The Edinburgh Festivals are world-renowned celebrations of arts and culture, drawing performers and audiences from all over the globe. As the city transforms into a vibrant hub of creativity each August, a unique and occasionally somewhat underappreciated participant also steps into the spotlight – the city’s magnificent church buildings.

Edinburgh Festivals thrive on their inclusivity and diversity, with performances ranging from opera to experimental theatre, from comedy, music, dance and everything else in between. The city’s churches, with their varied architectural styles and often central locations, have been providing the perfect stages for these eclectic public events for decades. Over the years, scores of churches, large and small, across the city have embraced this wonderful opportunity to fling open their doors to entirely new audiences, offering space inside their sanctuaries and halls for performances, conversations, rehearsals, exhibitions and much, much more.

The unique atmosphere of a church setting, the dramatic acoustics of a grand nave or the intimate setting of a smaller chapel can greatly enhance the audience’s overall experience of a show, creating memorable moments that resonate long after the performance ends. Such positive memories and associations ensure that church buildings maintain their relevance and vitality in an ever-evolving cultural landscape.

Understandably, one of the most significant benefits for churches participating in the Edinburgh Festivals is the potential for increased income. Churches, like all heritage buildings, face considerable financial challenges, with maintenance and other costs often far outstripping the regular income from congregational donations. By renting out any available space during the Festival season to performers, churches can generate very welcome extra revenue. This additional income can be crucial for funding essential repairs, community outreach work and other day-to-day activities

Participating in this international extravaganza of the arts also brings a welcome influx of visitors into the city’s religious buildings, many of whom might not otherwise have reason to step inside a church. This increased footfall presents an invaluable opportunity for churches to engage with a broader community. Visitors, drawn initially by the arts, can discover the rich history and beauty of the church, leading to a deeper appreciation and connection with the sacred space they find themselves in.

By opening as Festival venues, these churches not only support the arts but also promote Scotland’s cultural heritage. Audiences attending performances cannot fail to be intrigued by the magnificent venue’s history, architecture and the generations of cultural investment made in each building, leading to a far greater appreciation of each church’s unique heritage.

(A poster for “Hot Chocolate at 10”, the 2024 programme of the long-running Festival fixture of late night classical concerts by candlelight in Old St Paul’s Church, where attendees also enjoy a mug of delicious hot chocolate!)

Involvement in the Edinburgh Festivals need never compromise on the core values and mission of that church. Instead, the inclusion of arts and cultural events in the annual calendar of church activities can help reshape the perception of neighbourhood churches as solely places of worship, presenting them as the versatile and vibrant community hubs that they are. This diversification can lead to increased membership and participation in church activities throughout the year, as many of the folks who discover the church during the Festival might well be inclined to return at other times.

Here are a list of the Edinburgh churches that we know of that are hosting Festival events in their buildings this year (let us know if we have missed any). Click on each one to view what’s on offer and to book your tickets:

• Broughton St Mary’s, 12 Bellevue Cres, EH3 6NE
• Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, EH8 8BN
• Charlotte Chapel, 58 Shandwick Place, EH2 4RT
• Edinburgh New Town Church, 13 George Street, EH2 2PA
• Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, EH1 2QQ
• Hope City Church, 17F, 5,5 Gyle Cresent, EH12 9EB
• Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre, 1A Clark Rd, EH5 3BD
• Marchmont St Giles Church, Kilgraston Road, EH9 2DW
• Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18W Mayfield, EH9 1TQ
• Northesk Parish Church, 16 Bridge Street, EH121 6AG
• Old St Paul’s Church, 63 Jeffrey Street, EH1 1DH
• Palmerston Place Church, 10 Palmerston Place, EH12 5AA
• Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street, EH3 9DJ
• St Columba’s by the Castle, 14 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW
• St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, EH1 2EP
• St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street, EH1 1RE
• St John’s Church, 1A Lothian Road, EH1 2AB
• St Mark’s Unitarian Church, 7 Castle Terrace, EH1 2DP
• St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, 61 York Place, EH13JD
• St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 23 Palmerston Place, EH12 5AW
• St Michael and All Saints Church, 26 Brougham Street, EH3 9JH
• St Ninian’s Church, 40 Comely Bank, Edinburgh, EH4 1AG
• St Vincent’s Church, St Vincent Street, EH3 6SW
• Stockbridge Church, 7b Saxe Coburg Street, EH3 5BN

This year two of our own Trustees, Annette Brydone and Prof Adam Cumming, are also collaborating with the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts to offer visitors guided architectural tours of two of the city’s landmark churches, St John’s Episcopal Church on Princes Street and St Cuthbert’s Parish Church.

Book your tickets for these tours on August 12^th and check out the full week-long programme of Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts events here.