MINISTRIES

Compiled by Faith Nurture

DEATHS Rev James E Hunter, formerly of Blantyre: Livingstone Memorial, on February 3 Rev James G S Blyth, formerly of Glenmuick, on February 11 Rev Peter J Macdonald, latterly of Edinburgh: Broughton St Mary’s, on February 12 Rev Donald A MacLennan, formerly of Kinloch, on February 17 Rev James H Sinclair, formerly of Auchencairn and Rerrick with Buittle and Kelton, on February 25 Rev Thomas J G Seath, formerly of Motherwell: Manse Road, on February 27

TRANSLATIONS Rev James F Gatherer, from Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean to Kirkcudbright Parish, on March 18 Rev Alistair S May, from Rutherglen: Stonelaw to Motherwell: Dalziel St Andrew’s, on February 25

INDUCTIONS Rev James W Milliken, to Dreghorn & Springside, on March 12 Rev Mark R S Smith, to Dunscore linked with Glencairn & Moniaive, on March 24 Rev Alastair S Duncan, from Glasgow: St George’s Tron as Transition Minister to Glasgow: St George’s Tron, on March 31

ORDINATION AND INDUCTIONS Rev William A Boyle, to Port Glasgow: New, on March 18

MINISTRIES DEVELOPMENT STAFF – NEW APPOINTMENTS Susan Whyte, with Argyll Presbytery as Argyll Youth Worker/Team Leader, on March 2

DEATH OF A DEACON PRESBYTERY OF DUNDEE Jane M Martin, DCS., formerly of Dundee: Chalmers Ardler, on February 26

ELDERSHIP

Alves and Burghead: Ordained: Mrs Anne Milligan, Mrs Janet Ralph and Mr Eric Towns Dunfermline St Ninian’s: Ordained: Marie-Thérèse Baldwin, Thomas Baldwin, Margaret Davidson, Elizabeth Fulton, Anne Marshall, David Murray, Elizabeth Oliver and James Turpie Monifieth: Admitted: Andrew Jack and Neil Morton Stirling St Ninian’s Old: Ordained: Sally Andrews, Thelma Jamieson, Elaine Mackay, Janette Peterson and Lorraine Reid Upper Donside: Ordained: Jill Pratt

LONG SERVICE

The following have received long service certificates

Edinburgh Carrick Knowe: Lynda Manchester (Sunday Club Teacher 30 years) Greenlaw: Valerie Robertson (Eldership 30) and David Stark (Church Organist 45) Lenzie Old: Richard Bell (30), Norman Girven (40), Martin Hanson (30), Ian Hector (40), Robert Martin (40), David Shearer (30), Jane Stirling (Organist 30 years) and Anne Willet (30) Lockerbie Dryfesdale, Hutton & Corrie: Alison Conchie (30) and Charles Conchie (30 years, 26 as Session Clerk) Monifieth: Steve Allardyce (30), Ron Grace (50) and Alex Lamont (30) Uddingston Old: Mima Herd (30), David Lang (30), Grace McKirdy (30) and Ken Storrier (30) Upper Donside: John Coutts (50) Westruther: Mary Macfarlane (Sunday School Teacher 30)

OBITUARY

The Rev Peter Macdonald, minister of Broughton St Mary’s Church in Edinburgh and a former leader of the Iona Community, has died aged 61.

Born in Dumbarton, Peter was engaged in both religion and politics from an early age. He studied for Church of Scotland ministry at both Trinity College Glasgow and New College Edinburgh, and his ministry career started as an assistant at the Old Kirk of Edinburgh, West Pilton. From 1986-90 he worked as Young Adult Advisor for the Church of Scotland, before becoming minister of Torbain Parish Church in Kirkcaldy. After eight years there, he moved back to Edinburgh, to the city centre St George’s West church, where he oversaw a refurbishment and the church’s establishment as a Fringe venue.

A member of the Iona Community since the early 1980s, he was elected leader of the organisation in 2009, taking it through a period marking several key anniversaries and helping set up the appeal to safeguard the future of Iona Abbey. At the end of his term as leader, he returned to full-time parish ministry at Broughton St Mary’s.

It was on a visit to Iona in 1982 that Peter met the theologian and activist Lesley Orr (now Research Fellow at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh). They were married within the year and had two sons, Callum and Lorn.

Lorn, now an actor, tweeted after Peter’s sudden death on February 12: “I will miss his wisdom, the way he always tried to make a joke with the cashier at his sons’ expense, his unparalleled enthusiasm for everything and everyone and so, so much more. He believed in people. He gave them hope. He was the definition of a people person.”

Eldership entries can be submitted via email to magazine@lifeandwork.org or by post to Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN