The signing of the Saint Ninian Declaration between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland will take place in Edinburgh on Tuesday 16 September 2025 – the Feast of St Ninian.

The Declaration supports a deepening relationship between Episcopalians and Roman Catholics in Scotland, allowing both to work more closely together while acknowledging that there are distinct differences between the two churches.

The historic declaration of friendship will be signed at the capital’s two ‘St Mary’s’ cathedrals. The first part of the signing will take place at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in York Place, and the second part at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Palmerston Place.

The day will include a Symposium on the history of the relationship between the Catholic and Episcopal churches in Scotland. This event will start at 2pm at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, and the participants will be:

Professor Gerry Carruthers, Francis Hutcheson Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, who will be in the chair;

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;

Rev Canon Charlotte Methuen, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Glasgow and Scottish Episcopal Church Inter-Church Relations Convener.

At 4pm, the Declaration will be signed at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral 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. The Archbishop and the Primus will then move on to an Evensong service at 5.30pm at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, where the second signing will take place.

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.”

All are welcome to attend the signings.