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February 1-15, 2006
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Wednesday, February 15, 2006
In next month's issue of the Church of Scotland's magazine the Rev Donald Scott, a Kirk chaplain to Scotland's only prison for young offenders at Polmont, makes a plea for more to be spent on feeding the inmates. Perth minister Rev Jim Stewart describes the journey of his congregation which raised thousands of pounds to demolish and rebuild the church, and create a new congregational structure away from the traditional norm in only four years. And Walter Dunlop, an associate secretary with the World Mission Council, expresses concern that recent financial and media support for Malawi may be to the detriment of other African countries, whose needs are no less important.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
A Scots priest who went missing while working as a missionary in Vietnam has been found dead. Father Brian Fulton, 57, lay unidentified in a hospital mortuary for over a week after he collapsed with a heart attack while running in a park.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Senior pupils at Bannerman High School in Baillieston have made a film to show younger children how damaging and pointless sectarian behaviour in Glasgow can be.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Feature on St Albert's primary in Glasgow, which some would like to see become Scotland's first state-funded Muslim school.
Source: The Guardian.
Source: The Guardian.
A celebration of Valentine's Day includes the story of John and May Muir, age 93 and 90 respectively, who have been married for 65 years and at one time ran the Dunforth Church of Scotland Home in Newhaven, Edinburgh, where they took care of orphans and children from broken homes.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Monday, February 13, 2006
• Kirk Moderator in Glasgow to highlight HIV/AIDS projects
A number of projects in Glasgow that support people living with HIV and AIDS will be visited tomorrow by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly, the Right Reverend David Lacy.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Protesters have launched a campaign against mobile phone masts on an Edinburgh church, accusing it of profiting from the spread of pornography. The campaigners say planned Vodafone antennae on top of St Paul's Church of Scotland, Pilrig, will help the company roll out its mobile phone "adult entertainment" service as well as posing a health risk to their children.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
Canon Douglas Mackay has been installed as new vice-provost of St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Dundee.
Source: Dundee Courier.
Source: Dundee Courier.
Allan Massie argues the case for the Border abbeys of Melrose, Jedburgh, Kelso and Dryburgh in The Scotsman's search for the Seven Wonders of Scotland.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Gary Duncan seeks to illuminate the debate on freedom of speech and Islam by reference to the execution of Thomas Aikenhead for blasphemy in 1697. "Aikenhead’s tragedy reminds us ... how devout belief by a mass of the population can be cynically exploited for worldly ends by those who claim to be motivated solely by religious conviction. Then, the young man’s error was seized on by the Kirk as a means to strengthen its theocratic grip on temporal power in Scotland; now, the confected outrage of President Ahmadinejad of Iran is a powerful means to unite the faithful of a poor nation that might otherwise focus on their Government’s shortcomings — not least, their lack of free speech."
Source: The Times.
Source: The Times.
Profile of Kevin Bowyer, organist at Glasgow University Chapel and one of Britain's most sought-after recitalists.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Obituary of Hector Cameron OBE, MD, FRCPath; born December 20, 1922, died January 27, 2006. "His focus seemed always outward – on trying to convince the world it could be a better place. Throughout his life he had been involved in activities focused on others: through the church – in Glasgow, Nairobi, Edinburgh and Peebles – as Sunday School leader, elder, chorister, session clerk and organist; for the Scouts, a passion since childhood, he motivated a generation of youngsters; as the district commissioner for handicapped troops in Glasgow; as a founding member of Amnesty International; as president of the Medical Missionary Society; as part of a peace delegation from the Oxford Research Group to China; and as long-term supporter of the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture."
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
A minister from the Scottish Episcopal Church is to head Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The Rev Canon Bob Fyffe, rector of St John the Baptist in Perth, will be the new general secretary of the official ecumenical body which brings together Churches of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions. Mr Fyffe is a Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth, as is the Rev Dr Kevin Franz, general secretary of the Scottish ecumenical body, Action of Churches Together in Scotland.
Source: Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) news.
Source: Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) news.
A minister's teenage son who had just passed his test has died in a crash. A Ford driven by 17-year-old James Nelson - whose dad Tom is minister at Netherlee Parish Church in Glasgow - hit another car head-on in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, on Friday.
