What is the Guild?
The Guild is a branch of a national organisation within the Church of Scotland. We follow a national theme each year, and we support projects chosen nationally along with other Guilds in Scotland. The motto underlines that everything we are and do as a Guild rests on our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who is it for?
All are welcome at our meetings – male or female, old or young, Church of Scotland member, any other Christian or other faith or none.
How do I know what’s on?
Church magazine, weekly notice sheets, posters and syllabus (copies of this available here or in the Kirk Centre Entrance, the Offering House, or the welcome desks in church). As well as the main item or speaker, all meetings include worship, news and usually refreshments. Our syllabus for 2025/26 is based on the National Guild Strategy “Let us Build a House” with this session’s theme being “Living Stones”.
What does the Guild have to offer?
A wide variety of different get-togethers : speakers who may be informative, thought-provoking, interesting, fun; social evenings with entertainment, coffee mornings, annual historical walk. Plenty of opportunities to be part of a caring fellowship, linked by a love of Jesus, and to contribute in action or with money to good causes locally, across Scotland and across the world.
Do I have to sign up to be a member?
No, you can come to one meeting only or as many as you wish. There is a small charge per meeting, currently £3, which includes refreshments. Regular “members” pay an annual capitation fee (£17 this year) which goes to Guild Headquarters to support the central administration, and can pay a lump sum for meeting fees at the beginning of the session (£29 this year).
Who runs it?
A committee of about 7 people elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. They are led by a Convener, currently Gladys Montgomery (on the left below), and the other two you may need to be in touch with are the Secretary, Moira Cocksedge (in the middle), and the Treasurer, Linda Brown (on the right). Their contact details are in the syllabus.
What does the Guild support?
We support in our prayers, with our money, and sometimes with our presence, our own church and the others in SEECOS, one or more of the national projects each year, youth and school work in South East Edinburgh and any community needs which come to our attention. In the autumn we support the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal and promote it in the congregation.
What are these national projects?
The one we are supporting this year (2025) is the Scottish Bible Society’s Bibles for Bairns, Every child born in Scotland and registered with them will receive a card and Bible-related gift on their first birthday, and then similar gifts on every birthday until their fifth, when they receive a card and a children’s Bible. Registration is now open for babies born in 2025 (with parental consent).
Next year (2026) we will be supporting Release International’s Operation Hope/Egypt. They work with persecuted Christians across the world and plan to “build a house” together with Christians in Upper Egypt facing persecution and discrimination.
How does the Guild raise funds?
We have Sales Tables at some meetings (Bring and Buy), Christmas and Spring Coffee Mornings (great social occasions!), Social Evenings with entertainment, any surplus from meeting fees and donations.
COME AND JOIN US!
We invite you to come along to any of our meetings, or to our special events, and see for yourself why it’s good to be part of the Guild.
Enjoy the fellowship, learn something from the speakers, have fun at social events, participate in something worthwhile!
