The vision of Barclay’s Arts Ministry is threefold: To engage with culture, to enable Christians to interpret various expressions of culture (art, film, music, theatre), and to evangelise others through relationships formed by the linking of the gospel with culture.  

We believe part of what it means to live the life of a Christian is to engage with the culture in which it finds itself.   Every culture attempts to find the presence of God in the world and yet, in the process of searching often settles for gods of its own making. In other words, culture reflects both the dignity of creation made in God’s image and the depravity which resulted from the fall. In our postmodern and post-Christian culture, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a person or community will not receive a hearing, nor meaningfully offer the gospel, unless it embodies the gospel through sincere participation in a culture's beauty, longings, and darkness. With this in mind, we wish to enable passionate and critical lovers of story, drama, film, music, and art (to name a few) in order to deepen our love of life, of others and of God. The result will be a greater desire to know the human heart, the word of God, and to evangelise others by sharing the good news of the coming and already present Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ. 

Edinburgh is a vibrant city for the arts, and the parish where Barclay resides is no exception.  Barclay’s parish includes several arts venues such as the King’s Theatre and the Cameo Cinema. It also has several venues which are used during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August each year.  Further along Lothian Road there is The Filmhouse, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Usher Hall and The Traverse Theatre. Hundreds of people pass through the parish each week attending these venues and engaging with the issues and narratives which the arts present on a regular basis.  There has been, and continues to be, a history of involvement in the world of the arts at Barclay which we seek to encourage and develop. 

Listed below is a description of the various areas within the Arts Ministry:

1.       Sunday Evening Worship

The Arts Ministry is developing a team for the evening service to help it become more accessible for those who are not regular churchgoers by using the arts as a way in to discussing issues of faith, e.g. through film clips, drama etc. 

2.       Barclay Film Club

We have developed a group of Christians and non-Christians who weekly go to the cinema together and then discuss the themes of the films we have watched. The group regularly meets at Cineworld in Fountainpark.  Once a month, however, the group meets in the church halls where one of the film club members shows one of their favourite films and leads the discussion.  There are also several special meetings and events at various times throughout the year.  For more information about the Barclay Film Club, visit http://barclayfilmclub.blogspot .com/.   
 

3.       Forging a relationship with the arts groups which use our buildings

We wish to pursue the development of pastoral links with organisations such as Edinburgh Music Theatre Company and Edinburgh University Revelation Rock Gospel Choir simply on a friendship and support basis.  In doing so, we hope to create opportunities for these groups to host events at Barclay as well as encourage them in their outreach to the community. 

4.       Commissioning of New Art

Barclay enjoys a relationship with the Edinburgh College of Art and has in the past commissioned some new art based around a spiritual theme such as hope, fear or love. Last year, we hosted a successful exhibition in the church halls during the Festival, and there is ongoing development of new opportunities to display visual art within Barclay. 

5.       Development of the arts in worship

We wish to help and encourage people in Barclay with gifts in acting, music, and multimedia to use these gifts in worship at both services.  

6.      Outreach

We wish to develop ongoing relationships with the surrounding theatres, cinemas, and pubs in the parish and on Lothian Road, simply starting as a ‘presence’ to those who work there.  We also hope to host events in these venues that are designed to engage those who would otherwise not come to church. 

7.       Development of Barclay as a concert/lecture venue

The Arts Ministry is planning various events to help establish Barclay further as a venue for concerts and lectures, including courses, workshops, and a festival series on relevant issues raised by culture. 

8.       Insert Your Vision Here

We are actively looking for people who share this passion for engagement with culture and whom God has given the desire to lead with their gifts.  Come and join us as we embark on this exciting journey! 

For more information on the Barclay Arts Ministry,  feel free to email Steve Innes at artsministry@barclaychurch.org.uk or leave a message on the church answering machine at 0131 229 6810.