Thanks to all those who came along to our Christingle Making workshop yesterday. Our Christingle Service this afternoon was a beautiful gathering of friends from across all our churches in East Sutherland. Singing, scripture and laughter – a great boost in the hectic run up to Christmas!
Some pictures are from our Christingle Making – a nice problem to have was that we didn’t make enough for the service with nearly sixty in the congregation – our biggest Christingle yet!
Much joy on Saturday afternoon when Rev Gerry Livingstone was licensed and installed as Priest-in-Charge of St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Tain by Bishop Mark.
Although Gerry comes originally from Glasgow, he has always had a connection with Brora where members of his extended family have lived and he has therefore been a frequent visitor over the years. Gerry now lives in the cottage in Brora which was left to him by his Aunt and Uncle and during the week works for the NHS in Golspie.
Bishop Mark conducted the service, assisted by Rev Stuart Thomson. In his address Bishop Mark reminded the congregation that whilst Gerry was to be their leader, they had to play their part, not least because Gerry has a full time job during the week.
The church was full of friends of Gerry, the St Andrew’s congregation, members of local churches, other Episcopal clergy and also clergy from other denominations. Music was provided by Jamie Campbell at the organ, a choir of local singers who amongst other things sang the anthem “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy” during communion and of course there was also enthusiastic congregational singing.
Afterwards Gerry was presented with an engraved vase depicting St Andrew’s Church, a gift from his new congregation. As always there was a splendid buffet prepared by members of the congregation. There was lively conversation and fellowship from those gathered as they ate and drank.
A huge thanks to all who contributed to a very uplifting occasion and we all wish Gerry well in ministry amongst us.
A lovely group of performers from Strathfleet Buttons and Bows gave a splendid concert of Scottish Traditional music last evening in St Finnbarr’s Church. This was the third Autumn Concert that the group have performed in St Finnbarr’s, with the largest number of musicians.
The music ranged from the wonderfully evocative tribute to “The Heroes of Longhope” to the bouncy “Crossing the Minch” and along the way we left Stornaway and Lismore, said Fairwell to Golspie and experienced a Starry Night in Shetland.
There were refreshments at half time and the enthusiastic audience enjoyed a sing-song of war-time favourites immediately after their tea break. As they say, a good time was had by all and a huge thanks to everyone involved.
The concert had a retiring collection to be shared between the work of St Finnbarr’s and the work of Buttons and Bows.
Last Thursday, an audience gathered at St Columba’s Episcopal Church (affectionately known locally as The Tin Tabernacle) in Brora to enjoy a selection of music and songs performed by talented local musicians. Following on from a very successful Midsummer Concert and a well attended art exhibition, the folk at St Columba’s decided to hold a concert in late September with an Autumn Theme. The concert was compered by Alistair risk and performers included harpist Jennifer Port, Monica Maclean’s Gold Star Band, and a number of singers, including the priest at St Columba’s, Canon Simon Scott. The programme was wide and varied, ranging from traditional Scottish tunes to sixteenth century madrigals and finished with the ever popular community sing-a-long. Entry was free, but voluntary donations totalling £425 were collected in aid of CLAN Cancer Support charity. For some audience members this was the first time they had been in the Tin Tabernacle and they appreciated the warm, friendly and intimate surroundings. St Columba’s will hold their next concert at 4pm on Sunday 4th January 2026 – the theme will be Christmas and The New Year! Put it in your diary now!
Earlier in September, members of the Roman Catholic Church, The Scottish Episcopal Church and other Christian denominations from across Sutherland met together for a service of Choral Evensong at St Finnbarr’s Episcopal Church in Dornoch to celebrate a very special Feast of St Ninian. On the same day, Bishops from both the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church signed a historic agreement to be known as the Saint Ninian Declaration. The Declaration supports a deepening relationship between Episcopalians and Roman Catholics in Scotland, allowing both to work more closely together while acknowledging that there are distinct differences between the two churches. Canon Simon Scott (the episcopal priest in charge across East Sutherland) rejoiced at the coming together of these two denominations. “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism to which we are all called. This historic agreement is another joyful step on the path to the worldwide Christian family walking together hand in hand as we seek to follow Jesus Christ and to serve our communities in His name – Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.
Scottish Episcopal Church - Dornoch, Lairg, Brora, Tain & Tongue 