Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year's Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts at Edinburgh Festival Fringe so successful. We are already planning for next year - the dates for your 2025 diary are Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th August. We will have more news early next year. See you then!
https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/

We’re excited to share that our very own Alison Jack recently featured on the Faith at the Fringe podcast from Sanctuary First! 🎙️

She had a wonderful discussion about her new co-publication, “Scottish Religious Poetry” and her event at the Festival of Sacred Arts, which took place at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 11 August.

If you missed it, you can still catch the full conversation on the podcast. Listen to the podcast online 👇
edin.ac/3yQ6097

Our final day of events began in St Vincent's Chapel with the Esther Inglis Quatercentenary Event attended by a capacity audience. The Sacred Arts Festival Singers directed by Calum Robertson performed some of Esther Inglis' beautiful devotional texts set to music. This was followed with a talk by Anna-Nadine Pike, curator of the Edinburgh University Library Esther Inglis project, who presented an illustrated talk about Inglis' exquisite work in calligraphy, art and embroidery. The 2024 Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts drew to an end with the closing service in Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre with Rev Neil Gardner as homilist. Thanks to all who made this year such a success!

The choir of Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church directed by John Kitchen MBE gave a magnificent performance last night for our final music event ‘Ave Maria: Centuries of Prayer and Praise.’ – a combination of choral works and poetry on the theme of Mary, Mother of Jesus. The choir sang with the beautiful gilded-oak altar triptych as a fitting backdrop. Today is the final day of our week-long programme of events with a talk on Franco-Scottish artist Esther Inglis at 12.30pm at St Vincent's Chapel and ending with our closing service – Vespers at Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre Lauriston Street at 4pm. All welcome. https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

St Vincent's Chapel was the venue for last night's event 'Sacred Songs of the English Musical Renaissance'. Tenor Sam Madden with Will Sims on piano gave a recital of works by Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells, Roger Quilter, Robin Milford, and Benjamin Britten's extraordinary Canticle II: 'Abraham and Isaac' accompanied by counter-tenor Felix Schneideman. A huge thank you to the performers and the enthusisatic audience.
https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

Our lunchtime event today at Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle - Composing Music: the Next Generation - was the very first performance of the winning submissions in our Young Composers' Competition. Performed by the Sacred Arts Festival Singers under the direction of Calum Robertson with organist Alexander McNamee, these extraordinarily talented youngsters were awarded their prizes by Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King's Music and principal adjudicator for the competition. Huge congratulations to Jonathan Love (1st), Zoe Watkins (2nd), Michael Chamberlain (3rd), Magnus Graham and Alexander McNamee (Highly Commended). https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

One of our first events this week was a live performance in Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre of selections from the new edition of Scottish Religious Poetry read by poets James McGonigal and Marion Morrison accompanied by editors Linden Bicket, Emma Dymock and Alison Jack from the The University of Edinburgh

The Howe Street Voices and Howe Street Ensemble directed by Les Shankland last night performed Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine, Requiem and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The beautiful and moving performance was made all the more ethereal amidst the awe inspiring scaffolding in the interior of Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre . Thanks to Les and the all the performers for a memorable evening in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

The poets Christine De Luca and Elspeth Murray made a welcome return to the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts yesterday reading a selection of poetry on the themes of home and homelessness, illustrated by Katherine Wake's flute music. A welcome opportunity to reflect and listen during the busy Edinburgh Festival Fringe https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

Swing with the Spirit, St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Review Apparently a ‘jazz mass’ has never been performed in the Cathedral before – but given the Archbishop was present, it is hoped this won’t be the first – or indeed the last – time! Many may be more familiar with Chilcott’s anthems arranged for parish choirs, but it was a breath of fresh ...

