printed 3 October 2024
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One in all Scotland’s finest recognized and historic church buildings has gained a brand new affiliate minister with the ordination and induction of the Rev Susan Campbell McGregor.
Ms McGregor was already serving as a probationary minister at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, however the ordination service marked the tip of her coaching and a brand new chapter as a minister of wards and sacraments with the Church of Scotland.
The Ordination Service was led by Rev Andrea Worth, Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian, Rev Dr Karen Katrina Campbell gave the sermon and former Greyfriars Minister Rev Dr Richard Fraser led the intercessory prayer.
Mrs McGregor studied theology on the College of St Andrews after leaving faculty, however started a profession in increased training management and administration earlier than learning for the ministry.
“I used to be in my most senior place in my tutorial profession, taking care of numerous employees and college students, I discovered that I used to be coping with individuals who have been dealing with issues in life. Many had questions on the place they have been going, and all confronted the issues of restructuring organizations and All of the stress and pressure concerned,” she defined.
“My method to management was fairly pastoral, however when you’re a supervisor or a frontrunner, there is a restrict to what you are able to do for folks: you are not their mentor or their confidant.
“I feel I acquired to some extent the place I wasn’t being the type of chief I wished to be, after which the questions began.”
He returned to Scotland after working for 20 years in England and Wales to review for the ministry at Edinburgh’s New Faculty, but in addition accepted a three-year contract in a senior administration place with the College of Edinburgh of which he was one. Point out each a scholar and a employees member.
“It was very fascinating to see the boot on the opposite foot as a result of I labored in a really student-focused space,” she mentioned.
“Being a scholar once more in trendy occasions is an eye-opener.”
An intense and enriching expertise
Appointments at St David’s Broomhouse, Wardy Parish Church and Priestfield Church adopted earlier than he started his probationary interval at Greyfriars early final yr, and Sue has been supervised remotely since November after Dr Fraser retired.
“It has been fairly an intense expertise, but in addition wealthy and busy due to that autonomy and due to the situation,” Ms McGregor defined.
“We’ve got labored out that we now have about 2 million guests to the kirkyard and about 100,000 to the kirk yearly. There’s a particular ministry with guests and pilgrims, but in addition folks dwelling within the parish.
“It is that range and the profile of the occasion checklist and the alternatives we now have for earnings that maintain the church so alive. A few of our occasions are industrial, however we now have common free Thursday lunchtime live shows, which is a part of our mission. Within the arts, folks get to expertise actually high-quality artists. permits and provides budding performers the chance to get pleasure from this stunning venue in the identical approach as musicians from the nice orchestras that go to right here.
“There’s a nice remark from somebody who mentioned: ‘I got here for the music and stayed for the prayer.’ Folks come into the house, they expertise that religious ambiance and so they can sit and soak up one thing and other people do not should be there to expertise one thing of God in that place.”
As Affiliate Minister, Ms McGregor will lead worship on the church with the help of members of the congregation, in addition to persevering with to offer pastoral help whereas Greyfriars waits for its union with St Cuthbert’s Church to be accomplished, permitting the merged congregation to name a minister.
After her ordination, Ms. McGregor can now present sacramental ministry, one thing she was requested to do on the primary Sunday after her ordination when she carried out her first baptism with an grownup believer.
He’s additionally wanting ahead to getting concerned with the Grassmarket Group Challenge, a neighborhood charity based by former minister, the Rev Dr Richard Fraser who served the marginalized in society within the custom of the Franciscan friars.
A lightweight to the world
Mrs MacGregor sees a lot to be optimistic about Greyfriars because the church strikes in the direction of one other historic union.
“In all of the church buildings I have been in, persons are simply filled with concepts and desirous to get issues going. There’s rather a lot to be gained from coming collectively and being a light-weight to the world and never specializing in our alternatives however worrying about what we’d lose from the union,” he mentioned. mentioned
“I’ve discovered rather a lot in regards to the Greyfriars congregation as I have been there for about 18 months. I am excited for the longer term and this Christmas we will have a number of Introduction occasions with our potential companion church, St Cuthbert’s. Hopefully it is a actually optimistic, colourful and joyful one. It will be nice to have a bigger congregation come collectively through the festive season.”
Her ordination additionally revealed that Mrs McGregor already had a household reference to the Greyfriars.
His great-grandfather, the Rev John Campbell McGregor, was minister of the Gaelic congregation at St Oran’s Church earlier than his dying in 1916 whereas serving as a military chaplain on the Western Entrance.
St Oran’s later merged with St Columba to type the Highland Church, which ultimately merged with the Greyfriars, which maintained the custom of standard Gaelic companies.
Mrs MacGregor mentioned: “We’ve got a weekly Gaelic service, which is rising and is on the verge of creating right into a ‘younger church’. I attempted to study Gaelic, however though I did not get very far with it, it actually helps my mindset and DNA Gaelic congregations. To do!
“Right here, we now have an incredible distinction between worship and witness – from Gaelic, blessing of pets companies, civic occasions, our service to folks on the fringes of the church and naturally our buddy Greyfriars Bobby has attracted a world viewers. Kirk All of them make Greyfriars particular.”
