About St Nicholas Buccleuch
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A Statement from the Kirk Session regarding the future of the congregation.
12th March 2025
The Kirk Session of St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church is aware that discussion has been taking place in a number of settings about the future of the congregation, its minister, and buildings. The Kirk Session welcomes the wider interest being taken in the future of the church but issues this statement in order that all interested people should have accurate information.
The Presbytery of Lothian and Borders, through the current round of Presbytery Planning, has indicated its wish to unite the congregation of St Nicholas Buccleuch with the congregation of Newbattle Parish. The Kirk Sessions of both congregations have explored the implications of this and how a union would work. Such a union can only legally take place following a vacancy in both congregations. A vacancy occurred at the end of June 2024 at Newbattle when the Transition Minister, Rev Gayle Taylor, reached the end of her appointment. A Basis of Deferred Union between the two congregations was drawn up and agreed.
The Rev Sandy Horsburgh, has now set a date for his retirement or demission (i.e. leaving) from the charge. The Church of Scotland wishes that planned changes be made by the end of 2025 and this, while not determinative, has had a bearing on the timing of his demission. In making his decision about when to demit, he has taken into account what is, in his judgement, the best interests of the congregation. Rev Sandy Horsburgh will be retiring from St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church on 30th April 2025.
A service of Union with Newbattle Parish will take place on Sunday 22nd June at either Mayfield and Easthouses Church or Newtongrange Church.
The buildings at 117-119 High Street, Dalkeith, are not yet for sale. They remain, for now, in the care of and under the management of the Kirk Session. Ultimately, in a situation where a union with Newbattle has actually occurred, there will be further discussion involving local trustees (i.e. the elders of the united congregation), the Presbytery, and the Church of Scotland General Trustees over the retention or disposal of the buildings.
The Kirk Session of St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church is aware that discussion has been taking place in a number of settings about the future of the congregation, its minister, and buildings. The Kirk Session welcomes the wider interest being taken in the future of the church but issues this statement in order that all interested people should have accurate information.
The Presbytery of Lothian and Borders, through the current round of Presbytery Planning, has indicated its wish to unite the congregation of St Nicholas Buccleuch with the congregation of Newbattle Parish. The Kirk Sessions of both congregations have explored the implications of this and how a union would work. Such a union can only legally take place following a vacancy in both congregations. A vacancy occurred at the end of June 2024 at Newbattle when the Transition Minister, Rev Gayle Taylor, reached the end of her appointment. A Basis of Deferred Union between the two congregations was drawn up and agreed.
The Rev Sandy Horsburgh, has now set a date for his retirement or demission (i.e. leaving) from the charge. The Church of Scotland wishes that planned changes be made by the end of 2025 and this, while not determinative, has had a bearing on the timing of his demission. In making his decision about when to demit, he has taken into account what is, in his judgement, the best interests of the congregation. Rev Sandy Horsburgh will be retiring from St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church on 30th April 2025.
A service of Union with Newbattle Parish will take place on Sunday 22nd June at either Mayfield and Easthouses Church or Newtongrange Church.
The buildings at 117-119 High Street, Dalkeith, are not yet for sale. They remain, for now, in the care of and under the management of the Kirk Session. Ultimately, in a situation where a union with Newbattle has actually occurred, there will be further discussion involving local trustees (i.e. the elders of the united congregation), the Presbytery, and the Church of Scotland General Trustees over the retention or disposal of the buildings.