Living in Paisley was like apartheid, claims Neil
Broadcaster Andrew Neil claims being brought up in Paisley was like “living under apartheid”. The TV presenter and journalist likened the sending of protestant and catholic children to separate schools in the town to the racist political system of the ruling Afrikaners in South Africa in the latter part of the 20th century. The 61-year-old’s [...]
Ayrshire Society and Mission for the Deaf celebrates 130th anniversary
The Ayrshire Society and Mission for the Deaf has celebrated its 130th anniversary. The Society remains true today to its founding aims of providing support for the local deaf community and to protect and promote their interests including providing an interpreter when needed. The Ayrshire Society for the Deaf, as it is now known, was [...]
Church of Scotland teacher banned for assaulting vulnerable boy
A teacher who assaulted a vulnerable pupil at a Church of Scotland school after an argument over a packet of crisps has been banned from the profession for life. Ian Paterson lifted the 14-year-old boy – named as Pupil A – off the ground and violently threw him to the floor during the altercation at [...]
Funding for Christian organisations in bid to tackle bigotry
The Iona Community and church-backed initiatives are among bodies being given more than half a million pounds by the Scottish Government to help tackle sectarianism. Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing today announced £527,250 is being invested during 2011-12 to build on and develop work already underway in rooting sectarianism out of Scotland’s communities. Funding is [...]
Greenock's west end church name choice announced
The church will be made up of three congregations – the Old West Kirk, Finnart St Paul’s and Ardgowan. The churches voted last Sunday to unite. They also voted on the name of the new church but the result of that vote was not revealed until Sunday. The other name suggested was Newark Community Kirk. [...]
Hole-y war on Scotland's roads
No-one’s seen as many gaping craters since Neil Armstrong stepped out of Apollo 11 on to the surface of the Moon, writes Graeme Donohoe. Scotland’s motorists are getting a raw deal . . . yet again. It’s estimated our neglected streets will cost over £2billion to fix. Church of Scotland minister Alan Sorensen reckons the [...]
Vale pupils learn about life in Israel
Pupils at schools in Vale of Leven heard about life in Israel recently when they welcomed a special guest. James Laing, the Church of Scotland’s regional manager in Israel/Palestine, was in the area meeting Kirk representatives. James, who is based in Jerusalem, is responsible for the Kirk’s guest house in the city, as well as [...]
Free Church minister resigns over music in services
A Free Church preacher in Glasgow has resigned over the introduction of music and hymns in services. Rev Kenneth Stewart has been minister of Dowanvale Free Church in Glasgow’s west end for the past 10 years. Update, 31 March 2011 Mr Stewart has applied to be received as a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church [...]
Guild announces new national convener
At the February meeting of the Church of Scotland Guild’s National Executive committee, it was announced that Alison Angus, from Lochcarron and Skye, is to be the incoming national convener of the Guild. Alison was born and educated in Glasgow and trained as a teacher at Jordanhill College. She lived for many years in Aberdeen, [...]
Obituary: The Right Reverend Derek Rawcliffe
The Right Reverend Derek Rawcliffe, who has died aged 89. was Bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s diocese of Glasgow and Galloway from 1981-91 and before that spent more than 30 years in Melanesia, becoming the first Bishop of the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu, in 1975. None of this excited any great interest, though his [...]
