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Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Church servers put through their paces
An Edinburgh church has turned to an unexpected source for help in perfecting its worship: the gym. Altar servers from St Michael and All Saints, a Scottish Episcopal church known for its elaborate, centuries-old Anglo-Catholic liturgy, took part in a specially devised training session on Saturday led by personal trainer Stuart Lane. The workout was designed specifically to meet the physical demands of serving at the altar. The church Rector, the Revd Oliver Brewer-Lennon, said the event is a novel response to a need which is real and genuine. He said: 'The church's liturgy, or form of worship, is intricate, beautiful, and highly choreographed – and that places real physical demands on the servers. They carry heavy objects, genuflect, kneel for extended periods, and move in precise, synchronised patterns. It's physically taxing in a way people often don't realise. 'The idea was sparked half in jest, when someone remarked that serving resembled a kind of liturgical workout. But the joke led to a serious proposal: why not train intentionally for it?' Personal trainer Stuart Lane, who previously worked with Father Oliver as a weightlifting coach came from Glasgow specially to run the event. He lead a one-hour session in the church, and encouraged all those taking part to concentrate on core strength, mobility, balance, and stability with exercises tailored to the movements of sacred ritual. The idea was received warmly by the serving team of fifteen, who bring a serious commitment to their role in the liturgy and are open to new ways of preparing for it. 'I don't know if this makes us innovators or just slightly mad,' said Father Oliver, 'but the aim is genuine. This is about supporting people in what they do for the life of the church – and maybe having a bit of fun along the way.' Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS trust receives £1.3m grant for solar panels
An NHS trust has secured more than £1.3m of government funding to install solar panels at two hospitals. University Hospitals Dorset estimates the new panels at Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital will save the trust £177,000 in energy costs. The funding is part of the first load of nationwide investment from Great British Energy, the government's new state-owned energy company. NHS England said the "groundbreaking" investment would result in the "slashing of energy costs" across the health service by "hundreds of millions of pounds". Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England Chris Gormley said: "These vital savings can be reinvested directly into front line care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities." University Hospitals Dorset said its grant would fully fund solar panels on multi-storey car parks. The panels are guaranteed for 15 years, meaning the trust would save at least £2.5m in energy costs over the life of the project, it said. The installation will take place this summer and will contribute around 200 tonnes of carbon savings each year, the trust added. Stuart Lane, sustainability and carbon manager at the trust, said the funding was a "real boost" to its environmental plans, as well as being good for its finances. "We have also commissioned several other solar panel projects and this funding will accelerate the pace at which we can meet the full potential of solar generated on our sites, meaning we are a step close to our net zero targets and redirecting energy costs to patient care," he added. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Schools and hospitals get £180m solar investment Hospital trust goes completely smoke free University Hospitals Dorset
