Our vacancies
Are you called to minister in Scotland?
Diverse people, interesting places, spiritual challenge.
We are seeking experienced Priests who can lead the mission of our churches in urban, rural and island locations.
The Diocese encompasses Scotland’s third-largest city, Aberdeen, as well as areas of outstanding natural beauty, from stunning sandy beaches to dramatic mountain landscapes. Excellent transport links provide easy access to the rest of Scotland, the UK, and Europe.
This page lists current vacancies for clergy and staff within the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney or within our congregations. If you’re interested in learning more about these posts, or potential other posts please contact the Bishop or Dean for an informal chat.
Congregations which are open for application (clicking the name takes you to the relevant information)
- St James’ and St John’s, Aberdeen City (Incumbent)
- Episcopal Churches on Shetland (Incumbent)
- Buchan Missioner (Five years)
- St Mary’s, Aberdeen City (House for Duty)
Congregations which are currently preparing profiles
- St Thomas’, Aboyne and St Kentigern’s, Ballater
Congregations recently vacant
- St Matthew’s, Oldmeldrum
- St Peter’s, Peterhead, St John’s Longside and St Drostan’s Old Deer
For stipendiary posts, the current SEC stipend is £36,381 (with yearly inflation-linked increases) and a non-contributory pension. The standard working week in the SEC is five days. The Diocese offers an induction programme for those new to the Diocese, or Scotland, and for new incumbents. All posts are subject to satisfactory PVG (Disclosure). Information on Safeguarding and Clergy Resources (time off, wellbeing, etc) can be found on the Provincial website.
Applicants must be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion, the Porvoo Communion, or a denomination in full communion with the Scottish Episcopal Church (listed in Schedule One of Canon Fifteen in the Code of Canons, page 63).
To apply for these positions, you must have the legal right to live and work in the UK. There are currently no visas available for these posts.
Priest-in-Charge, St John’s & St James’, Aberdeen
St John’s and St James Churches in the City Centre of Aberdeen
St James and St John’s are two gathered City Centre churches beginning to work together. Both are growing congregations, drawing people from across Scotland’s third largest city, including the city’s universities and Nigerian diaspora Together they are seeking to discover how to love God and love their neighbour in 21st century Aberdeen.
St James and St John’s are looking for a Priest who:
- Has a love and zest for city-centre ministry, will be visible, approachable, and welcoming in the heart of the city
- Enjoys building relationships (short/ long) and is able to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and generations.
- Is comfortable leading worship from across the breadth of traditions
- Is committed to equipping, encouraging and enabling new and existing lay ministries.
- Is comfortable working with Episcopal, Ecumenical, and Interfaith colleagues
St James and St John’s offer:
- A rectory to the west of Aberdeen city centre, meeting Scottish Episcopal Church housing standards.
- Two well-maintained church buildings that have recently benefited from significant restoration projects, including the installation of solar panels at St John’s.
- Growing and supportive congregations, developing relations with each other and wanting to engage with their city centre communities
Contact Tom (St John’s – t_ferguson3@sky.com) or Thelma (St James’ – burnley21@talktalk.net) for a conversation about this post.
Informal conversations warmly welcomed: Dean@aberdeen.anglican.org and bishop@aberdeen.anglican.org
Application Deadline: Thursday, 6th August 2026
Zoom Interviews and In-Person Interviews: TBC
Shetland Islands – Incumbent
St Magnus, Lerwick with St Colman, Burravoe are open, welcoming and inclusive churches sharing God’s love by word and sacrament in an environment where everyone is valued, respected and able to thrive, serving the community and caring for creation.
Shetland Episcopalians are looking for a Priest who:
- Will lead them in spiritual adventure and growth
- Embraces the spirituality of place and sacredness of space of Shetland
- Brings a ‘progressive’ theological outlook
- Is creative and recognises the importance of music and art in spiritual experience
- Has a proven ability to share collaboratively with lay and ordained teams
- Is committed to sharing with other denominations and faiths
They offer:
- A unique opportunity to live and minister in Shetland’s historic and vibrant island communities
- A supportive, collaborative ministry team and congregations
- Strong ecumenical links
- The chance to develop ministry in a setting renowned for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and strong sense of community
The Episcopal Churches on Shetland website is at https://episcopalshetland.org.uk/.
