As you are a reader of the BUS Connect Magazine you can’t have escaped the news about Canopy on Saturday 6 June 2026 at Denny High School. Indeed, you may well have been there. Roughly 450 people gathered for Canopy, people of all ages from all over the country. Seven of us from Leven came for the day, aged from 15 to 80. Here are a few reflections from our day.
The aim of Canopy was to gather as a Scottish Baptist family to be encouraged, equipped and inspired. During the day we were led in lively and inspiring worship by a band gathered from across the churches. We heard insightful thoughts from Andrew Ollerton about current engagement with the Bible.
There was a range of seminars to enjoy and alongside this there was a great range of activities for children and young people. We enjoyed seminar content from Open Doors UK, the Peaceful Transformation Team, the Scottish Bible Society, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Tearfund and the Baptist Union of Scotland’s, Glenn Innes.
During the sessions, I was struck again by the “Increase” initiative and the reports of small but significant growth of membership and baptisms across our churches. I found it quite personal as I was sitting next to a friend from our church who has come to faith in the years since the Increase initiative was launched. After coming to faith he was baptised, became a church member and enthusiastic to come to Canopy.
He commented “I loved it.. it was my first time there. The worship was my favourite part. Got to meet other people as well.”
Another person in our church group said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the praise and worship and reports from churches that were flourishing and churches that were laying the groundwork but persevering. There was an encouraging atmosphere.”
In a season that has been challenging for us as a Union it was really significant for us to gather together for worship, prayer, teaching and conversation, being reminded of what is central to us as God’s people.
