OUR VISION
Jesus did some of his most incredible work at mealtimes and we try to emulate this. We have hospitality and social justice at our heart - including free hot meals, welcoming Sunday services, debt advice and lots more.
Many of our community are or have been experiencing the issues of homelessness. We are a community who believe in the “Good News” that God loves us all, whoever we are. We hope that in all we do, with everyone we meet, people experience this.
Mustard Seed is an inclusive church. That means everyone is welcome - whether you’re poor, rich, old, young, LGBTQI+, straight, whatever your gender, race, or life experience, whether you’re doubting or firm in your beliefs. We are all on a journey and are happy to be part of your journey.
OUR STORY
We started Mustard Seed Edinburgh as a church in June 2017. Many of us were involved with a community meal that's held every week at P's & G's Church Edinburgh, called Soul Food.
It was at Soul Food that we discovered the power of hospitality and kindness, and we wanted to make these ideals central to all of what we are and do. So, rather tentatively, we set off from Ps and Gs and started a new community down the road in Leith.
Since then lots has been happening in our community, including…
…starting three Soul Food meals
…establishing a CAP debt centre
…growing our children’s ministry
…creating a garden behind the church
…supporting New Scots
…and more
ROOTED & RADICAL
The Bishop of Edinburgh commissioned us to be a Community of Mission within the Scottish Episcopal Church. He told us to be ‘Rooted and Radical.’
So in all we do we try to be deeply connected to God. Worship and prayer are vital to us. But it doesn’t stop there.
We try to link up to our community in ways which help us to listen and understand. This means mission is at the heart of all we try to do.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Our big passion has been walking alongside those who have found themselves to be dealing with the issues of homelessness. We are linked with the charity Soul Food Edinburgh and have developed our Soul Food meals across Edinburgh as well as started three of our own.
In doing this we have partnered with CAP by becoming a debt centre and running their courses.
During lockdown we recognised that many people were struggling with mental health issues. This led us to begin our Gardening Club which has become a safe place for people to share, enjoy life together and grow a brand new garden.
We walk alongside New Scots (refugees and asylum seekers) in Edinburgh.
We also have a great relationship with the churches of the area and try to work with them as much as possible.
Our current trustees are:
Johanna Derry Hall (Chair)
James Tominey
Andrew Strutzenberg
Victoria Finlay
Alastair Ager
Reverend Dr. Marion Chatterley (Diocesan Rep.)
Richard Cornfield (Pioneer Priest)
The KiNgdom of Heaven is like a
mustard seed
Mustard Seed Values
KiNdness
In a world which can be difficult to navigate we want kindness to surround our community and everything that we do. With this we hope that new ideas and ways forward are found and that second chances are discovered.
Hospitality
The table is at the centre of things. We believe that great food - along with space for conversation - changes things, enables new plans and transformation to be imagined and worked through.
CreaTivity
We value everyone’s gifts and abilities and want to encourage these to be at the centre of our community in order to shape and develop it.
Justice
We long for a kinder and fairer world. We especially want to walk alongside people who are homeless in Edinburgh and support them wherever that may take us. We desire a transformation of community where those on the edges find a place and a voice.
Joy
In a world that can be hard we want the joy of knowing Jesus to be at the very centre of all we do.
Meet the team
Rev. Richard Cornfield
PioNeer Priest (ON sabbATical)
Richard’s life was changed a few years back when he started (along with his wife, Jenny, and a great team) Soul Food – a fantastic, free, home cooked meal. Seeing how kindness and hospitality changes things he wanted to start a community with these ideas at the heart of it. He loves Birmingham City, a bit of loud guitar, podcasts and getting outside.
Jenny Cornfield
Soul Food EdiNburgh and Soul Talk Lead
Alongside Richard, Jenny pioneered Mustard Seed. She leads Soul Food Edinburgh. She is a lover of words and is passionate about the power of story.
Liz Jarvis
Mustard Seed AdmiNistraTive lead
Liz is passionate about people connecting with Jesus in their own way and finding their voice. She loves music, lighthouses and taking photos of sunsets.
trustees
