Two Scottish Episcopal Churches have been announced as winners at the 2023 National Church awards, organised by the National Churches Trust.

St Anne’s, Dunbar has won in the Scotland Category of the Nayler Award for Excellence in Church Maintenance, and St James’, Stonehaven has won the Church and Community Volunteer Award, run in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in London on 6th November.

St James the Great, Stonehaven was commended for its community work in Stonehaven and the surrounding area. They have provided space in their grounds for members of a local learning disabilities charity called Inspire to grow a vegetable and flower garden. Aimed at learning new skills, and developing relationships, the project has had the support of other local groups including the Men’s Shed and the Masons. In addition, a spokesperson for St James the Great said: “We started a Friday evening drop in for Ukrainian Refugees and host families. We also run a Thursday Afternoon Warm Space Drop In (it was here that the Inspire project started). We are very much a group of people who are embedded within our community. We are aware of our limitations but are always open to if possible lend a hand.”

St Anne’s, Dunbar was given the award in recognition of its recent maintenance projects. The Buildings Convener at St Anne’s, Mike Ling, said: “The application of skills towards the care and maintenance of a listed religious building is an expression of worship and at the same time a privilege. It is also an opportunity to apply the skills acquired over one’s working life for the benefit of the community, to learn about specialist maintenance techniques.”

Much of the work of the congregation is carried out by volunteers. Mr Ling continued: “Bringing people together to undertake tasks allows connections to be made and strengthens relationships.”

St Anne’s collaborates with many different organisations across the town including Dunbar Primary and Grammar Schools, Sustaining Dunbar, Belhaven Hill School, East Lothian Council and The Ridge, to continue to strengthen the social fabric of the community.

The congregation’s Rector, The Rev Diana Hall, said “I’m delighted to see the hard work and dedication of Mike and our other volunteers recognised in this way. Our church building is an important focal point, but church is also so much more than a building. It’s a community of love and hope with an amazing story to tell. It makes an important contribution to our common life. We look forward to continuing to explore how St Anne’s and its people can serve and work with other organisations to be a blessing in Dunbar and beyond.”

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Pictured: Top left: the Rev Mary Jepp, Priest-in-charge of St James the Great, Stonehaven with hosts Hugh Dennis and Canon Anne Easter. Bottom right: Mike Ling, Buildings Convener at St Anne’s, Dunbar.