Churches facing end of era as parish minister calls it a day

There’s no parish ministers round here, writes Edwin Lawrence

That’s the crisis facing Kirk congregations in Girvan and South Carrick.

And it becomes reality with the imminent departure of Rev Richard Moffat from Girvan North Parish Church.

The area – in the short term at least – will be dependent on the services of elderly retired ministers and lay readers.

Mr Moffat has been a popular parish minister at Girvan North for five years.

And he was due to become Moderator of the Presbytery of Ayr in April.

But he is set to move to a new charge in Morayshire, to be closer to his daughter and her family.

He will conduct his last Sunday service in Girvan North on March 17.

Mr Moffat’s departure is the latest factor concentrating minds in the Church of Scotland.

For Girvan South, linked with Barr and Dailly is currently without its minister.

Popular Rev Ian McLachlan has been on sick leave for several months.

And colleagues say he is unlikely to return to full-time duties.

Rev Stephen Ogston was parish minister at Ballantrae/Colmonell from 2009 until August, 2017.

But he moved on to Luce Valley Church, and no replacement has been found.

The linked charge of Ballantrae/St Colmon also takes in services at Barrhill and Glenapp.

So communities right across Girvan and South Carrick no longer have a parish minister in their midst.

And there is uncertaintly at how things will be resolved.

One solution might be a union of the two Girvan churches.

And that could leave Girvan North - with its 150-foot spire – as the last kirk in town.

It would presumably also be used as a hub to minister to village churches. The Post understands there can be as few as six worshippers in Barr Parish Church on Sundays.

This isn’t helped by Barr being last in the pecking order for services, after Girvan South and Dailly. So it’s virtually lunchtime before a Sunday service gets under way.

A Presbytery of Ayr meeting was due in the Carrick Centre in Maybole on Tuesday this week.

And the Post understands this will see Rev Ian Stirling Fisherton/Kirkoswald appointed interim moderator at Girvan North. Locum minister will be retired minister Rev Edgar Ogston – father of Stephen – who lives
in Girvan.

The Post has spoken to kirk elders in Girvan who say they’re uncertain about the future.

And a retired church minister suspects that the two Girvan churches will be required to amalgamate.

He said: “Things are changing. We’ve been a clergy-centred church for 400 years.

“But one positive thing we’re seeing is the rise of worship groups which are prompting people to think about their faith, without necessarily being preached at.”