The Gateway Project News

In this section you will find the latest news relating to the Gateway Project. This will help you stay up to date with how the project is progressing and how you can be praying.

Newsletters

Church Survey Results

Video Announcements

FAQs

A project like this always raises questions and we have tried to capture some of the key ones here. If you have any questions about the project then we’d love to hear from you. Please email buildingproject@stmungos.org

Existing Buildings

  • The next key decision point for Vestry comes at the end of Summer 2025.  At that point we hope to have received feedback from the church family and raised the £300k required to move to the next stage, which is the detailed Concept Design phase.

  • No decision has been made about the current buildings yet, as we are still in the early stages of the project and are working through the feasibility phase. Depending on the available space in the new building, we may not need to continue renting the Ministry Centre. Ladycroft might be sold, but no decisions have been made at this point. We recognise that Ladycroft holds spiritual and historical significance for our church. We are assuming that Woodcroft House will be refurbished as part of the building project.

  • At the early stages of the project, the Vestry asked a group of St. Mungo’s members, all with significant property experience, to explore other existing buildings in and around Balerno that might be available to us. To learn more about this process and the Options Appraisal, click on the Project Background section of the website.  As of May 2025, no suitable buildings, based on the established criteria, have become available.

  • We are not required to keep Woodcroft or other buildings as a Rectory, but in the future should a Rector require accommodation, we would be required to provide one or assist the Rector to acquire their own residence.

Environmental Sustainability

  • The Scottish Episcopal Church has a “Net Zero Action Plan” and we are committed to incorporating the principles of that plan into the design.  We will seek to minimise embodied carbon in the building fabric and target achieving net zero in use if realistic.  In addition, part of the overall design approach is to ensure that the landscaping of the field improves access for the community, improves the biodiversity and water management.

    A short-term Sustainability Focus Group have met in April and May to discuss a potential Sustainability Framework, and the outcome of their working will be fed into the design.

  • At May 2025, we have reviewed the history of the site, carried out a wildlife survey and had a topographical survey completed.  We have also reviewed plans from the utility companies for water, gas and electricity services.  We have yet to do a ground conditions survey.

  • It is too early in the design process to know what specific sustainability features will be included but all these examples will be considered by the Sustainability Consultant, Max Fordham.

Financial Planning

  • Once we agree the design, which will be before submitting it for planning permission, we will have an estimated cost which will be shared and discussed with the congregation.

  • We will explore all possible funding streams, however from our conversations so far with other churches and fundraising experts, we anticipate that the vast majority of the funds will need to be raised from the Church Family through sacrificial giving over a number of years. 

    We will be pursuing possible grant and trust funding, although for a new build in Balerno, this is unlikely to be a significant contribution to the overall cost. 

    We will also be considering loans, although the cost of servicing a loan ie the annual interest charge, means that this is likely to only be a short to medium term cash flow solution, rather than a 30 year funding solution, as you might have for a house.

    Whilst this is undoubtedly a daunting project from a fundraising perspective, our conversations with other churches have encouraged us that, with God’s help, this is indeed possible.  Several of the churches we have spoken to have given testimony to the incredible spiritual journey into generosity, trusting God and God’s provision which has parallelled the physical journey of construction.

  • If God is putting on your heart to donate now, then you are very welcome to make a one-off or regular donation. 

    The account details:  STMUNGOS EPISCOPAL CHURCH; sort code 83-19-15; account number 00266149.

    Please make sure any gifts are clearly marked with “Gateway” and let Katherine know too, Katherine.burnett@stmungos.org

Glossary

Community

  • As we are one church in two locations, the new building in Balerno is as much for the Livingston church family as the Balerno church family.  People from both services will attend the youth events and Sunday evening services in Balerno, as well as the numerous weekly events such as Prayer Cell, Minis and other events that take place during the week.  St Mungo’s staff serve both Balerno and Livingston and a new building should have a very positive impact on staff wellbeing and on their workloads. The Livingston service will continue as normal after the new building is complete.

  • Respecting and listening to the local community is important to St Mungo’s and we have already entered conversations with Balerno Community Trust, MSPs, MPs and local councillors and other local organisations.  We will invite the community to view the building plans at an early stage and will listen closely to their feedback. During the planning application the local community will have the right to submit comments to Edinburgh Council.

  • Good site management will be one of the key issues in selecting a contractor and we will expect them to ensure deliveries are restricted to certain times of the day and that site operatives park their vehicles in specified locations.  We recognise that there may be some community disruption, but we will do our best to keep this to a minimum and will communicate with the community throughout the construction stage.

