Duff’s Dunfermline visit causes a stir

A worship that went all around the world

A Dunfermline congregation led worship for listeners around the world as it hit the airwaves yesterday.

The Abbey Church of Dunfermline was the location for BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship programme.

Minister the Rev Maryann Rennie led a service for the station’s audience, in which she highlighted the building’s historic ties with Robert the Bruce and St Margaret of Scotland.

The church has previously featured on BBC’S Songs of Praise television programme and on Radio Scotland but the Rev Rennie said this was her first live recording.

She said: “It was the first time I have had to wear headphones, with the producer in the background telling me what to do. “The crew were amazing.

“It seemed to go well and it was a bit of excitement for the day.

“We’ve had lots of positive feedback on Twitter. The current Church of Scotland Moderator, the Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning and the minister who will become the moderator in May have both said they appreciated worship this morning.”

Between the choir and early rising worshippers, who had to be in their seats by 7.45am for the 8.10am broadcast, around 80 people attended the service.

Many other congregation members listened in eagerly before attending a later Sunday service in the church.

Dunfermline Abbey is known as the burial place of kings, including Robert the Bruce, and has the shrine of Queen Margaret.

The Rev Rennie told listeners the legacy of love of Margaret could often be seen among today’s church community when they helped others, such as looking out for those bereaved or ill.