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Edinburgh Reporter
17-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
The General Assembly opens in Edinburgh
The General Assembly 2025 opened in Edinburgh at the Assembly Hall on The Mound on Saturday and will continue until Thursday. The Rt Hon Lady Elish Angiolini LT, DBE, PC, KC, FRSE, represented His Majesty King Charges at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Saturday. Lady Angiolini said that people are the creation of God and all require 'love, forgiveness and support' in all their imperfection. She said she was profoundly honoured to be chosen as the first practising Roman Catholic to be Lord High Commissioner at the annual gathering which began in Edinburgh today. Lady Elish's appointment was only made possible after both Houses of Parliament in London changed a law dating back to 1689 that barred Roman Catholics from holding the role. Addressing the General Assembly, she said: 'I am so pleased to be here with you all and particularly pleased I actually made it here. 'I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped secure my presence here today.' Her Grace said she believed that prejudice and sectarianism can be overcome by the recognition that we are 'all Jock Tamson's bairns'. Lady Elish said she was 11 when she remembered how that 'essential love of humanity' manifested in January 1971 when there was a crush among the crowd at an Old Firm football game at Ibrox, which caused 66 deaths and more than 200 injuries. Her father and neighbours went to the aid of people caught up in the tragedy. Lady Elish said: 'I, in turn, was on the receiving end of such compassion when I was a victim in the front carriage of the train when the Polmont rail disaster occurred in 1984 'Again, it was the kindness of complete strangers, other passengers, that I recollect to this day, as I lay trapped in the wreckage, comforted by their love and compassion as they teased me about how hopeless Celtic was to distract me from the horror of the situation we were in.' Read all of the reports and documents for the General Assembly 2025 here. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day One. Moderator Rt Reverend Rosie Frew is installed as Moderator in a ceremony at New College, Edinburgh. Her Grace Lady Elish Angiolini is Lord High Commissioner representing the King during the Assembly week. Pictured with at left First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney. Her Grace Lady Elish Angiolini is Lord High Commissioner representing the King during the Assembly week. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day One. First Minister John Swinney and the Rt Hon Lord Provost Robert Aldridge left watch on as Her Grace Lady Elish Angiolini is Lord High Commissioner representing the King during the Assembly week. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day One. Moderator Rt Reverend Rosie Frew is installed as Moderator in a ceremony at New College, Edinburgh. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day One. Moderator Rt Reverend Rosie Frew is installed as Moderator in a ceremony at New College, Edinburgh. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day One. Moderator Rt Reverend Rosie Frew is installed as Moderator in a ceremony at New College, Edinburgh. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2025: Day one. Pictured left Her Grace Lady Elish Angiolini. Like this: Like Related
STV News
16-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Royal Navy to guard Edinburgh Castle for first time
Sailors from across the Royal Navy say it is a 'privilege and honour' to guard Edinburgh Castle for the first time in history. The sailors are guarding the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from Friday until May 22 as Lady Elish Angiolini is welcomed as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It marks the first occasion where the Navy has carried out such a task, with sailors in full uniform ahead of a senior service march for the arrival parade on Friday to welcome Lady Angiolini into the city at the Ceremony of the Keys. LPhot Stuart Dickson/Royal Navy The Royal Navy performed a dress rehearsal of the guard of honour. The duty is normally carried out by the British Army. Warrant Officer 1 Glynn 'Moffs' Moffat, the Royal Navy's state ceremonial training officer, said: 'It is a tremendous privilege and honour for the Royal Navy to be granted the unique opportunity, for the first time in history, to mount the ceremonial guard at both Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 'These men and women, having so proudly represented the Royal Navy during the VE Day commemorations, now carry that same sense of duty and pride into the heart of Edinburgh. 'This historic moment follows a remarkable period in which the Royal Navy took centre stage as the lead service at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – another proud chapter in our enduring relationship with the city and its traditions. 'As someone who served aboard HMS Edinburgh and had the honour of marching her ship's company up the Royal Mile when we were granted the Freedom of the City in 2013, it's incredibly special to return under such historic circumstances. It truly feels like coming home.' The sailors have been rehearsing their routine alongside their colleagues in the Army, with drill instructors from both regiments at Redford Barracks ensuring they are up to scratch. A rehearsal took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday, before a full dress rehearsal for the inspecting officer of His Majesty's Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Bob Bruce, on Thursday. The officer passed the guard of honour fit for duties. Brigadier Andrew Muddiman, Naval regional commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be in attendance for the royal salute. He said: 'The General Assembly week is an important fixture in the Scottish calendar, and I'm delighted that this year the Royal Navy is able to provide the ceremonial support, from the Ceremony of the Keys to the individual guard mounts at the palace and Edinburgh Castle. 'It's a privilege to be in attendance for Lady Angiolini as the Lord High Commissioner as she inspects the Guard of Honour and meets our young sailors. 'For some this will be their first time in Edinburgh, for others a welcome return to the city. 'This is an opportunity for the Royal Navy to showcase its ceremonial skill and precision to the people of Scotland, who will not be disappointed.' The appointment of Lady Angiolini, a practising Roman Catholic, is a reflection of the historic declaration of friendship between the Kirk and the Catholic Church in Scotland. The Lord High Commissioner is the King's personal representative at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which meets in May each year. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
