The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Minister tells of a ‘joyful’ rededication
Blackford Parish Church reopened with a special morning service on Sunday.
Minister the Rev Mairi Perkins described the rededication service as a joyful event, full of “love, happiness, hope and friendship”.
A cake was baked to mark the beginning of a new chapter for the 157-year-old church.
Mrs Perkins, who was left in tears after the February break-in, said: “It was so exciting to reopen the church after being out for four months.
“It was also a little frightening, not knowing who or how many people would turn up.
“But we did not need to worry, because 140 people streamed in.”
She said: “I was proud to see our loyal congregation taking their seats once again.”
Many people from the village, who don’t normally go to church, attended the special service to show their support.
Mrs Perkins said: “The church looked beautiful, with only the organ and font still to complete their repair programme.
“But we are all broken at some time in our lives and the beauty is that God loves us all just as we are,” she added.
Handbells which were stolen in the raid were returned in time for Sunday’s relaunch.
“It was an emotional service, a service full of happiness and hope,” she said.
Mrs Perkins declined to comment on Park’s punishment, but had previously said: “The past is the past and we forgive those who were responsible.”