Who we are
We are Polwarth Parish Church, a Christian congregation of the Church of Scotland, also known as the Kirk on the Canal due to our unique location adjacent to the Union Canal.
We express our faith in Jesus Christ in practical ways by serving the local community and supporting humanitarian initiatives and issues of peace and justice globally through our partnerships and projects.
Polwarth Kirk promotes wholeness and wellbeing by welcoming visitors and regulars to worship services, events and social activities across the week.
You are welcome to join us any time to experience our friendly community, enjoy our wonderful building, walk the permanent labyrinth on the floor of our Sanctuary, relax in our canal side gardens, borrow a book from our Little Free Library, bring little ones to play with the toys in “Ted’s den”, or reconnect with nature with a trip on our canal boat All Aboard.
We hope you experience peace and a sense of belonging as you spend time at Polwarth.
Here for you
Polwarth church is located on the junction with Polwarth Terrace and Harrison Road. You can view our location on a map here.
If you are planning a wedding, baptism or funeral, please get in touch via our contact form. We would be happy to discuss how we can support you.
To find out more about hiring our halls for private events, please use our contact form.
Our halls:
- Sanctuary – large, spectacular high-roofed, rectangular space with stained glass windows, organ, front platform and PA system. Seating capacity 300. Suited to services, concerts and single-day exhibitions and fayres. (Please note, we do not let out the Sanctuary for ceilidhs or parties)
- Drennan Hall – large, wooden-floored, light-filled hall (13.5m x 12m) with capacity for 100. Suited to social events, children’s parties, health and fitness classes and workshops.
- Small Hall – small, carpeted hall (9m x 5m) with capacity for 30. Suited to committee meetings or smaller gatherings.
All Aboard Canal Boat
Our cheerful blue and yellow canal boat is moored behind the church. It supports our mission of promoting wholeness and wellbeing by providing the opportunity to enjoy the restorative powers of nature on the canal at a gentle pace. Community groups of up to 12 can book a free 2-hour trip along the Union Canal, led by our skilled volunteer crew.
If you would like to enquire about taking a group on a trip on All Aboard, or you would like to find out about volunteering on the boat, please email AllAboard@polwarth.org.uk or call 07341 150916.
What we do
We meet for worship every Sunday at 11am in our beautiful sanctuary. Services last for around one hour and include Bible readings and prayers, a sermon by a minister, as well as congregational singing. A carpeted area at the rear of the sanctuary welcomes parents and young children with toys and books.
Following the service, free refreshments are served in the hall, giving us an informal time to chat and get to know visitors.
Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. We hold special services at Christmas, Easter, Harvest and Remembrance Sunday as well as marking Fairtrade Fortnight and Christian Aid Week.
Our Sunday services are live-streamed on Youtube. You can watch live or at a later date via our channel.
We also have free regular activities on weekdays such as cafe drop-ins, activity classes and social groups, as well as ad hoc special events such as the Canal Festival.
Twice a year, in February and November we hold drop-in candlelit labyrinth events. All are welcome to come and experience a sense of peace and calm walking our 7-circuit labyrinth.
Our canal boat All Aboard offers community groups the opportunity of a restorative experience enjoying nature at a gentle pace with a trip on the union canal.
Please use our contact form if you would like to arrange a guided labyrinth session for a health group, school or church, or email AllAboard@polwarth.org.uk to enquire about All Aboard trips.
To stay in the loop about what is going on at Polwarth, sign up for our weekly Enews at the bottom of the website ↓ and follow our Facebook page.
Latest News
Christian Aid Week 2026
Well done to everyone who supported our fundraising!
This year Polwarth Parish Church raised a whopping £2,405 for Christian Aid through our coffee morning, sale, raffle, quiz and donations!! That is an amazing total and we are so grateful to everyone who supported by volunteering, baking, attending our coffee morning, donating and supporting in other ways.
This year funds will support families in Nairobi who are part of an urban farming project enabling them to grow food to support their children.
Thank you for helping to care for people around the world who are in need.
Regular weekly activities
We run a range of social activities throughout the week in a friendly and inclusive environment. You can drop in any week and you will receive a warm welcome.
To find out more about any of our activities listed, please use our contact form.
Baby and Toddler Group
Mondays during term time
10am – 11.30am
(Drennan Hall, side entrance)
Parents and carers welcome to bring their little ones along for a friendly session.
Cost £1 per family per session
Polwarth Pop Up Café
Tuesdays
10am – 12.30pm
(Drennan Hall, side entrance)
Bring a friend or come to meet others and sample our selection of soups, sweet treats, coffee and teas.
Free IT advice and help for your mobile phone, tablet or laptop available thanks to the Tap into IT team.
Scrabble Club
Tuesdays
Tuesdays 1.30pm – 3.30pm (Small Hall, off Drennan Hall)
Come along and play a game or two and enjoy some tea/coffee and cake
Soup Thursdays
Third Thurday of every month
12noon
(Drennan Hall, side entrance)
You are invited to join us for a warm bowl of soup, bread and a cuppa once a month.
Open and welcome space
Fridays
10am – 12.30pm
(Small Hall, off Drennan Hall)
A place to work, study, read or chat with friends. Wifi, hot drinks and biscuits available.
Contact us
For All Aboard canal boat enquiries please email AllAboard@polwarth.org.uk or call 07341 150916.
Please note, hall hire enquiries should be directed to our office administrator using the website contact form provided.
If you would like to speak to a member of the pastoral team use the contact form and select “pastoral needs” as the enquiry reason and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Our office administrator is also available by phone on 0131 346 2711 during the following hours:
Office Hours
Tuesday: 9.30am – 1pm
Thursday: 9.30am – 1pm.
Friday: 1.30pm – 5.30pm.
Sheila Thomson, is our Wellbeing Director and the friendly face you will see if you come along to any of our community activities.
Get in touch
Support Polwarth Parish Church
Polwarth Parish Church is a registered charity serving the local community by providing a safe, warm and welcoming space for young and old to explore Christian faith and experience a sense of wholeness and wellbeing. We rely on voluntary donations from individuals to help fund our building upkeep and running costs. We welcome donations if you are able to help support our work.
To donate now click on the donate button below and follow the simple instructions. You can donate with your credit or debit card or by Paypal.
If you would like your donation to go to support our All Aboard canal boat project, please email treasurer@polwarth.org.uk confirming your donation details so we can direct your gift accordingly.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