Source: Sunday Mail.
Source: Sunday Mail.
Phillip Rooney, 36, of Troon, appeared in private at Ayr Sheriff Court last week accused of embezzling £69,927.25 from Our Lady of the Assumption, Troon, between July 2000 and August 2005.
Source: Sunday Times.
Source: Sunday Times.
The Boys’ Brigade is preparing to ditch its traditional uniform and marching drills as part of a makeover to soften its militaristic image. The youth organisation, which was founded more than a century ago in Glasgow to promote “true Christian manliness”, is concerned that it is perceived as too regimented.
Source: Sunday Times.
Source: Sunday Times.
Leading architecture magazine Prospect is to dedicate a special issue to the derelict St Peter’s seminary in Cardross, considered one of Scotland’s most important modern buildings, in a bid to force a decision on its future.
Source: Sunday Herald.
Source: Sunday Herald.
Views on extreme reactions to the publication of cartoons of the Muslim prophet Mohammed from the Church of Scotland's David Lacey; Ivan Middleton of the Humanist Society of Scotland; Rabbi Moshe Rubin of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation; Imam Mustaqeem Shah of the UK Islamic Mission in Glasgow; and Philip Tartaglia, Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley.
Source: Sunday Mail.
Source: Sunday Mail.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
The priest who replaced Fr Roddy MacNeil at Our Lady Star of the Sea, in Castlebay on the Hebridean island of Barra, has reported the parish accounts are missing. The Catholic Church yesterday confirmed they are investigating.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Worshippers at St Thomas's Church, Aboyne, have raised more than half the funds needed to refurbish the church organ and hope to have completed the £15,000 restoration in time to celebrate the church's centenary next year.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Rev Ian Taylor has been inducted at Springfield Cambridge Church of Scotland in Bishopbriggs.
Source: Kirkintilloch Herald.
Source: Kirkintilloch Herald.
Father Gerard Hand is moving to Glenrothes after nearly 15 years as parish priest at St Patrick's Church in Kilsyth.
Source: Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle.
Source: Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle.
The 150 members of Christ Episcopal Church in Falkirk stunned minister John Penman by donating £11,000 towards the cost of a new organ in just four weeks.
Source: Falkirk Today - Falkirk Herald.
Source: Falkirk Today - Falkirk Herald.
The Bishop of Motherwell, Rt Rev Joseph Devine, has hit out at a ruling by a London High Court Judge which will allow young girls to undergo an abortion without the knowledge of their parents.
Source: Wishaw Press.
Source: Wishaw Press.
Wishaw United Free Church congregation last week welcomed a new South African minister, Rev Peter de Villiers.
Source: Wishaw Press.
Source: Wishaw Press.
Rev Sally Marsh has been ordained and inducted as minister of the linked parishes of Corsock and Kirkpatrick Durham with Crossmichael and Parton.
Source: Galloway News.
Source: Galloway News.
James Hargreaves polled 411 votes for his Scottish Christian Party in the Dunfermline and West Fife parliamentary byelection, which was won by the Liberal Democrats.
Source: BBC Scotland News.
Source: BBC Scotland News.
A Church of Scotland minister who confessed to an affair from the pulpit has been suspended by Lothian Presbytery. Rev Frank Ribbons, former minister of Howgate Church and Penicuik South Church, will be able to apply to have the suspension lifted after a year.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
The number of Church of Scotland congregations in Aberdeen is predicted to drop from 40 to 36 in the next 10 years. The Presbytery of Aberdeen believes dwindling member numbers will render it no longer economically viable to sustain all of its existing buildings.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Tributes were paid today to a Glasgow minister who was awarded an MBE for his work in helping thousands of asylum seekers integrate into Scottish life. The Reverend Gwynfai Jones, 68, who served at St Rollox Church in Sighthill for 35 years, died in hospital three days after being hit by a taxi. He was struck while crossing Argyle Street in Glasgow with his wife on his way to a prayer meeting in the city centre.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Obituary of Hector Cameron OBE, MD, FRCPath; pathologist, founding member of Amnesty International and former president of the Medical Missionary Society. Born: 20 December, 1922, in Aberdeen. Died: 27 January, 2006, in Melrose, aged 83.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Obituary of Rev Professor Allan Galloway, theologian. Born: 30 July, 1920, in Stirlingshire. Died: 4 February, 2006, in Clynder, Dunbartonshire, aged 85.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
At 33 years old, Lesley McCorkindale from Dalgety Bay is set to become the youngest national convener of the Church of Scotland Guild in May. Ann Bowie, an elder from Bellie Parish Church in Moray, will be national vice convener.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Obituary of Rev Donald Macaulay OBE, first convener of the Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar). Born: Bernera, 1926. Died: 30 January, 2006, on Bernera, aged 79.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Profile of Rev Ewan Aitken, a Church of Scotland minister and education convener of Edinburgh City Council.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Obituary of Judith Tankel; born March 4, 1934, died January 11, 2006. Judith Tankel was a prominent member of the Glasgow Jewish community and a long-time worker in the field of race and interfaith relations, and a founder member of several organisations devoted to these causes.
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
A woman who robbed the elderly after conning her way into their homes was jailed yesterday. Former carer Sandra Gilhooley posed as a home help, a church worker and even a police officer to dupe her vulnerable victims. The 37-year-old, who was out on licence after a prison stretch for similar offences, even said a prayer with one pensioner she had just robbed.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
The Moderator of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly has begun a two-day programme of visits to Edinburgh projects supporting people living with HIV and AIDS. The Right Reverend David Lacy's programme is "a mark of the Kirk’s support for the Scottish Executive’s Respect and Responsibility sexual health strategy".
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
Catholic church leaders will meet Muslim parents this week after their children were withdrawn from a primary school Mass. Divisions over religion deepened at St Albert's RC primary in Pollokshields, Glasgow, after parents withdrew children during Friday's service.
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Exhumations have been carried out at centuries-old graves to make way for a modern extension to historic Newmachar Church, which lies at the heart of one of the north-east's fastest-growing villages. It is understood that remains uncovered dated back to 1791, when the present church was built. Church minister the Rev Manson Merchant carried out a reburial service nearby.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Obituary of Professor Neil Hood; born August 10, 1943, died February 2, 2006. A leader at Strathclyde University, Scottish Enterprise and many other organisations; in recognition of his contribution to the public and private sectors in Scotland, Neil was awarded the CBE in 2000. He was a committed and active Christian who passionately believed in the relevance of Christianity to all peoples at all times; he put his extraordinary skills to the benefit of many charities and wrote a series of books in his final years, distilling his unique blending of Christianity and business.
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Christians in Britain have become too sweetly self-effacing, writes Harry Reid. "Nowadays Jesus Christ is regularly mocked, abused, satirised and traduced - and Christians meekly stand by and do little about it."
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Profile of Andrew Wylie, the first chaplain to the UK offshore oil industry. He began his chaplaincy in 1985 but started visiting oil platforms the following year – the year of the Sumburgh disaster, in which 45 men, mainly oil workers, were killed when their Chinook helicopter crashed off the coast of Shetland. In 1988, 167 were killed in the explosion on Piper Alpha. Between these major disasters, there were many more individual fatalities. His book, Just Being There: With Bears and Tigers in the North Sea, is published this month.
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Monday, February 06, 2006
The Scottish Anglican Network of Episcopalian ministers concerned about practicing homosexuals in the priesthood have welcomed a statement by the College of Bishops that civil partnerships can neither be performed nor blessed officially in Scottish Episcopal Churches. But they say that by implication it leaves room for unauthorised blessings taking place, even after consultation with the bishops, and that the statement fails to give clear and positive teaching on the importance of marriage.
Source: Scottish Anglican Network.
Source: Scottish Anglican Network.
Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, 39, has been appointed Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow. He is currently Rector of St Saviour’s Church, Bridge of Allan, and a Chaplain to the University of Stirling.
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release.
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release.
A priest yesterday launched a pulpit attack on Muslims who disrupted a Mass at a Catholic school. Father John Gannon labelled parents who withdrew children from the service at staggered intervals as "extremists". And MP Mohammad Sarwar also condemned the demo, rejecting claims that Muslim pupils were forced to attend Mass at St Albert's Primary in Pollokshields, Glasgow. The Campaign for Muslim Schools last month called for the school's faith to be changed to Islam. Almost 80 per cent of the 350 pupils are Muslim, while 13 per cent are Sikh.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
The Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti, delivered the first in a series of sermons at Aberdeen University's King's College Chapel yesterday. Others involved in the university's spring programme of services are the Right Rev David Lacy, Moderator of the General Assembly; and Rev Louis Kinsey of St Columba's, Bridge of Don, who has recently returned from serving as a Territorial Army chaplain in Iraq; Rev Edward McKenna, who once provided primary health care on the Amazon Hope, a medical ship in Peru.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
The Catholic Church in Scotland has accused Jack McConnell of exaggerating the extent of sectarianism in Scotland. Church officials believe that the first minister uses the issue to divert attention away from more pressing social problems such as domestic violence, racism and drug and alcohol abuse. "For the majority of Catholics, sectarian violence or verbal abuse is, thankfully, not something they are likely to encounter," said the Church's spokesman, Peter Kearney.
Source: Sunday Times.
Source: Sunday Times.
Profile of Elgin City manager Brian Irvine. "It is now more than 10 years since the former Scotland defender was ushered into a ward of an Aberdeen hospital to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, only for a combination of his devout Christian faith, alternative medicine and sheer bloody-mindedness to keep the disease at bay. 'For me, Christianity and faith isn’t about religion, it’s about how you interact with people,' he said. 'It inspires me ... Everybody is in different situations but my faith is very important to me, to my own situation, my relationship to God and my relationship to other people. We’ll find out how the religion interacts with my team talks soon enough. Hopefully it will help me.'"
Source: Sunday Herald.
Source: Sunday Herald.
Brian Allan, co-director of Scotland’s Paranormal Encounters Group (PEG), thinks carvings at Rosslyn Chapel represent the Devil’s chord, an augmented fourth and a low frequency sound in the range of 80 to 110 hertz, which was proscribed by the Catholic Church in the middle ages.
Source: Sunday Herald.
Source: Sunday Herald.
Looked at from Northern Ireland, the Scots war on sectarianism is trying to turn one city's drama into a national crisis, says Newton Emerson of the Irish News in Belfast. "Every child in Scotland will be dragged along to a 'powerful anti-sectarian play' with the powerfully sectarian title of Singing I’m no Billy, He’s a Tim - so any child unaware of sectarian distinctions should be well aware of them very soon ... 'Tackling sectarianism' is an industry here, a vast, self-perpetuating middle-class welfare scheme that is the wonder of worthless parasites the world over."
Source: Sunday Times.
Source: Sunday Times.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
A minister who counselled department store staff over their jobs fears during a takeover has been booted out. Staff at Jenners in Edinburgh have been told that the Rev Dorothy Anderson, of nearby St Andrew's and St George's Church, will no longer visit.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Richard Holloway explains his nomination of Iona as one of the Seven Wonders of Scotland.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Conservationists are calling on entrepreneurs to take over Scotland's abandoned churches in an effort to save them from ruin. The call comes as Historic Scotland, which gives grants to maintain historic buildings, has said it has been inundated with applications from churches for funds for urgent repairs. In 2002, more than a third of its grant money went to maintain or renovate churches.
Source: The Scotsman.
Source: The Scotsman.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Clergy are working too hard and more of them could find their marriages breaking down as a result, according to the Anglican Bishop of Hulme. The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe is so concerned at the potential “burnout” of priests and the effects on their families that he has called for a national debate on their plight.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
Nearly 60 per cent of people in Britain believe that a place of worship makes their neighbourhood a better place to live, according to the results of an Opinion Research Business attitude survey, published this week. The survey, sponsored by the Archbishops’ Council and English Heritage, also found that over 60 per cent of people believe that places of worship should be more actively involved in their communities, as well as more accessible to local people in the vicinity.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
Former YWAM worker Mark Saxton begun a campaign to stop churches from serving quiche. "It’s slimy, it’s cheesy and it’s almost certainly of the devil," he said. His Ban the Flan online petition is addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI, but Mr Saxton is concerned that the Archbishop might be a quiche eater as he has a beard.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
Source: Church of England Newspaper.
