13 May 2026
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will be joined by incoming MSPs, the Presiding Officer, and representatives from Scotland’s faith and belief communities at the Kirking for the Seventh Session of the Scottish Parliament in St Giles’ Cathedral on the evening of Wednesday 13 May.
The service in Edinburgh traditionally takes place on the evening before the first sitting of a new parliamentary term.
The Kirking is a ceremonial tradition that reflects on the responsibilities of leadership in public service, while recognising Scotland’s wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs. It also provides an opportunity for organisations from across Scotland, including participants from civic society, the diplomatic corps, academia, business, industry and charities, to meet with the newly elected MSPs.
The ecumenical service is led by The Reverend Dr Scott Rennie, The Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, with the Sermon being delivered by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Right Reverend Rosie Frew. This, together with readings by the Presiding Officer and the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, is intended to encourage thoughtful reflection on serving others.
The congregation will hear performances from the Choir of St Giles’ and the National Youth Choir of Scotland as well as from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland traditional Scottish music duo Stella Rose McIntyre (clàrsach) and Naomi Priestnall (fiddle). Interfaith blessings will also feature.
The seventh session of the Scottish Parliament will formally begin on Thursday, when MSPs will be sworn in by the Presiding Officer in the Holyrood Chamber. An election will then be held to choose a new Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.
Kirking is a Scots word meaning ‘going to church’.
The Kirking of the Scottish Parliament is adapted from a Christian ceremony performed in the Parliament of Scotland in the Middle Ages. Following the first election of the new Parliament in 1999, the ceremony was restarted as a multifaith service. It has included Humanist representation since 2016.
Representation at this Kirking will include senior Christian leaders from the Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal Church and Roman Catholic Church, as well as an interfaith representative and individuals from a broad range of faith and belief communities: BaháΚΌí, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan and Sikh.
Attendance by MSPs is voluntary.
The High Kirk of St Giles' has been an active site of worship since 1124. A place of royalty, revolution and progress, St Giles' was at centre of the Scottish Reformation as John Knox’s Parish church and is home to the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's highest chivalric order. There are two Sunday morning services which everyone is welcome to attend.
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