Last Thursday, 3 October, saw a first for the Edinburgh Diocese – the blessing of a bike rack. The new bike rack at St Fillan’s in Buckstone was blessed by Bishop John Armes and officially opened by Ian Murray MP, the local MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland. The bike rack was the result of more than a hundred volunteer-hours, much organisation and a successful application to the National Lottery Community Fund.
St Fillan’s is a vibrant church immersed in the community, with the church building also serving as their church hall. Various community groups use the building throughout the week. With the addition of this secure bike rack, both members of the congregation and visitors to the church can secure their bikes when attending services or participating in community events.
Three members of the congregation volunteered their time to clear the area near the front of the church property, dig out nearly a tonne of land and pour in concrete to secure the bike rack. Safe to say any bikes secured at St Fillan’s will be both divinely and physically protected!
The bike rack was funded as part of a successful application to the National Lottery Community Fund. The grant award also allowed for the installation of a new stair-gate, a refreshment of decoration in the church building and the installation of both wall and ceiling cavity insulation. More information about this grant programme can be found here.
The Net Zero team will be co-hosting a webinar with the National Lottery Community Fund on 16 January 2025, 13:00-14:00. Please contact Jack Nevin, jackn@scotland.anglican.org, to register for this session.
Jack Nevin, Innovation Coordinator
