Prayers for new minister still need to be answered
Parishioners on the heavenly isle of Tiree are still waiting for their prayers to be answered and that they find a new minister soon.
White sandy beaches and crystal clear waters are just some of the perks of the job that the Church of Scotland hoped would attract applicants earlier this year but the post is still vacant.
Although the island might not have the tropical temperatures of paradise, it would offer the right person a unique opportunity to live and work there.
Tiree is not the only parish without a minister, there are still vacancies for Coll and Jura too.
On Tiree, the new minister would be lucky enough to live in a manse just yards from a beach with views to the Treshnish Isles, Mull and Iona.
The parish covers all 30 square miles of the island, which does experience good weather and is known as the ‘sunshine isle’, with church numbers changing through the seasons.
The right applicant would have to have the desire to fully immerse themselves in island life, said Jo Bennett, who is the clerk of the congregation’s nominating committee.
The church building dates from 1902, although Tiree has a long Christian tradition going back to St Columba and his companion Beithene, who was the abbot on the island in the sixth century AD. The local population is around 650 and boasts the highest proportion of Gaelic speakers in the Inner Hebrides.
Aside from supporting the congregation, historically the minister at the church has also been a chaplain at Tiree High School.
The job advert says: ‘We seek a minister who finds that their heart resonates with this island and this community; who can meet us where we are and help guide us towards where we should be; who can be Christ in this place to people who need His love. Tiree is not a place that allows for anything other than going all in.’ The advert also warned: ‘People will know when you leave the Manse; they’ll know where you’ve been visiting; what you’ve been buying in the Co-op and when your cooker has stopped working. But they will also wave and stop for a chat when they see you; notice the work you put in to visiting, and come by with food or invite you round for dinner when your cooker isn’t working.’
A Church of Scotland spokesperson confirmed all three posts are still vacant and added: ‘For the moment the services are being taken by a Reader – a type of ministry which does not include administering sacraments.’