Open cathedral answers prayers

DESPITE the parliamentary sittings, online question times and huge volumes of constituency casework, one thing has been missing from politicians’ diaries − getting out and about to visit local businesses, charities and organisations.

Last week I had a happy invitation from St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh to help them reopen their doors to the public for individual prayer.

The cathedral has always welcomed people of all faiths and none to walk in and spend time in quiet contemplation. An extended shutdown for the first time in more than a century has been hard.

While many churches have taken their services online, it still matters that people of faith can access the buildings at the heart of their spiritual community.

Well done to the Scottish Government for recognising the need to reopen churches and well done to St Mary’s for the hard work to get the building safe.