Ecumenical Conference Centre, Dunblane, Scotland
Our House programme includes:
- retreats of various kinds
- church, inter-church and ACTS meetings
- conferences and consultations
- music and poetry
- painting, walking and breaks for senior citizens
- international work camps, volunteers and interns.
Our history
Scottish Churches House was founded in 1960 as 'a place that the churches hold in common, and from which they develop their ministry and mission together'. This ecumenical 'intention' remains its purpose today. Trustees hold it in the name of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), which has charitable status.
The Conference Centre occupies a row of 18th century cottages which forms the east side of the Cathedral square in Dunblane, as well as a converted church hall and adjoining buildings on the north side - Leighton House.
In August 1960, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee met in Scotland to mark the Jubilee of the 1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference, the gathering of Christians remembered as having established the ecumenical movement worldwide. The WCC leaders came over to Dunblane from their meeting in St Andrews to dedicate Scottish Churches House with the unveiling of the 'oikoumene' plaque on the front of the building. 'Oikoumene' in Greek means 'the whole inhabited world'.
As 'Edinburgh 1910' prepares for its centenary, so Scottish Churches House is looking forward to its Jubilee in 2010.
The Chapel which dates from the 16th century or earlier is a beautiful vaulted chamber built into the sloping ground of the gardens behind the House. In the doorway of the Chapel is a tile from the First Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam in 1948 - an event which motivated the founding of Scottish Churches House.
The ‘Oikoumene’ plaque in front of Scottish Churches House. The Greek word means 'the whole inhabited world'.
'The Coming of Blane'
This large illumination on velum (mid 20th century) by the Dunblane artist, Helen Lamb, hangs at the top of the main staircase.
St Blane was a Celtic monk who established a Christian presence on Holmehill, behind Scottish Churches House, around 600 A.D.
The gardens rise steeply behind the House to Holmehill with its great trees and parliament of rooks, offering a peaceful place of retreat.