Swing with the Spirit — Edinburgh Music Review St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh - 12/08/24   St Mary’s Schola Cantorum; Michael Ferguson, music director, Richard Michael, piano, composer , Mario Caribé,  bass, Tom Gordon, drums, Ben Shankland, piano.   Choral composer and former King’s Singers tenor

'Dancing Ash Wednesday', Paul Burrows' physical interpretation of T S Eliot's poem Ash Wednesday yesterday, was both physical, spiritual and deeply moving. Dancer and priest Paul performed in Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church surrounded by a wrapt audience, with Eliot's text beautifully narrated by Anne Young. The poem and the dance it inspired expressed the struggle that many LGBT+ people have faced in reconciling faith and membership of a faith community. https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

Yesterday artist Annelies Clarke reflected on the creative process of her triptych painting depicting 122 texts from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Annelies astonishing three panel painting is on display at St Vincent's Chapel from 10am - 4pm until Friday 16th August with daily 20 minute video talks. Annelies's talk yesterday followed an exploration of the painting's themes by Paul Forster, Professor of New Testament at School Of Divinity, New College, University Of Edinburgh. We were also treated to a beautiful choral performance of Bainton's 'And I saw a new Earth' directed by Sandy Chenery. For more information about this exhibition and the rest of our programme visit https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

Thanks to medievalist and academic Marilyn Dunn for her fascinating talk opening the exhibition 'Re-imagining the Ruthwell Cross' yesterday at St Columba's by the Castle in which artist re-imagines damaged and missing images on the famous Ruthwell Cross. Open every day until Friday 16th August, 2.20pm - 5pm. Admission free. Edinburgh Festival Fringe
https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

Last night was our first music event of the week and what a night! A St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh's choir directed by Michael Ferguson was joined by jazz pianist and composer Richard Michael and BBC Radio Scotland's Young Jazzz Musician 2023 Ben Shankland. Music included Bob Chilcott’s 'A Little Jazz Mass' and Richard Michael’s swinging 'Jubilate Deo' and 'Te Deum', as well as a fabulous jazz piano duet by Ben and Richard. Find out about our other musical events this week as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

A big thank you to Scotland's Churches Trust for their collaboration in this event and to the tour leaders who gave such a fascinating insight into these two iconic buildings, The Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, Edinburgh City Centre and St John's Episcopal Church Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Two of our lovely trustees, Annette Brydone and Adam Cu***ng, led tours of The Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, Edinburgh and St John's Episcopal Church Edinburgh this morning as part of this year's Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts.

Thanks to both of them for giving up their time today and to everyone who came along to view these beautiful churches. 💒

The city's Sacred Arts Festival runs until the 17th August, you can view the remaining programme of events here 👇
https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

The 2024 Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe got off to a magnificent start this morning with our opening service in Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle. Music was provided by organists Simon Leach and Morley Whitehead together with the beautiful voices of the choir of the The Robin Chapel, Edinburgh, directed by Paul Gudgin. James Holloway, formerly Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery gave the address and the service was led by Rev Neil Gardner. A wonderful start to our week-long programme of events https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

The 2024 Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts starts next Sunday 11th August and all are welcome to our opening service at the iconic Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle at 10.30am led by Rev Neil Gardner with guest preacher James Holloway CBE, formerly Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the choir of The Robin Chapel, Edinburgh. Take a look at our packed programme of events in city centre churches from 11th August until 17th August. We look forward to seeing you!

Festival 2024 programme Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts 2024 programme

We are delighted that poets Marion Fiona Morrison (sometimes credited as Marion F. NicIllemhoire), James McGonigal and Em Strang will be joining us to celebrate the publication of the new edition of 'Scottish Religious Poetry.' at our Edinburgh Festival Fringe event in August.https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/scottish-religious-poetry.html

Gabriel Fauré's Requiem is one of the best-loved pieces of sacred music, described as a 'lullaby' focussing on eternal rest and consolation. Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms is a dynamic and rhythmically exciting setting of texts arranged by the composer from the Book of Psalms in the original Hebrew. The Howe Street Voices and instrumentalists, directed by Les Shankland, will perform these beautiful and very different pieces in the setting of Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre.
https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/faure-and-bernstein.html

