New pastor to Fife pilgrims

A new pastor has been appointed to work with people walking and cycling the Fife Pilgrim Way.

The Rev Duncan Weaver took up the post late last year, encouraging engagement with the Fife Pilgrim Way and supporting links between pilgrims and the churches on the route.

Duncan brings a wide work experience of police service, Army chaplaincy in the UK and Germany, school teaching and pastorship, and leading outdoor pilgrimages with a wide range of age groups. He was originally ordained in the Church of England and enjoys using new resources and liturgies to help others encounter God in new ways. He recently moved to Cupar to be nearer his family.

The Rev Canon Kenny Rathband, convenor of the Steering Group, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Duncan from a strong field of applicants. He brings to this pioneering role a broad life and work experience which will be highly relevant to the pilgrim walkers and cyclists using the Fife Pilgrim Way and the local church congregations that we want to see enjoying and using this outdoor pilgrimage resource for spiritual renewal.”

A Commissioning Service for the launch of the Pastorate took place at Ceres Parish Church on November 30 2022, St Andrew’s Day. This marked the first anniversary of the signing of the historic St Andrew Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church, committing both denominations to new collaborative partnerships across Scotland. The Fife Pilgrim Way Pastorate is the first practical example of this in action.

At the Commissioning Service, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the Pastorate stakeholders: the Abbey Church of Dunfermline; the Episcopal Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane; the Parish Churches of Ceres, Kemback & Springfield, Auchterderran Kinglassie, and St Columba’s Glenrothes; and the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum SCIO.

A large grant for the pilot phase has been provided by the Presbytery of Fife Mission Fund, which supports the development of innovative and pioneering new ways of being church across Fife.

The Fife Pilgrim Way, launched in 2019, is a 65-mile route from Culross to St Andrews.

For further information on the Fife Pilgrim Way Pastorate, please email the Steering Group via info@sprf.org.uk