Moderator embarks on second leg of South West Presbytery tour

The Moderator of the General Assembly is embarking on the second leg of his Presbytery of the South West of Scotland tour.

Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson said he is looking forward to seeing first-hand the inspirational work and Christian witness carried out by local churches and learning more about the areas they serve.

The trip, which takes place from 28 March to 1 April, will see him preaching at a joint service in Castle Douglas, spending time with a number of local congregations, visiting Lockerbie Memorial Gardens and Steven's Croft, a wood-fired energy power station.

Presbytery visits provide the Moderator with an opportunity to offer encouragement and support to church members and the communities they serve.

Dr Paterson said: "I am really excited about the trip when I will get the opportunity to see first hand some wonderful church and community projects.

"As I said at the General Assembly last May, I am eager to meet as many people as possible and have the opportunity to convey the good wishes of the General Assembly and remind them that they are valued and appreciated."

Encouragement

The Moderator will begin his visit on 28 March by taking a tour of the Rhins of Galloway which includes visiting the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse, Logan Botanical Garden and enjoying hospitality at Stranraer Parish Church in Stranraer. The minister is Rev Andy Muir.

The following day he will visit the Five Kingdoms Brewery on the Isle of Whithorn, a small business, and later meet members of Glasserton, Isle of Whithorn and Whithorn St Ninian's Priory, a congregation led by Rev Alex Currie.

Dr Paterson will be given a tour around the town, officially designated as Scotland's National Book Town, and learn about the Wigtown Martyrs story.

Margaret Maclauchlan and Margaret Wilson were Scottish Covenanters who were executed on 11 May, 1685 for refusing to swear the Oath of Supremacy declaring James VII of Scotland as head of the church.

On the morning of 30 March, the Moderator will preach at Carlingwark in Castle Douglas, a new united congregation led by Rev Allison Burnside, and later attend a buffet supper at St Michael's and South Parish Church in Dumfries.

He will take part in short reflection and talk and take a tour of the church and learn about its fascinating history.

Led by Rev Gary Peacock, the church is where Scotland's national poet Robert Burns worshipped.

Built in the mid-18th century, it is described as a place of beauty with "extraordinary" stained glass windows and the Mausoleum of Robert Burns – his final resting place – stands in the churchyard.

An exhibition called The Last Supper, featuring 13 life sized ceramic busts made from broken china, is taking place from 11-23 April in the church.

Described as a thing of extraordinary beauty, the work by Silvy Weatherall will be next on display at Exeter Cathedral in Exeter, England.

Never forget

On 31 March, Dr Paterson will visit the Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial within a Garden of Remembrance at Dryfesdale Lodge.

He will reflect on the 270 lives tragically lost when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded 31,000 feet over the town on 21 December, 1988.

The Moderator will also visit Tundergarth Church, close to where the nose cone of the Jumbo jet blown up by a terrorist bomb, fell to earth.

On 1 April, he will meet with Andy Morton, Moderator of the Presbytery of the South West, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the local church before visit Steven's croft wood-fired renewable power station in Lockerbie, it claims to save 140,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.

Rev Taylor Brown, depute clerk of the Presbytery of the South West, said: "This visit will take the Moderator to the very south west of Scotland.

"We hope to offer a glimpse of the area's distinctive culture and share what the churches and communities are doing amidst a rapidly changing church."

The first leg of the Moderator's presbytery visit took place on 20-24 September last year.