  • They were told about our intentions in May 2024.

  • We certainly do not want to lose our links.  No specific arrangements have been made, but we are aware that it might be helpful to the school for them to use our building for such things as end of year concerts

Design Considerations

  • Vestry have been prayerfully considering the growth strategy for St Mungo’s and the proposed initial designs reflect the optimum layout that builds in room for growth whilst maintaining the integrity and culture of worship.  The initial plans would allow 350 people to comfortably worship with the flexibility of the building allowing up to 500 people to gather together.

  • We aim to bring the first set of initial drawings to the church meetings on 20 and 21 May 2025.  These are still very much a work in progress, and we expect them to change and develop over the next 6 to 12 months.

  • We are exploring options for the Wellness Centre but our current thinking is that the Wellness Centre would remain in Woodcroft House, with a refurbishment planned as part of the project.

  • It is too early to be definitive, but it is likely that the Wellness Centre will have its own entrance.

  • From our experience of using the raked seating in Heriot Watt, our view is that this does not suit how we worship together, and we will want a flat floor.

  • The desire for a prayer and reflection space has been included in the Client Brief and we will endeavour to provide this sort of space.   

  • We are in the process of appointing a Transport Consultant to feed into the design and planning at an early stage.  The Transport Consultant will advise on both construction site traffic and traffic flow once we start using the finished building as well as parking.

  • Yes, that requirement is included in the Client Brief and been discussed with Page Park.

  • Yes, we are considering the whole church family when designing the new building and therefore it will be accessible for those with a variety of disabilities.

Legal Matters

  • The land is currently held in trust by the Diocese.  However, the Diocese has agreed to transfer ownership to St Mungo’s and at May 2025 the documenting of the transfer is nearing completion.  Ownership will transfer after we have obtained planning consent.

  • The new building will be owned by St Mungo’s. 

  • An architect's Client Brief is a document that outlines the client's requirements, goals, and expectations for a building or renovation project. Put simply, it’s a description of what the spaces do.

    The Client Brief serves as a foundational guide for the architect and design team, ensuring that the final design aligns with the client’s vision, needs, and constraints. The brief helps translate the client's ideas into a practical design solution and is a key tool for effective communication between the client and the architect.

  • A decision-making process used to evaluate and compare different potential solutions or approaches to a problem or project. It helps organisations assess the pros and cons of various options, including financial, operational, and strategic factors, to identify the most suitable choice.

    This process ensures that decision-makers have a clear understanding of all available options and their potential outcomes before making a commitment. It’s a systematic way to ensure that resources are used efficiently and that the chosen solution aligns with the organisation's goals.

  • For the purposes of charities law, the members of the Vestry are the Charity Trustees of the church.  Vestry members are responsible for the temporal affairs of the congregation, in particular, matters relating to HR, property, financial stewardship and resources.  The Vestry also assists the Rector in matters affecting the spiritual welfare of the congregation. 

    In their role as Charity Trustees, the Vestry are responsible for the charity’s governance and strategy, and for making sure that the charity is administered effectively. They must account for its activities and outcomes.  The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) provides guidance setting out the duties and responsibilities of charity trustees.  

  • This is a small, decision-making body responsible for overseeing and guiding the direction of a project. The group typically includes key stakeholders, senior management, and subject matter experts who are invested in the success of the project. The Steering Group plays a crucial role in ensuring that the project aligns with organisational goals, stays on track, and achieves its intended outcomes.

  • The sanctuary is often viewed as a sacred space where people come to encounter the presence of God. While architectural styles and features may vary depending on the denomination, the sanctuary remains the heart of a church's spiritual life, where most public worship takes place.

  • A green belt is designated open land which is around, beside or in an urban area and for which there is a presumption against development except for specified, mostly rural, uses.

  • The Scottish Episcopal Church is known as a Province of the Anglican Communion.  Within the Province there are seven areas (known as Dioceses) which cover mainland Scotland and the Islands. Each Diocese is overseen by a Bishop.  The Dioceses are: Aberdeen & Orkney; Argyll & The Isles; Brechin; Edinburgh; Glasgow & Galloway; Moray, Ross & Caithness and St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane.

  • This is a short, informal process of discussions with the Planning Officers.  In our case it is an optional part of the overall planning application, but we intend to use this to guide our designs.