Moderator visits Church of Scotland projects in Inverness and Nairn
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Practical steps taken by Kirk members to support Inverness communities have been described as inspirational by their leader.
The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, was impressed as he visited several projects in Inverness and Nairn, ranging from a community fridge to care facilities.
Dr Greenshields, who has close family ties to the Highland capital, began his whistle stop tour at a coffee morning at Ness Bank Church – a short distance downstream from Ness Islands where he proposed to his wife, Linda.
He chatted to members of Inverness Presbytery and representatives of the Crown, Ness Bank and Old High/St Stephen’s congregations.
Inverness Presbytery clerk Trevor Hunt said: “It was quite an informal meeting and the Moderator went from table to table, speaking to people and addressed us about mission and that we need to speak to and relate to people more than we have done.”
He also visited Barn Church in Culloden, where he saw the community fridge which provides free food to anyone in need in the area.
Dr Greenshields marked the official start of work to create a new car park at Barn Church, which will help improve disabled access, and also help the church develop its new community garden.
Barn Church elder Andrew Ramsay explained: “All the topsoil from the car park can go into the community garden, avoiding the need to bring heavy lorries in and saving us money.
“Once it is up and running, we will hopefully be able to supply fresh vegetables to the community fridge and give us an opportunity to get the community involved with garden as well.”
Several local organisations have pledged to support the garden and pupils from Culloden Academy were involved in its design, including seating to encourage people of all ages to enjoy it.
“It is for the community and for everybody,” Mr Ramsay said.
“We feel very much part of the community here at Culloden. The garden will also be great for mental health. “People can get outside and get involved and older people can pass on their gifts and knowledge.”
Dr Greenshields also met Janis Wilby of locally-based charity Adopt-A-Child.
During his tour, he visited care facilities operated by CrossReach, the operating name of the Church’s Social Care Council, including Cameron House residential care home, Cale House supported accommodation project and Beechwood House residential rehab facility in Inverness, as well as Whinnieknowe Care Home in Nairn.
Dr Greenshields described his tour as inspiring and said it had given him an opportunity to see the very best the Church was doing with and for its communities.
He also heard how local Christians were anticipating a new future for the Church as presbytery areas across Scotland, including Inverness, undergo a radical programme of change to ensure the best use of resources.
“As an outsider looking in, who knows Inverness well, and just listening to the various churches envisioning their future, it makes sense what we are hearing,” he said.
“It is now just a case of getting on with it and getting the job done and getting into effect the mission plans that Inverness Presbytery has now agreed.”
