The youngsters were attending Cubs, Beavers and Scouts clubs at Tranent Parish Church Hall when sections of material gave way.

The Church of Scotland said the cause was not yet known but the body responsible for enforcing workplace safety in Great Britain had been informed.

In a statement, Church leaders said: “We have met with the Health and Safety Executive this morning and the building will be closed until further notice.

“We are very thankful that the injuries sustained were not more serious and we hope the children are now recovering.

“Our prayers are with everyone who was hurt or affected by this incident.”

Police were called to the building on Church Street in Tranent shortly before 7pm. No one was seriously hurt.

One parent who was inside the hall at the time told Dundee-based newspaper, The Courier: “The ceiling plaster collapsed from the roof over a group of children, the Beavers, and it was chaos – walking wounded and one with head split open.

“The Beaver leader was distraught; three Beavers were being enrolled just as the ceiling came down over all the group.

“This could have been far worse.”

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The five justices on the Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled that Daniel and Amy McArthur did not discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation when they cancelled the order of gay man Gareth Lee.

Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers Baking Company, came out of the court looking relieved, saying: “I want to start by thanking God, He has been with us during the challenges of the last four years. Through the Bible and the support of Christians he has comforted us and sustained us. He is our rock and all of his ways are just.

Mr McArthur went on: “We’re delighted and relieved at today’s ruling. We always knew we hadn’t done anything wrong in turning down this order. After more than four years, the Supreme Court has now recognised that and we are very grateful; grateful to the judges and especially grateful to God.

“We’re particularly pleased that the Supreme Court emphatically accepted what we have said all along. We did not turn down this order because of the person who made it but because of the message itself. The judges have given a clear signal today, in fact it couldn’t be clearer – family businesses like ours are free to focus on giving all their customers the best service they can without being forced to promote other people’s campaigns.

“I know a lot of people who will be very glad of this ruling today because this ruling protects freedom of…

– May 9 2014 – Gareth Lee, a member of the Queerspace gay rights advocacy group, places an order at Ashers Baking Company on Belfast’s Royal Avenue for a cake to be decorated with the slogan Support Gay Marriage alongside the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie. The order is accepted by Karen McArthur and payment of £36.50 is made in full.

– May 11 2014 – Mr Lee is telephoned and informed that the order cannot be completed. Mr Lee is offered a full refund.

– June 26 2014 – Northern Ireland Equality Commission writes to Ashers requesting that modest compensation be paid.

– July 7 2014 – The Christian Institute announces it will back Ashers after the company declines to settle the case.

– July 8 2014 – Alliance Party councillor Andrew Muir expresses public support for the Equality Commission bringing the case. The cake was to be produced for an event which Mr Muir was hosting during his time as mayor of North Down.

– October 24 2014 – Equality Commission writes again to Ashers and puts the bakery officially “on notice” of impending court action.

– November 13 2014 – DUP MPs William McCrea, Nigel Dodds and Sammy Wilson launch a petition in support of Ashers Bakery.

– December 8 2014 – DUP MLA Paul Givan launches a private members’ bill in the Assembly calling for the introduction of a “conscience clause” into equality legislation.

– March 13 2015 – Democratic…

The Anglican leader will mark the end of his ministry during a Holy Communion service at Canterbury Cathedral on 12th May 2019.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Most Rev Justin Welby said: “”I am deeply grateful to him [Bishop Trevor] for his faithfulness to the people of this Diocese and his faithfulness to Jesus Christ as he has sought to offer inspiration and pragmatic leadership over the past nine years.

“May he and Margaret [his wife] be assured of our prayers as they move into this next stage of their lives.”

Bishop Trevor was appointed Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury in 2010. He previously served as Bishop of Basingstoke for eight years.

Bishop Trevor said: “In the time I’ve been in the Diocese, what gives me real joy and energy is the myriad ways – thousands and thousands of ways – that I’ve been privileged to share in the lives of others who have discovered that God loves them.

“One of the great joys for me is confirmation.

“I love it: the privilege to listen, the privilege to serve and the sheer joy of sharing in the experience of a God searching out and loving people.

“If I’ve been able in any small way to help in that journey for people, then I thank God.”

Ordained as a deacon at St Mary’s Church in Luton in 1974, Bishop Trevor went on to serve in chaplaincy roles within churches in Norway and Italy. He returned to the UK in 1983, when he became the…