Officers
Chair - Rev Tom Johnston (until Sept 2008)
Vice-Chair -Vacant
Secretary - Louise Ogilvie (Liberton Kirk) loopylmo@tiscali.co.ukChaplains - Mrs Shona Haggie
and Ms Nicola Jones
When the Cameron Toll Shopping Centre was being built in the early 1980’s, progress was watched with thoughtful eyes. Rev. John Cameron from Liberton Kirk, as well as Rev Paul King (Methodist Church) and Rev Tom Johnston (Priestfield Church of Scotland) who had a good view of developments from their homes in Lady Road opposite. They shared a vision of a Christian Chaplaincy in the Shopping Centre, supported by local churches. This is not unusual, there are many such ventures including several in Edinburgh, but it took 20 years for their vision to become reality.
In January 2002 they were able to report that after many years of prayer, planning and discussion the Cameron Toll Chaplaincy was no longer a pipedream, but a reality. The project would offer a supportive Christian presence (on behalf of the local Christian Churches) to the people who work in the Cameron Toll Shopping Centre and to the customers if required.
The two lay people were appointed as Voluntary Chaplaincy Pastoral Workers, attending the shopping centre for 4 hours per week. Mrs Clare Roller from St Gregory’s Church and Mrs Tammy Macniven from Mayfield Salisbury Church commenced work on February 1 st 2002. They were supported by the Steering Group, whose members are from both the churches of Newington Churches Together NCT and South East Edinburgh Churches Action Together SEECAT: training and advice was provided by Scottish Churches Industrial Mission and the Edinburgh Volunteer Exchange.
An inaugural service was held on 24 th March 2002 at Priestfield Church when representatives from the NCT and SEECAT Churches asked God’s blessing on Clare and Tammy, and committed themselves to support and encourage them.
Clare and Tammy have visited the Centre regularly, over the past four years, to offer both staff and customers a warm welcome and, when required, an invaluable listening service.
The Chaplains have held many successful events at Cameron Toll including a
special Harvest Thanksgiving Service and Easter Service, each time
ensuring that local churches and schools had an active role to play. At Christmas time they were involved in the Christmas Carol Singing.
Clare and Tammy completed their time at Cameron Toll in March 2006 but will no doubt continue to see their friends there when they are shopping. The member churches who have supported them are also full of praise for all they have achieved and ask God’s blessing for them as they relinquish this challenging ministry.
The Cameron Toll Steering Group appointed two new Chaplains to continue the ministry. They are Nicola Jones from Nicolson Square Methodist Church and Shona Haggie from Liberton Kirk. They took up the post in October 2006.
updated Jan 08