Oct 03 2026
We're on a journey. join us.
Edinburgh’s Granton and Newhaven Churches
Granton Parish Church and Newhaven Church are exploring entering into a formal union with a Team Ministry
The Church of Scotland is facing the challenge of how to serve our communities in these changing times, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In 2021, against a background of falling minister numbers, a decline in membership and a drop in income both nationally and locally, the General Assembly tasked the local church with creating five-year mission plans that would ensure Church of Scotland congregations are properly equipped to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to serve their communities for the coming decades.
Both congregations are warmly invited to a special joint social event on Friday, October 3rd at 7:30 pm. Hosted in the main church at Granton, this evening is designed purely for fellowship and another step towards getting to know each other. There will be a short talk from Fergus Cook, …
As we continue moving forward on our journey toward union, our joint Steering Group is delighted to share some encouraging updates from our recent meetings and shared events.
There is no better way to get to know people than a natter over a cuppa and some cake
Join the combined congregations of Granton Parish Church and Newhaven Church for a special joint service of worship this Sunday, 2nd August. The service begins at 10:30 am and will be at Granton Parish Church, 55 Boswall Parkway. Come along to share in fellowship, inspiring music, and community prayer as …
There is no better way to get to know people than a natter over a cuppa and some cake
The future of Granton Parish Church and its buildings are now assured, following Presbytery's decision to recategorise our buildings as "A".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we see the new parish on a map?
The new parish would include the boundaries currently served by Granton Parish Church and Newhaven Church. The map below also shows the boundaries of Wardie Parish Church
- click the image to enlarge
We've heard about a Steering Group and some sub-groups. How are they structured?
There are sub-groups for Worship, Mission, Communications, Team Ministry and Social. The charts in this document explain how they fit together.
Is there an established process for moving towards a union?
Yes there is an agreed process. The diagram in this document explains the stages of the process.
Is remaining as separate Congregations an option?
Not in the long term. General Assembly have tasked each Presbytery to come up with changes that will allow the Church fully and faithfully to focus on mission to the community against the background of very limited resources. That objective of fully and faithfully focusing on mission to our community would not be achieved if each Congregation remained as it currently is, in the long term.
Could we have a time where we could see how this is working before the Union?
No. This would be akin to a Parish Grouping, where two distinct parishes work together but with a view to further combination. In a sense this is what we have already been doing and we won’t get a 2nd minister till we go into the Union and set up the Team Ministry
Other Churches have remained on their own, Wardie and Inverleith St Serfs, why is that?
This is down to their individual circumstances, and we don’t expect that they will remain as they are for all time.
Granton’s Congregation have to vote for the Union and to accept Peter as their new Minister, what would happen if they don’t accept Peter?
The Congregational votes for the Union and, in Granton’s case, to accept Peter will be done on the same day. If Granton votes against accepting Peter then it would be back to the drawing board until a new plan was devised.
When will new minister or the Team Ministry be called?
It will be after the Union.
Could Mary become our new minister?
Mary can’t be appointed as our new minister, because she is not a Full-Time Minister of Word and Sacrament (FTMWS) – she is an Ordained Local Minister (OLM).
OLMs can only change to being FTMWS if they would be 57 years old or less when they finished the additional training, and Mary couldn’t do this.
How quickly will we get a new Minister?
There are not as many ministers out there so it will just depend on the circumstances at the time. The two Kirk Sessions see the prospect of Team Ministry as an exciting foundation for taking the Gospel into our communities and we trust that God is part of this plan.
Is the Steering Group responsible for getting a new Minister?
No, the Steering Group is responsible for the Union of the two Churches. It will cease once the Union is complete. Once the Union has been completed a nomination committee (expected to be around 13 people) from the new united Congregation will be voted in. They will draw up the Parish profile, job advert, go through the applications received, conduct interviews, go and listen to the applicants preach and propose a nominee who will preach to the Congregation and then be voted upon. It is worth noting that Peter will not be on the nomination committee.
How big is each congregation?
Both are similar in number of members and regular worshippers, but Granton Parish is twice the size of Newhaven both geographically and by population.
If Granton don’t keep their buildings how do we sustain a Christian presence in Granton; it’s a long way for people to come to Newhaven.
Granton Parish Church have currently submitted a case to Presbytery for keeping their buildings, which we fully support. But we don’t know when the decision will be made so may have to look into different options, working together with Granton. Perhaps renting a community space for Worshipping on a Sunday.
What is the benefit of this Union, as there are no obvious cost savings unless Granton sell their buildings.
The Presbytery Plan has been drawn up on the background of diminishing finances and fewer Ministers and resources.
However the plan also focuses on mission and we hope that the Team Ministry that is proposed will help us focus on mission and outreach in the new Parish. The focus is community not buildings. Originally in the plan Granton was in a grouping with Wardie, Stockbridge and St Serfs and none of their buildings are guaranteed to be kept. Cost savings may come from elsewhere in the plan but not necessarily in this Union, if Granton’s buildings are retained.
Is it the Ministers who decide the basis of how the Team Ministry will work?
No, it will be the Steering Group who come up with this as it is part of the Basis of Union, and will require approval by Presbytery. Peter will be on the Steering Group so obviously he will have input into this.
How does Team Ministry work? Would one Minister not be preaching?
Each Minister would have their own responsibilities i.e. one could be focusing on mission and the other having overall responsibility for worship, and one would be the Moderator of the Kirk Session. But there will be tasks that they will share and weekly worship could be one of them. They will have responsibility over the whole parish not just Granton or just Newhaven. But this is for the Steering Group to work out, as this will be part of the Basis of Union.
How would worship services work with this new Union?
We don’t know for certain yet. With Team Ministry each minister will have responsibility for specific roles. This could mean that Peter will not be preaching in Newhaven every week. The two ministers could take turns each Sunday. The Steering Group initially, and thereafter the new Kirk Session, will have the responsibility of working this out.
Will the new minister live in the Granton Manse?
Yes, the expectation is that the new minister would live in the Granton Manse.
Planned meetings and milestones
No event found!
October 2026
Oct 03 2026
Quiz Night – Friday, October 3rd at 7:30 pm.
Oct 04 2026
Steering Group meeting
Newhaven Church
Oct 05 2026
Comms sub-group meeting
No event found!