churchservicesociety.org | fostering an interest in christian liturgy

St Andrews Cathedral © air - Fotolia.com

engage with the theology of worship as indispensible for the evaluation and interpretation of liturgies

Old St Paul's, Edinburgh, prayer space by Soul Marks, © Carol Marples

examine fresh patterns of worship and explore the creation and enhancement of the spaces in which we gather

foster interest in the history of liturgy

Choir from Scottish African Churches at 'Edinburgh 2010', © Gary Doak

raise awareness of liturgical development in the world Church

enable leaders and people together to participate more deeply in the mystery of faith through movement, symbol, ritual and sacrament.

At a time when worship in Presbyterian Scotland was often rambling and verbose, the Society's scholarly editions of earlier worship books helped restore classic patterns and lapsed Reformation forms. Its annual journal, established in 1928, encouraged the continuing study of liturgy and provided a forum for those who compiled worship resources and those who led and participated in worship Sunday by Sunday.

In the present day the Society, now ecumenical and with members in several countries, continues to engage with contemporary worship, studying, reflecting, evaluating and proposing.

News and Events

Annual meeting of the Society

This event takes place at the time of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and this year falls on Tuesday 20th May at 5.30pm in Greyfiars Kirk, Edinburgh. The address will be given by Canon David Wallace, Dean of St Andrew’s Metropolitan (Roman Catholic) Cathedral, Glasgow and Chair of the Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain. A meal is generally shared at the end of the address.

The title is Shaped by our Liturgy. He will be joined by Phill Mellstrom, the Church of Scotland representative on the Joint Liturgical Group. A sumptuous Supper will follow the Address. The cost is £27.50.

Pay on the day, but book with dgalbraith@churchofscotland.org.uk by Monday 12th May. This event is open to all.

The Record

The annual journal of the Society for 2024 is now available. Addresses given at the 2024 annual meeting, and at the study day on pilgrimage in October 2024, together with other articles on pilgrimage, are included. Worship in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, is featured. There are two explorations into the arts: one exploring how faith is enlivened by the arts, the second reviews references to worship in Scottish literature. An online version is in preparation.

Simple hymn arrangements

Easy versions to download and play

Learning to improvise

A course for beginners by Brigitte Harris

Facsimiles of the Society's journals from 1928. Search the summaries and access the articles.

The Wode Psalter

Vocal scores of the complete contents of the sixteenth century Wode Psalter, assembled by researchers at Edinburgh University, together with MP3 sound files, for free local use.

Resources for Worship

Chapel at Scottish Churches House, Dunblane

Orders of worship and prayers

Singing the Reformation 2016

Psalms service recreation in the style of 1600

Congregational praise in Reformation Scotland recorded in St Mary's Haddington, with MP3 files and new SATB and Unison Kirk Part PDF scores for free download, reproduction and use.