Parish News Round-Up

Thursday October 16 2014

Our weekly round-up of news received from local churches.

The Rt Rev John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, visited the church in which he grew up, became a communicant and in which he was first licensed to preach.

Portland Parish Church, Troon, is celebrating the centenary of its present building in South Beach which was consecrated in April 1914. The minister, Rev George Brander, left shortly afterwards to be a chaplain in World War 1 and the church halls were used as a military hospital for the next four years.  The present minister, Rev Jamie Milliken, is now a chaplain to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

The Moderator presented long service certificates to five members and a dove of peace made from the shattered glass of Bethlehem's rubble to the church.  At the end of the service he unveiled a new date stone above the west front door.  

Afterwards Mr Chalmers enjoyed a light lunch and chat with the congregation, some of whom recalled the mischievous boy in Portland Sunday School who became the Moderator.

Oakshaw Trinity Church, Paisley recognised 11 Elders who had given 50 or more years of service to the Church. In addition, the church celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the ordination of the Rev George Prentice, now ‘retired’ and a member of the congregation.

Pictured: Back (from left) – The Rev George Prentice, John Fife, Angus Ashwood, Andrew Christie, William Hogg, the Rev Gordon Armstrong. Front – Walter Baird, John Dunlop, Vic Coombes, John McGregor.

On Sunday October 12, at the parish church of Midmar in Aberdeenshire, a newly-ordained minister was ‘preached in’ by her mother.  Fathers must have preached in their sons often enough over the years: this is surely the first time a mother has preached in her daughter – unless anyone knows different.

A few days earlier, the Rev Elspeth McKay was ordained and inducted to the parishes of Echt linked with Midmar in the presbytery of Gordon. Her mother, Rev Margaret McKay, who is now retired, began her ministerial career in the United Reformed Church at four churches in Essex, and then was part of a shared ministry at Auchaber and Auchterless in the presbytery of Buchan, of which she was presbytery clerk.

 At a special service in Lonmay Parish Church, Aberdeenshire, attended by the congregation and many of his friends a presentation was made to the retiring Session Clerk, Alistair Laird.

Alistair has served for 42 years as Session Clerk and 58 years as an Elder.

In addition to certificates signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly and the Moderator of Buchan Presbytery, he was presented with a painting of Aden Country Park from the Kirk Session. The picture shows Alistair and Presbytery Moderator the Rev Willem Myburgh Verster.

Please submit items of parish news to magazine@lifeandwork.org or Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN. Digital photographs should not be reduced. Please check the quality of your pictures: images which are blurry or too dark cannot be used. If there are children in any pictures please confirm that their parents or guardians have given permission for publication.

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