The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

19th August 2026

19 August 2026

Church Leaders Welcome New Fund to Support Scotland’s Listed Places of Worship

Scotland’s Catholic bishops have joined other religious leaders in welcoming a new £1 million fund to cover the cost of repairs to listed buildings in Scotland.

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, and Rt. Rev. Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said the money will provide much-needed support to maintain historically significant assets at the heart of community life.

The Scotland Places of Worship Fund will open this autumn to help congregations – from any faith group or denomination – recover VAT costs associated with repair works if they worship in a listed building.

The pilot scheme was developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme earlier this year, which sent shockwaves throughout faith communities.

The Scottish Churches Leaders’ Forum and the Scottish Churches Committee urged the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that listed places of worship are not disproportionately affected by the decision to end the grant scheme in Scotland.

Church members were invited to write to their local elected representatives asking them to lobby the Scottish Government to launch a substitute scheme to ease the financial pressure on congregations.

The money will be made available through the existing Historic Environment Scotland (HES) grants budget and is a standalone scheme.

Bishop Keenan said: “We warmly welcome Historic Environment Scotland's announcement of the Places of Worship Fund pilot for Scotland, which recognises the vital contribution that churches and other places of worship make to Scotland's heritage and community life.”

“The fund will provide much-needed support for the care and conservation of these important buildings, helping to address the loss of the previous UK-wide scheme.”

“We look forward to engaging constructively with Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government as the pilot progresses and to discussions on establishing a permanent, sustainable funding arrangement for the future.”

Commenting on the announcement, the Rt. Rev. Gordon Kennedy said:

“I’m very grateful for the support of HES and the Scottish Government in recognising the importance of places of worship, which are so often cherished by people beyond members of the congregation.”

“We know how difficult it is for communities to lose their place of worship, and support for repairs and maintenance will help keep more places warm, wind and watertight, and it makes it just a wee bit easier for local volunteers to care for these historic assets.”

Religious leaders are encouraging eligible parishes and communities to consider applying when the fund opens for applications later this year. Detailed information can be found at:

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/hes-launches-pilot-fund-to-support-scotlands-historic-places-of-worship/

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

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October 2025

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Pope Leo visits Italian President Sergio Mattarella

14 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

14Oct

Members of the Ambrosian Society (former students of the Scots College Spain) gathered for their annual Mass and AGM today at St...

14 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Members of the Ambrosian Society (former students of the Scots College Spain) gathered for their annual Mass and AGM today at St Bartholomew’s in Coatbridge with Mass celebrated by Bishop John Keenan.

13Oct

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

13 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

13Oct

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

13 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

13Oct

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

13 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Recently Bishop Gilbert represented the Catholic Church in Scotland at the 700th Anniversary of the Scottish Farm at Grisy- Suisnes outside Paris. This property was purchased by the Bishop of Moray in 1325 to provide a bursary for Scottish students studying at the Univ of Paris, The work of the Fondation Ecossaise continues this practice of financially supporting Catholic students in France with monies given to the Church in lieu of the Scots' College Paris, that was closed at the revolution. Mass was also celebrated in the chapel of the Scots' College near the Pantheon.

13Oct

Feast of St Edward the Confessor

13 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Feast of St Edward the Confessor
He became King of England in 1042. He was regarded as a saint during his lifetime, renowned for his generosity to the Church and to the poor and for his readiness to listen to his subjects’ grievances. He died on 5 January 1066, the last of the old Anglo-Saxon line, and his death precipitated the dynastic quarrels that led to the conquest of England by William of Normandy later the same year. On 13 October 1163 his relics were translated to a new shrine in Westminster Abbey.

13Oct

The National Office for Marriage, Family and Life look forward to welcoming all who have booked places at our National Family Co...

13 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The National Office for Marriage, Family and Life look forward to welcoming all who have booked places at our National Family Conference.

11Oct

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11 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

11Oct

As hope begins to rise with the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the impact can already be felt at Holy Family Parish—G...

11 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

As hope begins to rise with the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the impact can already be felt at Holy Family Parish—Gaza’s only Catholic church—which was hit by an Israeli tank in July, killing three people. Farid Jubran, the Public and Governmental Affairs Advisor for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, joins to share his reaction to the news of this historic ceasefire. He also discusses the role the Catholic Church will have in helping the region and how optimistic he is that the rest of the Gaza plan can be achieved:
https://youtu.be/a9CFTflPofM

11Oct

Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe is also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth in Scotland, Saint Kenny and in Latin Saint Ca...

11 Oct, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe is also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth in Scotland, Saint Kenny and in Latin Saint Canicus. He was an Irish abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary.
He was born in 515 or 516, at Glengiven, near Dungiven in Ireland. He spent his early years watching his chieftain’s flocks. In 543 he became a pupil at Finian’s monastic school at Clonard. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at this monastery. Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, Kenneth was one of these. It was at Clonard that he became a friend and companion of St Colmcille (Columba).
In 544 he studied under St. Mobhi at the school of Glasnevin, with Kieran of Clonmacnoise and St. Comgall of Bangor. When plague scattered that community, he went to Saint Cadoc’s monastery of Llancarfan in Glamorganshire in Wales, where he was ordained priest in 545. He left for Rome to obtain the blessing of the reigning pontiff. In 550 he had returned to Glengiven, where he converted his foster-brother, Geal-Breagach, who afterwards assisted him in founding Drumachose, in nearby Limavady.
In 565 he joined Columba in Scotland. He built a church in the place now known as Saint Andrew’s. He built monastic cells on the island of Ibdon and Eninis, an oratory called Lagan-Kenny on the shores of Loch Laggan, and a monastery in Fife on the banks of the Eden. His name is still recalled in the ruins of an ancient church, Kil-Chainnech on Tiree Island, in a burial ground, Kil-Chainnech, in Iona and Inch Kenneth off Mull
He spent a good deal of his time in Ireland, in County Meath and in Ossory in what is now County Laois. In Ossory he had a good repute with the king, Colman son of Feradach, who gave him grants of land including Aghaboe (“the field of the Ox”) which became his principal monastery. Aghaboe grew in importance, and in the 7th century sent St. Fergal as a missionary to the church of Salzburg, Austria. Aghaboe was for a time the site of the bishop’s see until under Norman influence in the twelfth century the see transferred from Aghaboe to Kilkenny.
He died and was interred at the Abbey of Aghaboe in 599/600.