Richmond Craigmillar - a church with a difference

Making the Community part of the Church and the Church part of the Community.

This is a church with an ever open door. It is a community where people can share their lives, their laughter, their sadness, their worship, and explore what it is to have faith in God. The following only gives a sample of all the many different activities that take place.

There is a Café - a place where people can go for a snack or good meal: a place where people can find and make friends: a place where they can belong. Alongside the Café are a number of projects such as The Food Cooperative, the Furniture Initiative, Milk Token Scheme, and others. It is interesting to note that many new members joining the church, came first to the café. Through various conversations it became apparent that there were a number of children, in the area, who had been bereaved and it was almost impossible to find support for them. Three years ago the decision was made to raise funds and set up a project speceifically for that purpose.

In June 2004, Richmond's Hope (Child Bereavement Project) was officially opened. In October 2003 they were nominated for the Best Faith Based Project in the U.K. This is an award by Spring Harvest which was presented to the Project in the Houses of Parliament. This award has enabled the Project to increase the hours of the Staff and in turn the number of children who can attend. Children can be referred to them by their family, school, health practitioner or minister. There is a room dedicated to the Project where children can work through their grief, or anger, during play.

Within the Church there is a Memorial Chapel which houses books of memories, photographs, and a Memorial Tree (shown below). The tree was made of copper by two local women, and many people have added an engraved copper leaf in memory of a loved one. As the church is always open, people can enter when they wish and spend a quiet time in prayer or in remembrance.