Scots urged to take a pew and talk about faith

TWO church pews are going on tour around Scotland and playing host to famous names in an attempt to get the country talking about faith.

The Church of Scotland is launching its Take a Pew campaign this weekend in an online video featuring STV news anchor John MacKay on the pews in the shadow of the Kelpies artwork in Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

Future guests for the video series include Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and expected locations for the touring pews include the Cairngorms, Glasgow Green and Glencoe.

In the first video, fronted by Glasgow minister the Rev Neil Glover, the agnostic Mr MacKay is joined by Church of Scotland youth moderator Hannah Mary Goodlad and foodbank chairman Alastair Blackstock.

Mr Glover said: ‘Through Take a Pew, we will hear well-known faces like Ruth Davidson, as well as ministers and ordinary people, talking about how faith relates to the big issues of the day and our society.

‘By putting the pews in unusual settings we want to remind people the church is still here, and often where you least expect it.’

Mr MacKay said: ‘The challenge for the church is the language being used has been the same since I was a child, and I don’t think it connects with people who don’t believe.’