Holy spirit... pub receives church blessing

NORMALLY the only beverages a church will offer are tea, coffee and the occasional a sip of communion wine.

But for the first time in Scotland, a Highland pub has been officially blessed by a church.

The Crask Inn, near Lairg, Sutherland, will host daily prayers, services and clergy training while continuing to offer beds, meals and drinks for visitors.

The inn was gifted to the Scottish Episcopal Church in February last year by former owners Michael and Kai Geldard. Over the past year it has been run by licensed Eucharist minister Douglas Campbell and his wife Denise.

The dedication ceremony at the inn was conducted by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Episcopalian Bishop of the United Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

According to Mrs Campbell, more than 100 people attended the blessing of the building on Saturday. The 53-year-old said: ‘I think the spiritual and religious aspect will increase but I don’t think the hospitality side of things will decrease.

‘The inn side will continue because it’s very important for hospitality and meeting people. I don’t think a day goes by without someone coming in.’

She added: ‘We don’t have TV, we don’t have wifi in the bar, so people communicate and chat, people come in and speak.’

Services at the Crask Inn have been taking place once a month but this will now increase following the dedication.

Mrs Campbell said she and her husband have assured the church that they will run the inn on its behalf for five years and will then consider their future.

Speaking after the dedication ceremony, Bishop Strange said the inn, an old coaching hostelry which dates back to 1815, was ‘filled with joy and fellowship truly living up to its mission as a place of hospitality’.