Moderator 'excited" about Orkney and Shetland visit

Published on 23 April 2025 2 minutes read

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is embarking on the second leg of a tour across the Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles.

Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson said he is very much looking forward to learning more about the life and work of the church in Orkney and Shetland.

Kirkwall Harbour
Kirkwall Harbour.

The visit is taking place from Friday, 25 April to Tuesday, 29 April and provides an opportunity for him to engage with congregations and communities serving Christ in diverse settings, across the islands.

He will meet local church members and others from the communities they serve including school children, teachers and residents and staff at a CrossReach care home.

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 in May last year, 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."

Formed on 1 January 2023, the presbytery brings together the former presbyteries of Aberdeen and Shetland, Buchan, Gordon, Kincardine and Deeside, Moray, and Orkney.

The Moderator's schedule:

Friday 25 April

  • Dounby Toast – helping with Dounby Primary schools ‘Toast Stop'.
  • Tour of prayer room in Dounby School.
  • Milestone Kirk Coffee morning.
  • Tour around West Mainland.
  • Visit to Kirkwall Food Bank.
  • Visit to THAW – a local charity supporting Orkney households to achieve affordable warmth.
Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson
Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson.

Saturday 26 April

  • Tour round Westray and Papay Westray.
  • A visit to St Boniface Kirk in Papay, a restored community-owned 12th-century church, and a coffee morning in St Ann's Church.
  • A visit to Kalisgarth Care Home in Westray and presenting long-service certificates to people at the local church.

Sunday 27 April

  • Leading a service in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall including awarding of long service certificates. The Moderator will preach and pronounce the Benediction.
  • Worship service at St Columba's Church in Lerwick and will present long service certificates.

Monday 28 April

  • The Moderator will visit Unst and possibly Uyeasound, Muness, Baltasound, Haroldswick. Weather permitting, he will walk on Skaw Beach to view the space port.
  • Visit to St John's Church on Baltasound, Shetland.
  • Mini tour of north mainland, possibly via Graven to Ollaberry.

Tuesday 29 April

  • Visit to Walter and Joan Gray Care Home, which is run by CrossReach.
  • Visit to St Paul's Church on Walls.

Rev Stella Campbell, clerk to the Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles, said: "We're very excited to be welcoming the Moderator to Orkney and Shetland.

"We hope that during his visit, he will see some of the great community and other work that makes our area such a great place to live.

"We also hope that his visit will encourage the faithful and committed people of God who belong to our churches as they continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed."

In February, the Moderator visited churches and other communities in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

See also