Festivals Podcast Launched

Tuesday August 9 2022

A new podcast series launching today (Tuesday) will explore the meeting points between faith and the arts during the Edinburgh festivals.

Faith and the Fringe is an initiative of Sanctuary First, the Church of Scotland’s online worshipping community. There will be four podcasts per week throughout August, involving both the artists and creatives involved in the festivals, as well as residents whose lives are changed by the events.

A podcast studio has been set up in the front windows of 121 George Street, the administrative offices of the Church of Scotland, allowing passers-by to look in as the programmes are recorded, and Sanctuary First hope that some of the material will be broadcast through Premier Radio.

Sanctuary First minister, the Very Rev Albert Bogle, said that the podcasts were aimed at building bridges between faith and the artistic community. He said: “The Edinburgh Arts Festival, for many, gives glimpses into life and its meaning. Comedy, plays, music, books – all can play a part in helping us become more self-aware and, dare I say it, God-aware.

“As people of faith, we believe that the creative arts need to be welcomed back into the lives of our churches. Perhaps even more so, we in the churches need to allow ourselves to be welcomed back into the lives and venues of artists and creatives. When this occurs, a greater awareness of creativity as a spiritual journey often happens.”

Among the church leaders taking part are the Rev Pete Sutton, minister of St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh City Centre. He said: “Most mornings I walk the boundary of the parish with my chocolate Labrador Winnie... Each morning I meet characters who live and work in this area. In this podcast I want to find out how their life changes when the festival comes to town, and hear their stories about the work that they do in this amazing city. We will be meeting ‘Dave the Gardener’ who looks after the Floral Clock, the Sergeant Major who fires the One o’Clock Gun and the concierge who sorts out people’s lives at the Caledonian Hotel.

“What has all this to do with faith you ask? Well, that is the point - we have restricted faith to theological words and statements. Faith is not a collection of words put in the right order. Living faith is about living life and for the Christian, it is living life walking with Jesus. Since there are few fishermen on Pete Sutton’s boundary walk, we will listen to the gardener, the gunner, and the concierge. And might we also meet Jesus?”

The series begins today, Tuesday August 9, and will be available through the Sanctuary First website, app and Facebook page.

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