Visitors from across Scotland were welcomed into Augustine United Church this past weekend, as the congregation welcomed all-comers for Doors Open Day. With numbers of around 150 crossing the threshold from George IV Bridge, it was a great opportunity to share the story of both our building and our congregation. Many visitors said they’d passed our doors on many occasions but never had the opportunity to look inside. One visitor has travelled especially from Ayr for the day; another from Fife. There was a real sense of people venturing further afield again post-pandemic. Many people admired the Robert Burns stained glass windows; others were glad to share stories of their own churches and to experience a thriving community in Edinburgh’s city centre. This year, Doors Open in Edinburgh was organised by tenements support charity Under One Roof, who offered the theme Standing Strong. Our building has stood strong since 1861, and we added to our heritage resources with a brand-new display showing how the church sanctuary has been adapted over the years. We also demonstrated the ways we’ve tried to make our old building more sustainable and environmentally friendly – a vision we continue to pursue. Welcoming guests was an encouraging experience for volunteers, who found themselves in all sorts of interesting conversations. As one volunteer said afterwards – “It was so much fun!”