Kirk donates Army banner

EDINBURGH'S Canongate Kirk has become the first church in Scotland to donate a pipe banner to the armed forces.

The Royal Mile church decided to fund-raise for two banners - one to keep in the church, and the other to give to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Minister the Rev Neil Gardner said: "Canongate Kirk has historic links with the First Battalion's predecessors, The Royal Scots and The Kings Own Scottish Borderers.

"We insisted any banner we presented to the Army should end up on active service with their successors. Our own banner will hang on a wall of the church as a permanent reminder of our armed forces."