Church to turn wine into bubbly for 400th anniversary

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 08:48

MOST churchgoers wouldn't find having a drop of red wine at church unusual.

Yet even at the most joyful of communions, very few would expect to be offered a goblet of champagne.

Worshippers from one Edinburgh congregation are scrapping their usual beverages in favour of bubbly though, to mark the 400th anniversary of South Leith Parish Church with a champagne communion.

Rev Ian Gilmour said: "Champagne is the drink used around the world to celebrate.

"We are going to use it to emphasise the party aspect of being together."

The novel idea was the brainchild of the kirk session, where members decided it would be a fitting tribute to the four-century history of the church to hold a one-off communion with a twist, in late October 2009.

The church marked entering its 400th year with a special event yesterday, with the coming together of all five of the port's churches for one large communion at the birthday church.

Rev Gilmour said: "It's something we have been working on for a long time after deciding that the churches should be having a communion together."

Worshippers will celebrate their church's long history in Leith throughout the year.

Every month, an event is planned to mark the milestone, including a celebratory service in February to remember – and also welcome back to the church – all those Leithers who were baptised over the last 100 years.

There are an estimated 20,000 people who are eligible for the celebration.

That includes Alastair Stewart – the son of rock star Rod Stewart and his model wife Penny Lancaster – who as a baby was brought to the church in June 2006.

Rev Gilmour said: "I'm not sure what we would do if all 20,000 turned up to be honest.

"Rod Stewart certainly will be contacted though, by letter.

"We wrote to him last year, sending him a celebratory book for his son and he wrote back to thank us. It would be good if he could come."

Also part of the celebrations is a gala evening on January 21 when the greatest Leither of all time will be announced, following a poll in the community over the last three months.

Couples who tied the knot in the church and those who are buried in its graveyard will also be celebrated.

"The congregation of South Leith Parish Church is very hard working," said Rev Gilmour. "Some organisations last for little longer than a year, but we've gone on for 400. There are a lot of reasons to celebrate."