For a conversation about the post contact Revd Martin Randall (martinrandall51@gmail.com).
Informal conversations warmly welcomed: Dean@aberdeen.anglican.org and bishopanne@aberdeen.anglican.org
Application Deadline: Thursday 6th August 2026
Zoom Interviews and In-Person Interviews: TBC
Buchan Missioner, North Aberdeenshire
Are you called to Rural Mission?
Do you have an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to sharing the love of God? Are you excited by the opportunity to discern new possibilities for Christian witness in a changing rural landscape?
Buchan has long been a heartland of Episcopal worship in north-east Scotland. While agriculture, fishing and the communities they sustain remain central to the area’s identity, demographic change presents both challenges and opportunities. We are seeking a priest who can help us discover what the next chapter of faithful Christian presence and mission might look like.
The Diocese is looking for a Priest who:
- Is self-motivated with a disciplined life of prayer, worship and reflection
- Has a proven ability to engage with communities, build relationships and develop networks.
- Has experience of pioneering fresh approaches to church and mission
- Has experience of establishing new expressions of faith
- Is willing to invest time in listening, learning and understanding the local context before discerning future opportunities for growth and outreach.
- Possesses imagination, adaptability and a willingness to experiment in response to God’s call.
We can offer:
- A house within the Mission Area meeting Provincial housing standards (minimum EPC C).
- The opportunity to shape a bespoke package of support and development tailored to the role.
- Freedom, time and space to explore and develop mission opportunities across a rural setting.
- Funding to support mission initiatives, community engagement and new projects.
- The encouragement of a Diocese committed to creative, sustainable and locally rooted mission.
There is funding available for pre-application visits; please get in touch with the Bishop or Dean.
Informal conversations warmly welcomed: bishopanne@aberdeen.anglican.org and Dean@aberdeen.anglican.org and
Application Deadline: Thursday 6th August 2026
Zoom Interviews and In-Person Interviews: TBC
House for Duty Priest, St Mary’s, Aberdeen
St Mary’s is an energetic, welcoming and committed congregation in the west end of Aberdeen, seeking a priest to lead the next chapter of its mission and ministry.
Following a period of transition, we are looking for a priest who will help St Mary’s grow in faith, strengthen its life together, and engage imaginatively with the wider community.
St Mary’s is looking for a Priest who:
- Loves God and will love and encourage the congregation
- Will embrace traditional style of worship and open-table Eucharistic policy
- Possesses strong pastoral skills and is willing to undertake pastoral visiting
- Has the imagination, vision and energy to lead outreach in the local community;
- Is willing to play an active part in the social life of the church.
St Mary’s offers:
- A modern rectory in good repair, within walking distance of the church.
- A well-maintained late Victorian church with a small hall and office.
- A location in a mixed residential and business neighbourhood in Aberdeen’s west end.
- Scope for mission and community engagement
The St Mary’s website is at https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/about-us/.
For a conversation about this post please contact David Rose (d_rose@btinternet.com)
Informal conversations warmly welcomed: Dean@aberdeen.anglican.org and bishopanne@aberdeen.anglican.org
Application Deadline: Thursday, 6th August 2026
Zoom Interviews and In-Person Interviews: TBC
Applicants for Clergy posts must be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion, the Porvoo Communion, or a denomination in full communion with the Scottish Episcopal Church (listed in Schedule One of Canon Fifteen in the Code of Canons, page 63).
All appointments are subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme Record Disclosure (Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007). For further information on Protection of Vulnerable Groups and the Scottish Episcopal Church, including the Scottish legal context, see Safeguarding in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Information on working in the context of the Scottish Episcopal Church can be found at Information on Safeguarding and Clergy Resources (time off, wellbeing, etc)on the Provincial website.
To apply for these positions, you must have the legal right to live and work in the UK. There are currently no visas available for these posts.