We are an active and inclusive Christian community-based in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre. At AUC, we celebrate the Christian Story, welcome and affirm people of all races, genders, sexualities, ages, faiths and abilities and work to promote justice and well-being locally and globally. We come together to worship and to make a difference.
We are a congregation of the United Reformed Church. We are an Aligned Organisation with the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) and work in partnership with MCC to offer our joint LGBTQI+ ministry called ‘Our Tribe’. We share in an ecumenical covenant with Greyfriars Kirk and St Columba’s-by-the-Castle SEC.
Sunday Worship
Our Sunday Worship Service takes place at 11 am every Sunday, both online and in-person, and everyone is welcome to participate. Our team of Worship Leaders work hard to ensure our worship is expansive in language, inclusive in nature and is held in a culture of welcome where there is clear permission to join in or not as is worshipful for each person. On the second Sunday of the month in term time, we offer Interactive Worship which invites interaction and activity as expressions of worship. Communion is offered on the first and third Sundays of each month, which everyone is welcome to share in, in the building or online. For more information about our services and how to access them online, please visit the Sunday Worship page.
Trans-affirming congregation
AUC is a Trans-affirming and celebrating community. We believe all genders are made in the image of God and that our many members who are Transgender are a gift from God to be celebrated. As one body we share hurt and joy, and in our current climate reaffirm that all our congregational events and groups welcome people of all genders (including trans, non-binary, intersex and all others) and seek to enact Resolution 21 of the URC General Assembly 2023: The General Assembly of the URC, affirms the human dignity of transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming people and asserts their right, within and beyond the URC, to live without threat of violence and hatred.
Give the Our Tribe and AUC Facebook pages a like.
Celebrate Pride Month with AUC — 2026
June is Pride Month, and we’re delighted to be taking part in Edinburgh’s Pride celebrations on Saturday 20th June and Sunday 21st June 2026. Alongside our in‑person events, we also host an online gathering as part of Our Tribe. Everyone is warmly invited.
Thursday 4th June 2026
Monthly Our Tribe Online Zoom Meeting — 7:30pm
Our Pride Month events begin online with our monthly Our Tribe gathering. Our guest speaker will be Rev Juliet Stephenson from St Columba’s by the Castle. For more details and the meeting link, please email ourtribe@augustine.org.uk.
Saturday 20th June 2026
Pre‑March Gathering at AUC — 10:00–11:30
Join us at Augustine for coffee, cake, and a short time of blessing before we head to the March. You can also pick up one of our “God Loves All” or “Trans Affirming Church” placards. We will leave together at 11:30 to walk to the assembly point.
Pride March — from 12:15
We’ll gather outside the Scottish Parliament with our placards. The March sets off at 1pm, travelling up the Royal Mile, along George IV Bridge (past AUC), and on to the Pride Fair at Edinburgh University.
AUC on the Step — from 13:30
If you’d prefer not to march but still want to show your support, join the friendly crowd on the church steps to cheer the March as it passes. Your presence makes a difference.
Pride Fair — from 14:00
Visit us at our stall at the Pride Fair. Come say hello and help us share the message of an inclusive Church for all.
Sunday 21st June 2026
Pride Service — 11:00
Our Pride‑themed Sunday worship will be led by Rev Fiona Bennett, with Mike Holroyd preaching. The service will celebrate LGBTQI+ voices and stories, followed by Pride coffee and cake.
Support the mission of AUC
AUC is a charity that depends on donations from our members and supporters. Regular or one-off donations can be made to support the ministry & mission of AUC online with PayPal or by Bank Transfer. If you would like the bank details of the church to set up a standing order, please contact Rachel on centre.manager@augustine.org.uk
If you haven’t already done so and are a UK taxpayer, please complete our Gift Aid Declaration so that Augustine United Church can claim an additional 25p for every £1 you donate. Alternatively, you can download our Gift Aid Form if you prefer not to fill it out online.
AUC Virtual Tour
We present a short video tour of the building. Walk inside from George IV Bridge to our sanctuary and right down to the exit on Merchant Street. Discover how the building reflects our roots in the ‘Radical’ Scottish Reformation and our evolving values over almost 160 years. Click the image below to view the video on our Facebook Page:
Keep informed @ AUC
If you would like to be kept informed about what is going on at AUC, you can:
- e-mail centre.manager@augustine.org.uk to be added to the mailing list for our weekly Friday Notices
- like our Facebook Page – more info here
Disability and the Bible: Online Discussions 📖
Join Mike Holroyd and Siân Joyner as they lead a series of online discussions where we’ll read a short Bible passage together and share a discussion on disability in the Bible.
Mondays: 4, 11, 18 and 25 May 2026
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm (BST)
Everyone is welcome.
Find out more, or let us know you're coming: email Mike Holroyd on mike.holroyd@augustine.org.uk to let us know you're coming, or for further information. He'll also send the Zoom link out to you nearer the time.
You don't need to be able to come to all four Bible studies: the Zoom link will be the same for each session.
Our AUC Spring Afternoon tea is this Saturday! We hope you can join us for cakes, drinks and sweet conversation 🫖☕️🍰
With the Scottish elections coming up on 7 May, we're encouraging our community to register to vote. Through voting, we can let our voices be heard by those who may affect change. Given the rise of poverty and hate-speech across the world, this election is important to us as people of faith.
To vote, you must be registered to vote by 5.00 pm on Monday, 20 April.
You can:
• Apply online (www.mygov.scot/vote-elections-scotland/register-to-vote) or through the Local Registration Office
• Still register to vote without a National Insurance Number
• Still register to vote without a fixed or permanent address
• Register to vote anonymously if safety is a concern
You will not need photo ID for Scottish Parliament elections or local council elections.
Latest News
- Everyday Normal – Sarah Jones tour
- Making our wishes clear
- When the world trembles
- Perspectives on LGBTQ+ History
- Being One
What’s On
Click the image for the full AUC Calendar
Seeds – Latest Issue