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation Sacred Music Competition!
First Prize: Jonathan Love – student of Music and Computing at the University of Aberdeen
Second Prize: Zoe Watkins – second year student at Edinburgh College.
Third Prize: Michael Chamberlain - Campbell Waterson Organ Scholar at University of St Andrews
Distinctions: Alexander McNamee from Edinburgh – student at St Hilda's College University of Oxford and Magnus Graham – S6 student at George Watson's College
The winning submissions will be given their first performance during the Edinburgh Fringe at our event 'Composing Sacred Music: the Next Generation' at 1.15pm on Thursday 15th August at Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate EH8 8BN. Prizes will be awarded by Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music. Full press release attached. For tickets for the event https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/composing-sacred-music-the-next-generation.html
This event has received generous sponsorship from The Christian Arts Trust, Edinburgh Society of Organists and the Royal College of Organists

Don't miss this recital of songs from the English Musical Renaissance by Britain's most distinguished 20th century composers. Featuring Benjamin Britten’s stunning 'Abraham and Isaac', alongside his beautiful first Canticle based on the Song of Songs. Vaughan Williams' songs and short works by Quilter and Howells complete the programme. Performed by international tenor Sam Madden, currently Lay Clerk at Ely Cathedral, Will Sims, Director of Music at Robinson College, Cambridge and Felix Schneideman, countertenor at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

Sacred Song of the English Musical Renaissance THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - SACRED SONG OF THE ENGLISH MUSICAL ​RENAISSANCE Britten, Vaughan Williams, Quilter and Howells Sam Madden, tenor Will Sims, piano

Judging for the finalists of the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation Young Composers Competition is well underway with Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King's Music, as principal adjudicator. The winning submissions will be given their first performance this August in the beautiful setting of Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle by a professional choir under the direction of Calum Robertson, Director of Edinburgh University Singers. Prizes will be presented by Dame Judith. Be some of the first to witness these stars of the future - it's what the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is all about! https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/composing-sacred-music-the-next-generation.html

"Everything I managed to entertain by way of religious illusion I put into my Requiem, which moreover is dominated from beginning to end by a very human feeling of faith in eternal rest." Gabriel Fauré's Requiem is one of the best loved pieces of sacred music. It will be performed by The Howe Street Singers directed by Les Shankland alongside Fauré's equally beautiful Cantique de Jean Racine and Leonard Bernstein's unforgettable Chichester Psalms. Join us for a memorable evening in Sacred Heart Jesuit Church & Edinburgh Jesuit Centre this August. https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/faure-and-bernstein.html

Swing with the spirit with Schola Cantorum, St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh's celebrated choir directed by Michael Ferguson, Scottish jazz musician Richard Michael of Richard Michael Music and Honorary Professor of Jazz at University of St Andrews and Ben Shankland winner of BBC Radio Scotland's Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2023. And if you can't wait until August, see Ben at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival this Friday! https://www.ejbf.co.uk/artist/ben-shankland-trio-guests-helena-kay-ben-macdonald

Last week our patron Paul Mealor was invested with Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by His Majesty King Charles III. And in what Paul described as 'a very special few days indeed', his 'If Ye Love Me’ was chosen by His Majesty as the anthem for the service held in St Giles' Cathedral last week, when The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were installed as members of The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of The Thistle. Many congratulations to Paul and all those who received these very special honours for their outstanding contributions to public life.

The 2024 Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe promises to be the best yet with a packed programme that includes visual art, film, music, poetry, dance and tours of some of Edinburgh's most iconic landmarks. And of course we have the announcement of the winners of our Young Composers Competition. The easiest way to puchase tickets is to visit our programme page at https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html and follow the links for individual events taking you directly to Edinburgh Fringe/Eventbrite ticket sales. (Tickets will also be available on the door, but since some of the venues are relatively small, advance purchase is recommended.) We look forward to seeing you in August!

Festival 2024 programme Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts 2024 programme

Take a tour of two of Edinburgh's iconic landmarks, St John's Episcopal Church Edinburgh and The Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, Edinburgh City Centre which stand side by side on the corner of Princes Street. With the help of expert guides from Scotland's Churches Trust, explore the architecture and history of these fascinating buildings. https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html

A landmark in the early history of film, La Vie et la Passion de Jesus Christ directed by Lucien Nonguet and Ferdinand Zecca, is believed to be the first feature film to have colorized sequences, each black and white frame being coloured by hand. The screening of this masterpiece will be introduced by Richard Kendall, a specialist in the history of silent film. Richard has also constructed an accompanying musical sound track. https://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2024-programme.html