Rev Will Sanders has been ordained and inducted as Minister of Christ Church Edinburgh. Will has recently graduated from Edinburgh Theological Seminary, as well as having gained experience as Minister in Training at Redeemer Church Edinburgh. He had also completed a Summer placement in Christ Church, so Will and his wife Sarah are already well known to the congregation.
The ordination and induction service took place on Friday 4th September, and was led by Rev Dr Alistair Wilson, moderator of Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery. After reading Ephesians 2:11-22, Dr Wilson focussed on the idea of ‘being built together’, as the church is an organism and a building, growing into being the Temple of the Lord. Thinking of the whole church but also the Christ Church congregation, he firstly noted that we belong, having previously been alienated from God. We are all from different backgrounds, but we are brought together by Jesus Christ. Secondly, it’s a single community, there is unity, and in a divided world that is a great witness. And thirdly, we are the location of God’s presence – the Word tabernacles amongst us. And this is why we care that the church is well looked-after. We are also a Temple where others can come to meet God. Dr Wilson exhorted us to pray for our congregations, and encouraged those not in the church to find Christ, the Door.
After the Presbytery clerk Roddy Macleod had read the narrative, Will answered the set questions and signed the formula, and then a large group of ministers laid hands on Will as he was ordained to the ministry. Sam Orr of Redeemer Church gave the charge to Will, and Ciarán Kelleher of Montrose Free Church gave the charge to the congregation. Finally Harry Witherspoon, an elder at Christ Church, gave some more details of the history of the call, and welcomed Will to the charge. The service was followed by a time of food and fellowship.
The congregation of Christ Church were joined by many friends from other congregations, both from the Free Church and other gospel churches in Edinburgh. The service was held in the neighbouring Wilson Memorial Church so as to accommodate larger numbers, with about 200 being present.
While the congregation at Christ Church is now made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, it was originally one of the congregations that joined the Free Church having left the Church of Scotland in 2013. They initially formed what was technically a ‘church plant’ from St Columba’s, giving them time to then set up as a fully formed congregation in 2015. They hired, and then bought, an old mission hall in a residential area in the east of Edinburgh, close to their former location, and have now also purchased a manse. Rev David Court, who had been minister both in the former congregation and following the move to the Free Church, took up a role as Associate Minister of St Columba’s in June 2025, since when Rev Dr Zack Purvis served as Interim Moderator until his return to the USA, at which point Rev Ali Sewell took over the reins. The congregation is thankful to God for his faithfulness during the vacancy and for his gracious provision of a new minister.
Mal Cooke
