Life Events
Do you need help to organise a family baptism or wedding? Do you need help in a time of grief? The pages below provide a guide on the Scottish Episcopal Church’s commitment to accompanying individuals and families through significant life events with care, respect, and spiritual guidance.
For baptism, we emphasise the significance of the ceremony as a declaration of faith and belonging to the Christian community. We explain the symbolism of water, oil, and candles used in the baptismal service.
Regarding marriage, we underscore the spiritual aspect of the union before God and highlight the flexibility and personalisation available in planning a wedding within the Scottish Episcopal Church. Since the Canon Law change in 2017, we also address the inclusion of same-sex couples in marriage ceremonies.
The Scottish Episcopal Church sensitively provides support for those experiencing grief. We outline the role of the Church by offering comfort and assistance during such difficult times. We clarify the process of organising a funeral, including the involvement of authorised ministers and the flexibility in choosing readings, hymns and music.
A church for…
Baptisms
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water. Baptism is the way someone affirms their decision to follow in the way of Christ. The baptism service is normally part of a regular service of the congregation of the church.
Marriage
In marriage, a couple become one in love before God. At a marriage service the Church, through its ordained ministers, bears witness to, and celebrates, this pledge to live in love together before God, alongside the friends and families of the couple who witness and participate in the Service.
Funerals
Funerals in the Scottish Episcopal Church are conducted by authorised ministers (clergy or lay readers) and they are your first point of contact in making funeral arrangements.
Church Stories – The Diocese oF Aberdeen and Orkney
Which is the oldest functioning church in the Diocese?
There are a good number of the churches in the Diocese which were founded in the 17th Century. But which one could claim to be the oldest functioning church?
The answer is that St Matthew and St George’s in Oldmeldrum is the oldest being consecrated in 1664. Second and third place in the list are St Peter’s, Fraserburgh, 1667, and All Saints, Buckie in 1669.
In the City of Aberdeen, St John’s is the oldest with a founding date of 1683 (which is older than St Andrew’s which formed in 1723).
In the islands, St Olaf’s, Kirkwall wins with a founding date of 1689, with St Magnus’, Lerwick a reasonably close second in 1726.
(Source: Bertie, David. Scottish Episcopal Clergy 1689-2000. T & T Clark, Edinburgh, 2000.)