Archbishop Cushley has signed an historic friendship agreement with the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The Saint Ninian Declaration between the Catholic Church in Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church supports a deepening relationship between the two denominations, making greater co-operation possible while acknowledging the differences between the two churches.

Credit: Andrew O’Brien

The declaration was signed by Archbishop Leo Cushley on behalf of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (above).

Joint signings took place at Edinburgh’s two ‘St Mary’s’ cathedrals, first at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in York Place, and then at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Palmerston Place during Choral Evensong.

Both Bishops walked together through the city to St Mary's in Palmerston Place and were met en route by representatives of the Church of Scotland outside their offices in George Street, in a further strengthening of ecumenical relationships.

"May this moment encourage us to look outward, shoulder to shoulder, as friends and partners in mission.”

Archbishop Leo Cushley said: “This declaration is not only for us, but for the people of Scotland whom we are called to serve.

"By deepening the friendship, we strengthen our common witness to the Gospel in a world that longs for hope and reconciliation. True friendship does not demand uniformity, but grows through honesty, trust, and love.

Archbishop Leo Cushley the Most Rev Mark Strange walking to St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.

“As we sign this declaration, we are saying to our people: let us walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let our unity in Christ be a sign of God’s love for all. May this moment encourage us to look outward, shoulder to shoulder, as friends and partners in mission.”

Bishop Mark Strange said: “We sign this declaration on the feast day of St Ninian remembering the saint who first carried the Gospel to this land.

“Through this act we in the Scottish Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches are committing to walk forward together as friends, on the same journey of faith that Ninian started over a thousand years ago.

“It gives us an opportunity to focus on what we share, and to trust that Christ calls us all to listen, to learn, and to serve this land as descendants of Ninian, side by side.”

The Saint Ninian Declaration can be read here.

In recent years, Scotland’s three largest Christian denominations have strengthened their links through the Saint Andrew Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the St Margaret Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland.