Pamela’s relishing her return to cherished church

WHEN Pamela Scott was a child, she and her family lived in the small Fife town of Ballingry.

She was just seven, but still remembers going to church every Sunday with her family.

They were members of the congregation at Lochgelly and Benarty St Serf’s Church.

Although Pamela and her family later moved away, she never forgot the beautiful church on Lochgelly Main Street. It always had a special place in her heart.

She grew up and went on to marry husband Gary and have two children Paul, 25, and Gemma, 22.

Over the years, Pamela worked as a library assistant and then ran her own complementary therapy business.

Pamela loved her job, which involved helping bodies heal themselves from a whole host of ailments. It was relaxing not only for her clients, but for Pamela herself.

However, in 2011, she felt a pull to help people from a different perspective.

Pamela had always been involved with the church, but found herself doing more and more. She was session clerk, then went on to be a parish children and youth worker. The extra involvement led her to sign up for a degree in divinity and go on to quit complementary therapy and train to become a deacon.

And this week, the 48-year-old is set to come full circle as she’s ordained – at the very same church she attended and was baptised in as a child four decades ago.

Pamela, who lives in Rosyth, will take on the role of deacon at Lochgelly and Benarty St Serf’s Church on Thursday.

And she’ll be a welcome addition at the church, which has been without a minister or a deacon for the last three years.

Now, instead of dishing out relaxing treatments, Pamela will be helping members of the local community with a different kind of service.

She’ll swap oils and essences for her trusty Bible as she spreads the word of God through worship sessions, as well as joining couples in matrimony and hosting funerals to send loved ones on their way.

Overall, Pamela is excited about the new role – and to coming back to the cherished old place she frequented as a youngster.

And we’re pretty sure, with years of background in holistic therapies, she’ll be a natural.