Our faith


Church of Scotland parish churches play a crucial role across a range of communities, from remote villages to deprived urban areas where shops, banks, schools, and other institutions have disappeared.


How We Worship

Worship within the Church of Scotland is for everybody, regardless of age, nationality, status, or ability. Patterns of worship vary from church to church and this generally means that people can find a place of worship where they feel comfortable.

The parish minister is responsible for leading worship, although increasingly, church members, including deacons, elders, and readers are involved in both planning and helping to lead worship. Regular services of worship are at the heart of the life of the Church, but congregational life often includes prayer groups, Sunday schools for children, youth groups, the Guild, social activities, and support groups for people facing problems.

Music is an essential part of the Church's worship and can take a wide variety of forms. Increasingly, multimedia, such as video, is used during church services to help spread the word of God in the 21st century. Preaching is central to the Church of Scotland's way of worshiping God. The preacher, usually the minister, will share a message drawn out of a passage from the Bible. Preaching aims to help people interpret and apply the Bible's teaching to modern life. Visit our worship section, which includes a range of prayers, hymns, readings, and other material.

Holy Communion
