Island left without full-time ministers
The retiral of Rev Elizabeth Watson leaves Arran without a full-time Church of Scotland minister just as churches are finally able to resume services as lockdown restrictions are eased.
With the Rev Angus Adamson having left Brodick and north Arran linkage churches, the Rev Lily McKinnon having left Lamlash, and parish assistant Jean Hunter also retired, it leaves church personnel extremely thin on the ground.
As a result, the Interim Moderator at Whiting Bay and Kildonan is Brian Murray, a church reader from Seamill. The Banner first highlighted the situation last September and, in the intervening months, little seems to have moved forward to improve the situation.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: ‘The Presbytery of Ardrossan has put in place provision for ministry on Arran.
‘Interim Moderators and caretaker ministers for the three charges have been appointed.
‘A locum minister has been appointed by the kirk sessions of the linked charge in the north of the island.
‘Concrete proposals for a new Ardrossan Presbytery Plan, including Arran, will be presented to Presbytery for approval in due course.’