Church marks minister’s 40th anniversary in service

A FIFE minister has celebrated his 40th anniversary.

The Rev Alex Forsyth’s special milestone was marked by a service in Markinch Parish Church, where the sermon was read by the St Bryce Kirk minister, the Rev Ken Froude.

Originally from Kirkcaldy, Mr Forsyth has degrees and diplomas from Cambridge University, Overdale Theological College, the Open University, and Geneva Theological College.

Before coming to Markinch in 2002, he served the church in Birmingham, Ashington, Newcastle- upon- Tyne, Leven and in Angus in the linked parishes of Edzell/ Lethnot, Fern, Careston, Menmuir and Glenesk.

While he wa s in Northumberland, he served for nine years as a chaplain at Northgate Special Needs Hospital. He continued to serve as a hospital chaplain when he was minister at Leven, caring for staff and patients in the surgical, psychiatric, geriatric and psycho-geriatric wards at Victoria Hospital.

For 25 years, he served as a cadet chaplain and completed 26 years as a Territorial Army chaplain, serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Scots, the Cameronians, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, The Black Watch and the Royal Engineers.

On retiring from the Territorial Army, Alex agreed to care for army veterans. Currently, he is chaplain to The Black Watch Association and to the Royal British Legion (Scotland).

He has twice served as moderator of the local presbytery and in 2006, was appointed to serve on the General Assembly’s Chaplains to Her Majesty’s Forces committee.

Married to Jean, they have two children, Julie and Richard, and two grandchildren, Abbey and Alex.

From left: Mrs Margaret Dean, Lord Lieutenant of Fife; Councillor Kay Morrison, depute provost of Fife; Mr Forsyth; Lt Col Helen Homewood, Army HQ Scotland; and Mr Lindsay Roy MP.