Arts and worship meet at St Andrew’s and St George’s West at Festival Time

St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church in George Street joins in the Festival not just as a busy Fringe venue but in Sunday worship linking song, story, faith and social justice.

Don’t miss this chance to enjoy five-star music, song and story and to embody it in the worship of God and the service of the community.

Festival Sunday, 12 August at 11am

We mark Festival Sunday on 12 August with a special programme of contemporary sacred music including new music commissioned especially for this service.

Listen to work by young composer Andrew Carvel, Assistant Director of Music at St Andrew’s and St George’s West and be the first to hear Michal Jesionowski’s new melody which accompanies the offering. Organ scholar Drew Crichton powers our Wells Kennedy organ through Planyavsky’s amazing Toccata alla Rumba and returning choral scholar Anna Wright brings her saxophone to the party.

Singing the Spirituals, Sunday 19 August at 11am 

Today’s theme is Singing the Spirituals. Minister Rev Ian Y Gilmour has been exploring the story of  slavery and song over several periods of study leave. He has shared his findings in concerts, lectures and worship here at St Andrew’s and St George’s West, and also in the US, collaborating with speakers and musicians including British-American mezzo soprano Andrea Baker. 

We welcome Andrea Baker and pianist Richard Lewis back to St Andrew’s and St George’s West to this special service to sing spirituals with us and will hear the stories of oppression, longing and liberation held in these songs.

Andrea Baker explores more of her own story in  “Sing Sistah Sing” on the Fringe opening on the same day (19 August) at the Assembly Rooms which is just along George Street from St Andrew’s and St George’s West.

You are welcome to worship here at any of our services.

Drop in for a short time of prayer at 1pm on weekdays. On Sunday there are four services in different styles. Join a short communion service at 9am; participate in lay-led all age worship at 9.45am, or enjoy worship with full choir and word projections at 11 am. , and a sign language service (BSL) for people with hearing disability at 2 pm.