A historic declaration of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland has been signed in Edinburgh, allowing them to work more closely together in future.

The Saint Ninian Declaration supports a deepening relationship between the two denominations, making greater co-operation possible while acknowledging that there are differences between the two churches.

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

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.

The signing during Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral can be watched again here.

On the walk between the two cathedrals in glorious autumnal sunshine, the Declaration party was met by representatives of the Church of Scotland outside their offices in George Street, in a show of support and ever-strengthening ecumenical relationships.

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.

“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.

The signing follows the strengthening of links between Scotland’s three largest Christian denominations in recent years, 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.

Earlier in the day, a symposium on the history of the relationship between the Catholic and Episcopal churches in Scotland took place at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. Those gathered heard contributions from Professor Gerry Carruthers, Francis Hutcheson Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow; 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; and the Rev Canon Charlotte Methuen, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Glasgow and Scottish Episcopal Church Inter-Church Relations Convener.

Photographer: Andrew O’Brien