Global Christians in Edinburgh
The ‘Global Christians in Edinburgh’ project is an important shift of the work of the Centre for the Study of World Christianity, which has historically focused on the global diversity of Christianity outside of Scotland. This project brings light to the world here—in Edinburgh. It hopes to make the Centre a resource and a place for dialogue and discovery, for Christians and for scholars studying Christianity, both locally and worldwide. The project reminds us that Christianity continues to be vibrant and relevant in a Britain that is often described as ‘secularising’. For Christian practitioners, this project affirms the ways Christian mission is still very much a contemporary and critical issue in Scotland today.
From December 2022 to June 2023, the project sought to offer a baseline of the global diversity of Christianity in Edinburgh and the collaborative efforts of these communities. It coincides with a historic period of both downturn in many historic Edinburgh churches and upsurge in Christianity amongst migrants coming from Africa, Asia, Latin American, Oceania, and other parts of Europe, resulting in the creation of new fellowships, (sub)congregations, and worship services/mass. The full report can be found online.
As part of the report, we discuss three models communities are formed: autonomous church (model A), international church (model B), and Global Christian fellowship (model C). Below, please find a list of Global Christian communities we have identified in Edinburgh, with a few added after the report was published in July 2023 (marked with ‡):
Name | Model | Primary Language(s) | Tradition |
Acts Church, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
African and Caribbean Christian Fellowship | C | English | N/A |
Asian Concern | C | English | N/A |
Assemblies of God, ADECAN Edimburgo | A | Portuguese | Pentecostal |
Assemblies of God, Fijian Assembly of God | A | Fijian | Pentecostal |
Assemblies of God, Hebron Christian Assembly | A | Malayalam, English | Pentecostal |
Assemblies of God, Victory House Chapel | B | English | Pentecostal |
Baptist Union, South Leith Baptist Church, Brazilian Fellowship | C | Portuguese | Baptist |
Chinese Evangelical Church in Edinburgh | A | Cantonese, Mandarin, English | Evangelical |
Christ Apostolic Church, House of Prayer, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Christ Embassy, Loveworld Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Christ Kingdom Victory Church of God | B | English | Pentecostal |
Church of God, Hosanna Romanian | A | Romanian | Pentecostal |
Church of God, Rehoboth the Living Church | A | Tamil, English | Pentecostal |
Church of Pentecost, Edinburgh Assembly Akan | B | English | Pentecostal |
Church of the Nazarene, Clermiston, Brazilian Fellowship | C | Portuguese | Nazarene |
Cumberland Presbyterian, Hong Kong Christian Church in Edinburgh | A | Cantonese | Presbyterian |
Deeper Christian Life Ministries, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Eagles Flight International Gospel Centre | B | English | Pentecostal |
Edinburgh Chinese Christian Church | A | Cantonese | Evangelical |
Edinburgh Korean Church | A | Korean | Presbyterian |
Edinburgh Korean Grace Church | A | Korean | Presbyterian |
Edinburgh Japanese Church | A | Japanese | Evangelical |
Embassy of the Word of God | B | English | Pentecostal |
Fijian Fellowship | C | Fijian | N/A |
Free Church of Scotland, Cornerstone, Spanish Service | C | Spanish | Presbyterian |
Freedom Centre International, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
German-Speaking Congregations of Edinburgh/Aberdeen | A | German | Lutheran |
Greek Orthodox, St Andrew | A | English, Greek, Slavonic, Romanian | Orthodox |
God’s Covenant Revival for All Nations | B | English | Pentecostal |
Gospel of Grace International Ministry | B | English | Pentecostal |
Holy Ghost Chapel | B | English | Pentecostal |
Immanuel Praise Church | A | Malayalam | Pentecostal |
Living God Church | A | Filipino | Pentecostal |
Livingstone Christian Church Edinburgh | A | Cantonese | Evangelical |
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, St Mary | A | Malayalam | Orthodox |
Mar Thoma Church, St Andrews | A | Malayalam, English | Orthodox |
Methodist Church, Fijian Methodist Fellowship | C | Fijian | Methodist |
Methodist Church, Zimbabwean Methodist Fellowship | C | Shona | Methodist |
Mountain of Fire and Miracle, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edinburgh Tabernacle | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Freedom House Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, House of Refuge | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Oasis Parish | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, House of His Glory | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Inspiration House | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, King of Glory | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Livingston Assembly | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Morning Star | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Open Heavens | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Potter’s House | B | English | Pentecostal |
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Tabernacle of Grace Musselburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Remnant Christian Network | B | English | Pentecostal |
Restoration Royal Mega Church | B | English | Pentecostal |
Roman Catholic, Sacred Heart, Filipino Mass | C | Filipino | Catholic |
Roman Catholic, Ss Ninian and Triduana, Polish Mass | C | Polish | Catholic |
Roman Catholic, St Margaret Mary, Polish Mass | C | Polish | Catholic |
Roman Catholic, St Mary’s Cathedral, Polish Mass | C | Polish | Catholic |
Roman Catholic, St Cuthbert, African and Caribbean Mass | C | English | Catholic |
Romanian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh | A | Romanian | Orthodox |
Ross Chapel | A | Korean | Presbyterian |
Russian Orthodox Church in Edinburgh | A | Russian | Orthodox |
Salem International Christian Centre, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Scottish Episcopal Church, Christ Church Morningside, Hungarian Service ‡ | C | Hungarian | Episcopal |
Scottish Episcopal Church, St Salvador, Polish Service | C | Polish | Episcopal |
Scottish Telugu Christian Fellowship | C | Telugu | Baptist |
True Jesus Church, Fettes | A | Cantonese | Pentecostal |
True Jesus Church, Gifford Park | A | Cantonese | Pentecostal |
Ukrainian Catholic Church, Saint Andrew and Our Lady of Pochayiv | A | Ukrainian | Catholic |
United Free Church of Scotland, Corstorphine Community Church, Hong Kong Circle ‡ | C | Cantonese, English | Presbyterian |
Winners Chapel International, Edinburgh | B | English | Pentecostal |
Zimbabwean Fellowship | C | Shona | N/A |