From extra in Monty Python film to Moderator of the Church of Scotland
0 The Rev Colin Sinclair, minister of Palmerston Place Church in Edinburgh, played a Roman soldier in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail A minister who appeared as an extra in a Monty Python film has been named as the Church of Scotland’s next Moderator.
The Rev Colin Sinclair, minister of Palmerston Place Church in Edinburgh for more than 20 years, will take over the year-long top role in the Kirk at the General Assembly next May.
He said he was honoured to be selected to represent the Church of Scotland nationally and internationally.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being a parish minister and despite the challenges we face I believe the Christian faith is still relevant to Scotland.”
Mr Sinclair was an economics student at Stirling University when he took a holiday job as a film extra playing a Roman soldier in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which caused some controversy among church-goers at the time, but not as much as the later Life of Brian.
Growing up in Glasgow, he had first become interested in the Christian faith by accident as he tried to escape getting into trouble at school. A prefect at Glasgow Academy had seen him taking the wrong staircase, so he dodged into a darkened room, only to find a video being shown about a Scripture Union camp.
“I enjoyed the film, thought the activities looked great and I felt I could put up with the ‘religious stuff ’,” he said. “I did love the camp and had great fun, and I liked the leaders. But to my surprise I also enjoyed the meetings with their lively singing and straightforward message about Jesus Christ. So started an exciting adventure of faith that has lasted over 50 years.”
When the idea of being a minister was first suggested he dismissed it.
“I thought ministry was about having tea with old ladies, so as I wasn’t interested in either tea or old ladies I thought it wasn’t for me.”
But during his time at university he changed his mind and was accepted to train for the Church of Scotland ministry.
Before he started his studies, however, he was approached by Scripture Union and asked if he would consider going to Zambia as a training officer in an exchange that would allow two Zambian students to study in the UK. He decided it was an offer he could not refuse.
The job, which involved travelling around Zambia, living out of his car and speaking at schools, churches, hospitals and colleges, ended up lasting three years.
“Those three years changed my life,” said Mr Sinclair. “Being away from everything familiar I was able to sort out which parts of my faith were mine, and which were not.”
Mr Sinclair trained at New College in Edinburgh.