Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;
and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:16–17
Worship is at the heart of all we do as a diocese.
There is a wide spectrum of liturgical expression in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway—from informal evangelical praise services to vibrant examples of the choral tradition among many other dimensions.
As in other parts of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the influence of the Oxford Movement has been lasting and in most congregations, vestments are worn, the sacrament is reserved, and the main service of worship is Eucharistic in nature. This does not, however, exhaust the influences that are felt in the Diocese, and visitors would occasionally encounter worship songs from charismatic and evangelical traditions, sometimes but not always blended with more catholic expressions of worship.
Many churches have regular midweek services in addition to their Sunday services. The Scottish Liturgy 1982 is used in nearly every charge, with many also offering the Eucharist using the traditional language of the Scottish Liturgy 1970 at some point. Choral Evensong is celebrated in several charges and has become more common in recent years particularly in some of the charges around the city of Glasgow.
It is common in the Diocese for congregations to include many who have not grown up within the Episcopal or Anglican tradition. The liturgy offers particular opportunities for education, formation and renewal in such a situation.
Find a list of authorised and experimental liturgies on the Scottish Episcopal Church website.
