We are a German-speaking congregation affiliated to the Protestant Church of Germany (Evangelische Kirche Deutschland) - one of over 100 worldwide. The UK today has six German parish districts, covering around 25 smaller communities and congregations throughout the UK. All together they are affiliated to the Protestant Synod of German Language in Great Britain (Evangelische Synode Deutscher Sprache in Großbritannien).
Our parish district covers the whole of Scotland and north-east England. Until 1986 this area was still divided into three parishes, with ministers based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, but declining funds made it necessary to reduce the number of resident ministers and combine the parishes. Edinburgh ist jetzt die main base für die Congregation in Scotland, und der minister für die region Scotland & Northeast-England lives here.
The history of the German-speaking community in Scotland reflects the eventful history of Germany. Since 2024, the congregations of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow have joined together as one congregation for Scotland, but services and events are still held in all three locations. Services are also occasionally held in the preaching stations of Dumfries and Inverness.
German ministers from Edinburgh have offered services in Aberdeen since 1948. Only for a short time - from 1962 to 1968 - did Aberdeen have its own minister. The former congregation in Aberdeen had its own building from 1962 to 1996, which was when sold when they joined together with the congregation in Edinburgh. Today, regular monthly services take place in the local South Holborn Church.
A German speaking congregation had first existed in Edinburgh since 1862, but was closed down in 1914. The congregation was re-founded in 1947, initially for German prisoners of war.
While the early years were strongly influenced by these prisoners of war, today all age groups, including German students, young families with children and also Scots, come together here, not only from the Edinburgh area itself but also from further afield.
Services in Edinburgh have been taking place at Laudate Haus (1 Chalmers Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 1TW) since 14th Oktober 1967
The first official German congregation in Glasgow existed from 1898 to 1914. The resumption of regular church services in Glasgow after the end of the Second World War began in 1952. Glasgow had its own minister until 1995, since then the Glasgow congregation has been looked after from Edinburgh.
The congregation in Glasgow has not had its own building since March 2008. From 1961 to 2008, services took place in the church hall at Hughenden Terrace statt. After 2008, services first took place at Hyndland Parish Church statt, then in Russell House at Broomhill-Hyndland Parish Church until early 2020. Since Autumn 2022, regular monthly services take place in the local Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church.
Further information can be found in the Gemeindekonzeption Schottland (in German only).
In North-East England, we have the Lutheran Congregation in Newcastle upon Tyne. The parish extends geographically across the whole of North-East England. While most members come from the Newcastle, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland areas, there are also individual parishioners in the south (County Durham).
Lutheran Congregation in Newcastle upon Tyne exists since 1881, and has its home since 1965 in the Martin-Luther-Kirche in the district of Shieldfield.
The former congregation in Middlesbrough existed until 2011 and was then a preaching station until 2020, with services provided around 3 times a year.
Also in Middlesbrough is the German Seamen’s Mission, in whose building services in Middlesbrough took place until it was sold.
Further information can be found in the Gemeindekonzeption Newcastle (in German only).
12 August 2026
08 May 2026
28 November 2025
24 October 2025
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26 October 2024
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