St Anthony's Church and primary school have been praised for their generosity having raised around £35,000 for the Kilbryde Hospice appeal, which aims to build a new facility next to East Kilbride’s Hairmyres Hospital.
Source: Rutherglen Reformer.
Source: Rutherglen Reformer.
Rev James Martin’s latest book will go on sale next week. 'Tales From My Ministry' will be officially launched by his friend Bobby Watson, former Motherwell player and manager, at Manse Road Church of Scotland next Friday evening.
Source: Wishaw Press.
Source: Wishaw Press.
A gang of yobs pelted the windows of St Bride’s parish church hall with stones or earth during the town's annual senior citizens' dinner. They were pursued by guests including the church’s Father Thomas Doyle and the Rev Jim Gibson of Bothwell Parish Church.
Source: Hamilton Advertiser.
Source: Hamilton Advertiser.
A Catholic priest today blamed Glasgow's drug problem for a spate of break-ins and vandalism at his church. Father Tom White said there had been six thefts in a year at St Mary's in Calton - at a time the church was struggling to raise £1million for a roof and window refit.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
A man was arrested last night in connection with three raids at Catholic churches in Glasgow.
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Worshippers hoping to build the first church in a north-east village have blamed bureaucracy for holding up their plans. Members of the Balmedie Congregational Church had celebrated gaining outline planning permission for their new home late last year. But Aberdeenshire Council planners failed to notice that car parking included in the plans was on council property.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Obituary of the Rev Donald Macaulay OBE, the first convener of the Western Isles Council and a Freeman of the Western Isles, who died on Monday at his home at Kirkibost in Great Bernera in Lewis at the age of 79. He was a much-loved Church of Scotland minister who continued to preach in different churches in Lewis long after his official retirement.
Source: The Herald.
Source: The Herald.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The remains of the Leith Citadel, where members of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army were billeted in the 17th century, may be turned into a beer garden by the neighbouring Mariners pub in Leith's Commercial Street in order to get around Scotland's smoking ban. Leith historian John Arthur said of the Puritan leader: "Cromwell would have been against going out and getting intoxicated. If a soldier got drunk he would have been flogged or if he used bad language he would have got a red hot rivet through the tongue."
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
An elderly priest has been threatened with a knife and another robbed of £300 in a spate of attacks on Catholic churches in Glasgow. In little over two weeks, police in the city have received reports of seven attacks including robbery, break-ins, thefts and vandalism.
Source: BBC Scotland News.
Source: BBC Scotland News.
The future of the 13th century Benholm Kirk was secured yesterday when its ownership was transferred to the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Thousands of people from around Europe are expected to flood into Ingliston, near Edinburgh, for the UK's biggest ever full-day Christian rock festival. Organisers hope Frenzy 2006 will attract at least 9000 music fans to the city on June 10 - double the number who attended last year's inaugural event.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
Archbishop Mario Conti will ask authorities for assistance in protecting his clergy, after a spate of six incidents over 12 days. "I am horrified at the level of intimidation my priests are having to face," said the Archbishop of Glasgow.
Source: Zenit news agency.
Source: Zenit news agency.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Youth groups have been left homeless after a blaze destroyed Holytown Parish Church hall in Lanarkshire.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
The Bishops' Conference of Scotland have announced the appointment of Father Paul Milarvie as Rector of the Scots College in Rome and Father Francis Dougan as Vice-Rector. Fr Milarvie currently holds the post of Vice Rector, while Father Dougan will transfer from Our Lady and St Anne's Parish in Hamilton later this month.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release.
Rev Eleanor Macalister has decided to tear out Victorian pews and put in comfortable chairs at Ellon Parish Church, Aberdeenshire, to "create a warmer ambience."
Source: Daily Record.
Source: Daily Record.
Crathie Kirk, the Deeside church which has been the place of worship in Scotland for the Royal Family since 1848 and is visited by thousands of tourists every year, is looking for an assistant custodian for the summer season.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow is seeking support for its plans to hand over an iconic former college for priests to conservationists. It lodged a planning application 18 months ago detailing its plans for St Peter's College in Cardross, which has fallen into disrepair. The Catholic Church said its plan to hand it over to the Cardross Community Trust enjoyed "100% public support".
Source: BBC Scotland News.
Source: BBC Scotland News.