Fond farewell to Father Mel as Black Isle charge of Scottish Episcopal church marks end of an era in Fortrose
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THE end of an era was marked at a Black Isle charge earlier today when Father Mel Langille led his final service as Rector.
St Andrew's in Fortrose, a Scottish Episcopal church, was packed for what proved to be an emotional day filled with joy, laughter, thankfulness and reminiscence.
It gave worshippers the opportunity to recognise and celebrate his 40 years since ordination and wish him well in his retirement.
It was Father Mel's final Eucharist as Rector of the Black Isle Joint Charge.
Jean Davis, who looks after charge's website and social media page, said: "It was a wonderful and emotional day with the church packed to the rafters and followed by a lovely bring and share lunch.
"There were people from the local charge, from Sutherland where he was previously Rector and from Canada including several family members.
"It was joyous event where all could recognise and celebrate his 40 years since ordination and could wish him well in his retirement.
"Fr Mel will be missed but all are pleased he will not be far away having just relocated to his new house in Inverness.
"During the interregnum the church will be under the care of our Interim Rector, The Most Rev'd Mark Strange, and services will continue as normal details of which can be found on our website and Facebook page.”
Melvin Owen Langille was born in 1958 in Pictou, Nova Scotia and raised in the Scottish Episcopalian tradition as it had been lived out in Pictou since the ship Hector arrived from Ullapool in 1773 bringing 200 Highlanders many of whom were 'Pisckies' who were fleeing the post-Culloden persecution of the Church.
Mel graduated from Pictou Academy (founded in the early 1800s by Dr Thomas MacCulloch who was the local Presbyterian minister at the time) in 1976 and headed off to St Mary's University in Halifax where he earned a B.A. in French and Classical History and a B.Ed.
Having already felt called to the priesthood, he enrolled in the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax and graduated from there in 1982 with an M.Div. Ordained Deacon in 1982 and then Priest in 1983, he served as curate in three parishes and Rector of four in Nova Scotia.
Since arriving in Scotland in 2003, he has been priest-in-charge of the Episcopalian congregations of Brora, Dornoch, Kinlochbervie and Lairg, as well as interregnum priest-in-charge of Thurso and Wick. On August 1 2009 he was instituted as Rector of Saint John's Church, Arpafeelie and Saint Andrew's Church, Fortrose.
Father Mel was also elected by his fellow priests to be Synod Clerk and with that was made a Canon of Saint Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness.
Having grown up in a county that boasted seven pipe bands (with a father and uncle who played), it was inevitable that he should take up the bagpipes himself.
Within hours of arriving in Sutherland, he was invited to join the Sutherland Caledonian Pipe Band, becoming pipe major of the band in August of 2005. He has taught piping to many over the years, assisted with the Golspie High School Pipeband and was a piping tutor with Fèis Cataibh.
