First Female Kirk Minister Dies

Friday February 9 2018

The Church of Scotland’s first female Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev Euphemia (Effie) Irvine, has died.

Mrs Irvine, who made history when she was ordained to the linked charge of Campsie Trinity with Milton of Campsie on June 1 1972, passed away on February 1, aged 93.

Paying tribute, former Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev Lorna Hood described her as a ‘great communicator and exceptional pastor’ and ‘an inspiration’.

Mrs Irvine grew up in Whiteinch in Glasgow, where her parents were members of Jordanvale Parish Church. She was a housewife for 16 years before deciding to become a religious studies teacher. However, when she was a year into her course at Glasgow University, the Church of Scotland made the decision to admit women as ministers.

Following an assistantship at Renfield Church, she became the first woman minister to be called to a parish when she was called to Campsie Trinity with Milton of Campsie. She later said: "I actually turned them down four times before accepting the position. I was a townie and didn't want to go to the country.”

Six years later the linkage between her two parishes was dissolved, and Mrs Irvine stayed on as minister at Milton of Campsie until her retirement in 1988. In 2003 she published her autobiography, ‘A Journey of Faith’.

Following the announcement of her death, the current Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Derek Browning, said: “In 1971 Effie Irvine became the first female minister ordained into a parish when she became minister of Campsie Trinity Church and Milton of Campsie Parish Church. She overcame in very short time the initial controversy that surrounded her appointment by going on to win people over by being an excellent minister to her community and gave tremendous support to the people in her parish. She was so well loved that Irvine Gardens in her parish was named after her.

“This year we celebrate 50 years of women being ordained to ministry in the Church of Scotland. Effie was one of the pioneers, and blazed a trail for women to serve the Church in this way. We give thanks for her life, and for the faithful ministry Effie exercised.”

One of the Elders at Milton of Campsie, Jim Crawford, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with her. She worked hard and was feisty but highly respected by everyone including elders, members of the board and the congregation. She was proud of being the first woman called to a parish. Over the years she led many trips to Jerusalem. As the driving force behind the building of our church hall in the early 1980s she was also proud of this achievement.”

And Mrs Hood tweeted:

So sad to hear this morning that Rev Effie Irvine has died aged 93. Effie was the first woman @churchscotland minister to be ordained into a parish. Great communicator & exceptional pastor. Led the way for folks like myself. You were an inspiration Effie. Thank you.

— Lorna Hood (@revlornascot) February 7, 2018

Mrs Irvine’s funeral will be held at Bishopton Parish Church on Tuesday February 13.

Comments

Jean Montgomerie - Saturday, February 10th, 2018

“Poignant to realise that Effie died only a few months before the 50th Anniversary of the Church of Scotland accepting Women as eligible to be admitted to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Effie and I enjoyed many happy times during our training at Trinity College - the only two 'women' in that year - graduating in 1971. She will be remembered for her enthusiasm for the gospel and love for her Lord.”

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