Máquina de Turing que aprende.

History

The Congregational Church was founded on the site of Morningside United in 1895 and included the sharing of youth work in 1911 with the Episcopal Church, the ‘American connection’ beginning in the 70’s with 20% of the Kirk Session being American, the bringing into the mix of North

Morningside in 1980 and the United Reformed Church (URC) link in 2000.

The Parish

The parish of Morningside United lies to the south west of the city centre and is a true Victorian

residential suburb with commercial uses only on Bruntsfield Place and Morningside Road. Its housing is almost completely a mix of tenements and large villas. Some more modern flats have been built on former villa sites. The parish also hosts the Merchiston Campus of Napier University (built around Napier’s home of Merchiston Castle) and the main building of George Watson’s College. There are no local authority schools within the parish.

The church is located on the north-east side of Holy Corner which hosts two other churches, Christ Church Episcopal Church and Elim Church.

In 2008 the resident population was estimated to be just over 5,000 people living in some 2,000 houses. Consistent with the location of Napier University’s Merchiston Campus, the population shows a higher than average representation of the student age group (16 – 24 years) – 21% compared to 14% for the city and lower representation of all other age groups except the very elderly (85+ years).

The mission of Morningside United is partly shaped by its place at Holy Corner but also by the international nature of the congregation.

Mission

As a liberal and inclusive congregation Morningside United’s particular priorities are:

 offering a place of meeting and reflection for the enquiring mind

 working with Napier University and the student population

 caring for the elderly and isolated, sharing with Slateford Longstone, and

 building community between people and denominations.

Morningside United has also gifts to offer the wider church in terms of building fellowship, welcoming new people and the positive benefits of ecumenical partnership.

Presbytery Plan

The Ministry at Morningside United is paid for locally and directly and is, not therefore, part of

Presbytery’s allocation from the Parish Ministries Fund. It is also a joint charge with the URC and as such has its own distinct constitution. Morningside United should continue to be a parish church in the Plan with a Minister of its own.

Page | 85

The South

Colinton, Colinton Mains, St John’s Oxgangs, Craiglockhart, Fairmilehead, Greenbank.

These largely residential communities were once all part of the original parish of Colinton. However, given the way that Edinburgh is a “radial” city with the main roads forming “spokes” from the outskirts to the centre these parishes, while sharing some common features, tend to look towards the middle of town rather than to each other. They are grouped in this section of the plan for ease of reference.

Page | 86

Colinton

History

The church traces its history back to 1095. The present sanctuary was built in 1908, the Loan Hall in the 1920’s, and the Church Rooms in 1998.

The Parish

Colinton lies to the south-west of the city in the foothills of the Pentland Hills and astride both the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720) and the Water of Leith valley. The parish within the Edinburgh City Bypass is principally residential character radiating outwards from the old village and the church nestling in the Water of Leith valley. Housing has been developed almost continuously from the Victorian and Edwardian eras but also includes extensive areas of inter-war villas and bungalows and post-1960’s Mactaggart and Mickel suburban housing.

Non-residential land in the parish is occupied by the MOD at Redford and Dreghorn Barracks and by Merchiston Castle School.

Four primary schools; Bonaly, Colinton, Oxgangs and Juniper Green provide primary education while Currie and Firrhill High Schools provide secondary education. Bonaly and Colinton Primary Schools are located within the parish.

The parish population was estimated in 2008 to be approximately 7,820 people living in some 3,000 houses. There are more than average numbers of children in the 0 – 16 year age group, (20%

compared to 15%), and older adults in the 45 to 85+ years age groups, slightly fewer in the student age group and significantly less young adults aged 25 to 44 years (25% compared to 33% for the city).

Mission

This is a congregation where most members live in or near the parish. It is a community based church serving all the people of the parish. In particular there should be a focus in mission on:

 children and young people, and their families (sharing expertise with Balerno)

 the equipping of people to live their faith in positions of responsibility and leadership throughout the city, and

 nurturing and helping to build community in the parish.

In addition, Colinton has a vital part to play in helping to resource the wider church in many ways and should be one of the places where innovative forms of ministry can be developed. Colinton could also consider sharing professional expertise with other parishes in the city.

The Kirk Session should be in contact with similar congregations in “old village” places such as Corstorphine Old, Cramond, Duddingston and Liberton, “small town” locations such as Queensferry, Portobello and Leith South to share insights. There are strong links with St Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church and the Army Chaplaincy Service which are located within the parish.

Presbytery Plan

Colinton should be led by one Minister of Word and Sacrament inducted on a basis of Unrestricted Tenure.

Page | 87