Churches sign declaration of friendship

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.

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.

Saint Ninian declaration to 'deepen friendship'

Archbishop Cushley will today (Tuesday 16 September) sign an historic declaration of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland.

The Saint Ninian Declaration supports a deepening relationship between Episcopalians and Catholics in Scotland, encouraging both to work more closely together while acknowledging the distinct differences between the two churches.

The signing of the Declaration takes place in Edinburgh on the Feast of Saint Ninian.

Archbishop Cushley, Bishop President for Ecumenical Relations for the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said: “This declaration is not only for us, but for the people of Scotland whom we are called to serve.

*Archbishop Cushley speaking at the General Assembly of the Scottish Episcopalian Church in June.*

"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.

“When 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.”

The Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, will also sign the document.

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

“Christ calls us all to listen, to learn, and to serve this land as descendants of Ninian, side by side.”

“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 signing

The first part of the signing will take place at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in York Place, and the second part at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Palmerston Place, both on 16 September.

The day will include a Symposium on the history of the relationship between the Catholic and Episcopal churches in Scotland, featuring academic experts.

That event will start at 2:00pm in St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral and the speakers are:

Gerry Carruthers, Francis Hutcheson Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, who will be in the chair;
Michael Russell, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow and a former Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Scottish Government;
Scott Spurlock, Professor of Scottish and Early Modern Christianities at the University of Glasgow and President of the Scottish Church History Society;
Rev Canon Charlotte Methuen, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Glasgow and Scottish Episcopal Church Inter-Church Relations Convener.

At 4:00pm, the Declaration will be signed by Archbishop Cushley and Bishop Strange.

The Archbishop and the Primus will then move on to an Evensong service at 5:30pm at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, where the second signing will take place.

The declaration follows the St Margaret Declaration of friendship between the Church of Scotland the Catholic Church in Scotland, signed in 2022.

All are welcome to attend the signings.