recent years.

The Columba Declaration with the Church of England (2016);
The Saint Andrew Declaration with the Scottish Episcopal Church (2021)
The Saint Margaret Declaration with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland (2022).

At the General Assembly 2025, Rev Ross Blackman, convener of the Ecumenical Relations Committee, presented the committee's report which laid out a vision of the Church of Scotland as an active and essential part of the Catholic and Universal Church.