WORSHIP

St Michael and All Saints exists to worship God.

THE church’s building is set apart for prayer, the offering of the Sacraments, and the praise of God, in beauty and holiness. Here, the mystery of faith is proclaimed, Christ’s saving work is made present, and the faithful are drawn into the life of God. It is a refuge for all on life’s journey and a foretaste of heaven.

Find out more about Baptism, Holy Communion, and the other Sacraments celebrated at St Michael and All Saints. →

Find out what to expect at a service in the church and how to take part. →

This Week at St Michael and All Saints

THE SACRAMENTS

THE Sacraments are sacred rites through which God draws close to humankind, offering the gift of divine life and strengthening the bonds of faith. The Sacrament of Holy Communion, or the Mass, is regularly celebrated at St Michael and All Saints. In it, bread and wine are consecrated and become the Body and Blood of Christ, which the faithful receive as spiritual food and drink. Holy Communion is also brought to the sick and housebound who cannot be present. This Sacrament is the source and summit of the Christian life, uniting the faithful with Christ’s sacrifice and nourishing the soul.
Other Sacraments mark key moments in the journey of faith: Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, Marriage, Anointing, and Christian Burial. These are offered at St Michael and All Saints at specific times in people’s lives, revealing God’s enduring presence and love in moments of joy and need.

BAPTISM is open to everyone, at any age—whether as a child or later in life. It is the Christian rite of initiation, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. In this Sacrament, sins are washed away, and through water and the Holy Spirit, a person is united with Christ and welcomed into the Church.
After Baptism, many seek to deepen their commitment to Christ and the Church. For those baptised as children, Confirmation offers the opportunity to embrace the promises made on their behalf. The Bishop, through prayer and the laying on of hands, calls on the Holy Spirit to strengthen and nurture their growth as disciples of Christ.
For those who have been baptised or confirmed in the past but feel called to revisit their faith, the Church offers Affirmation. In this liturgy, the promises of Baptism are renewed, giving thanks for God’s enduring grace and reaffirming a commitment to the Christian life.

If you would like to be baptised (or have your child baptised), confirmed, or affirm your own faith, use this contact form to get in touch. →

THE Sacrament of Reconciliation, often called Confession, is a time to acknowledge failings, seek forgiveness, and experience God’s mercy. It brings peace, healing, and a fresh start.
In Confession, a person speaks with a priest, sharing the ways they have fallen short and seeking God’s forgiveness. The priest may offer guidance or counsel, and when appropriate, pronounce absolution—declaring, in the name of Christ, that sins are forgiven. Many find this a source of freedom and strength.
Priests at St Michael and All Saints are available to hear confessions and are happy to arrange a time that is convenient. For those new to the Sacrament, guidance can be provided on how to prepare and make a good confession.

To arrange a Confession, contact a priest using this confidential contact form. →

MARRIAGE is a lifelong union between two people, blessed by God and reflecting the love of Christ for the Church. The Sacrament of Marriage offers strength and grace to live out this commitment faithfully.
A church wedding is a sacred and joyful occasion where couples exchange vows before God and their loved ones. The liturgy includes Scripture readings, prayers, and blessings, and may also incorporate a Mass. The priest prays for God’s strength and guidance in the couple’s shared life together.
Couples preparing for marriage meet with a priest to discuss the service and reflect on the spiritual significance of this Sacrament. St Michael and All Saints welcomes all kinds of couples, including same-sex couples and those previously married. For those in a civil marriage or partnership, a church blessing is also available, to celebrate the union within the context of faith.

To learn more or start planning your wedding, please use this form to contact a priest. →

THE Sacrament of Anointing is given to those who are ill, facing surgery, or nearing the end of life. Through prayer and anointing with holy oil, it offers comfort, healing, and the assurance of God’s presence.
This Sacrament may take place at home, in hospital, or in church, and can be arranged by contacting the clergy. It is often accompanied by other prayers, and when appropriate, the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

If you need a priest, use the contact details on the Contact page. →

If it is an emergency, please telephone.

CHRISTIAN Burial entrusts the departed to God with prayers of hope and thanksgiving. It offers comfort to those who grieve, grounded in the promise of resurrection and eternal life.

If you would like to talk to a priest about the arrangements of what happens after you die or about a funeral of a loved one please use this form. →

THE Sacraments are offered to people of every background, story, and situation. St Michael and All Saints welcomes all who wish to experience God’s presence and grace. If you are curious or would like to learn more, please get in touch.

Mass Times

Sunday • 10:30 High Mass
A service with choral music, organ, incense, bells, and elaborate ritual Read more →

Wednesday • 11:00 Low Mass (Lady Chapel)

First Saturday of each month • 12:30 Rosary Mass

Celebrate

the Sacred Seasons

ST Michael and All Saints invites you to mark some of the most significant moments of the liturgical year with special services featuring glorious music from one of the finest choirs in the city, vibrant Anglo-Catholic liturgy, and preaching that speaks to the heart. Whether you’re a frequent attendee or joining for a special occasion, these events are sure to inspire.

All Souls

Sun 1 Nov • 15:00

One of the most ancient acts of Christian devotion: praying for the dead. At this richly ceremonial choral Vigil Requiem, Mass is sung for the departed, as friends and family are remembered by name.

Advent Carol Service

Sun 29 Nov • 18:00

The Church’s new year begins in expectation. Candlelight and stirring choral music accompany readings from Scripture that follow the promise of Christ’s coming soon.

Nine Lessons & Carols

Sun 20 Dec • 18:00

Nine lessons tell one enormous story, from the creation of the world to the birth of Christ. Between them, choir and congregation sing some of the best-loved carols of Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Thurs 24 Dec • 23:00

The waiting is over: Christ is born. The first Mass of Christmas celebrates the Nativity in the darkness of the night, when shepherds keep watch, angels sing, and a child is laid in a manger.

Christmas Day

Fri 25 Dec • 10:30

Christmas morning has a way of creating a sense of wonder, whatever your age. Joyful music fills the church as the Gospel proclaims the mystery of the manger: God with us, and hope born into the world.

Ash Wednesday

Wed 10 Feb • 19:30

Begin the forty days of Lent with the Imposition of Ashes, offered to all who wish to receive it. A solemn Mass with music reflecting the stark and searching character of Ash Wednesday.

Maundy Thursday

Thurs 25 Mar • 19:30

Song and ritual trace the events on the night before Jesus’ death, from the intimacy of the Last Supper to the abandonment in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Mass ends in stillness, with a vigil kept at the Altar of Repose.

Good Friday

Fri 26 Mar • 12:00

A Three-Hour Vigil marks the hours Jesus spent on the cross. Readings, preaching, haunting music, and periods of silence accompany the Passion across the afternoon, from crucifixion to death.

Easter Vigil

Sat 27 Mar • 21:00

One of the most dramatic services of the year, the Easter Vigil begins in darkness, as a new fire is kindled and the light of the Paschal candle fills the church. Evocative chants and the rites of Baptism carry the Vigil towards the first Mass of Easter.

Ascension Day

Thurs 6 May • 19:30

Forty days after Easter, the story changes direction. Ascension Day celebrates Christ lifted, body and soul, into heaven, with uplifting choral music for one of the great feasts of the Christian year.

Corpus Christi

Thurs 27 May • 19:30

On Corpus Christi, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession. With festal choral music, incense, and flower petals, the celebration of Christ’s presence moves out into the streets of Edinburgh.

St Michael

Wed 29 Sep • 19:30

Angels have been imagined in music for centuries. Celestial voices and heavenly harmonies accompany Evensong and Benediction in honour of St Michael, patron of this church.