Chaplains will be on campus at a weekly drop-in session at the Student Centre, Merchiston (Room 5) on Thursdays 1pm to 5pm. The first drop-in will be on Thursday 19 October.
The Chaplaincy service is for colleagues and students from all faiths and from none, and provides a listening service designed to offer support and a sense of community.
We believe that spiritual wellbeing is important and the Honorary Chaplains and Belief Contacts that make up the team represent many of the main world religions and promote a multi-faith and belief approach. Chaplaincy aims to provide a focal point where we can celebrate and explore the wealth of nationalities, cultures and beliefs represented here at Edinburgh Napier and is a place where you'll always find a friendly face and someone to listen.
Our team of Chaplains specialise in offering emotional, spiritual and practical support and guidance, regardless of whether you want to discuss an everyday issue or one of life's bigger events. Chaplains provide an independent sounding board, an opportunity to ask questions related to faith or of a non-religious nature and can support you in times of crisis or when you need practical support.
We understand that in these unsettling times many colleagues and students may feel troubled and anxious – and our team of experienced Chaplains are here for you.
Chaplains can also be a link to other professional support services at the University and can help if you are having difficulty reaching out to them.
The team is made up of a diverse group of Honorary Chaplains representing the Edinburgh Muslim community, Church of Scotland and United Reform Church, the Edinburgh Roman Catholic Chaplaincy, University Jewish Chaplaincy, and has contacts with representatives from the Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Orthodox, and Sikh communities.
You can also learn more about our Honorary Chaplains below.
Amin Buxton
Amin Buxton is the Muslim Chaplain at Edinburgh Napier University.
Amin is an educator and translator, and he is involved in several educational initiatives including Reviving Souls and New to Islam Edinburgh. He is an outreach officer at Edinburgh Central Mosque, teaches classes at Lauriston Mosque and delivers Friday sermons at Blackhall Mosque. He holds a COSCA certificate in Counselling and is working to apply Islamic paradigms of Psychology to improve mental health. He loves travelling - especially in the Middle East - and has a taste for fine scents.
Dermot Morin
Fr Dermot Morrin OP, Superior and Parish Priest at St Albert's Edinburgh Catholic Chaplaincy, studied engineering in Dublin and then theology and philosophy in Rome and Oxford. Before coming to Edinburgh in 2009, he was a parish priest in London. He has a keen interest in the history of art and enjoys cooking, hiking and gardening.
Warren MacLeod
“From a young age I knew I wanted to meet people from all over the world. So, after growing up in a small town in the USA, I left to work in schools in Nigeria, then China, and now with universities in Scotland. I am the team leader here for a charity called Friends International. We connect international students to local people and opportunities, offering friendship or faith. Even though I've only been in Edinburgh since January of 2021, I've loved living here. I especially enjoy taking my camera out to the highlands with my friends. I love meeting new people from all different backgrounds, so if you ever see me, come say hello!"
Karen Campbell
Karen Campbell is the Church of Scotland Minister of Marchmont St Giles'. She was born in Edinburgh and completed her BD and MTh there in the 1990s. From 1996-2002, she was the senior Assistant at St Giles' Cathedral, before being called to Marchmont in 2002.
In 2012 she completed her Doctorate in Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where she wrote on issues of Remembrance and Suffering and living with Trauma, which many soldiers and chaplains returning from conflict zones, and bereaved and abused people live with on a daily and lifelong basis. She has been Chaplain to the Personnel Recovery Centre for the Army in Edinburgh and is currently the National Chaplain for the Royal British Legion Scotland. During 2015 Karen was Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery. She convenes the Committee on Safeguarding for the Church of Scotland, which also combines her interest in supporting and being an advocate for vulnerable people.
http://marchmontstgiles.org.uk/whos-who/
Honorary Jewish Chaplains
The Jewish University Chaplaincy is served in Edinburgh by Rabbi Eliran and Ayalah Shabo. To contact Eliran and Ayalah call 07570 372 557 or 07570 372 586 or email Eliran@mychaplaincy.co.uk or Ayalah@mychaplaincy.co.uk.
Mark Solomon is Rabbi of Sukkat Shalom, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community, as well as the Leicester Progressive Synagogue. He lives in London, where he is senior lecturer in Rabbinic Literature at Leo Baeck College, the seminary for Progressive rabbis. He is also Interfaith Consultant for Liberal Judaism and Chair of the Liberal Beit Din (Rabbinic Court).
Originally from Australia, he was the first orthodox rabbi to come out in Britain, and is active in the Jewish LGBT+ community. Since 2005 he has been visiting Edinburgh regularly – at least every month – as rabbi of Sukkat Shalom.
The congregation welcomes students and colleagues to its services and especially its potluck Shabbat dinners on Friday evenings, and you can find information on www.eljc.org.
Mark is always available to speak to students, and can be contacted on marklsolomon@outlook.com