Published: Friday, 29th August, 2008 08:35
Yes, minister please stay!
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TRANENT Parish Church members gave a big thumbs-up to the Rev Jan Gillies after she delivered a sermon to a packed congregation on Sunday.
About 80 people filled the pews to hear the service by Mrs Gillies, who was then voted in as new minister of the church by the congregation.
Mrs Gillies, 59, fills the vacancy left by the departure of the Rev Tom Hogg last October, after more than 20 years as minister-in-charge.
The mother-of-two, who hails from Yorkshire and now lives in the county with her husband, had preached at Tranent a number of times in the past year before being invited to ‘try out’ for the post of full-time minister.
“I’m very happy to have been chosen and am very much looking forward to serving the people of Tranent,” said Mrs Gillies, who has previously served as minister in Inverkip and Newton.
“Obviously, I’ve got to know them a little bit over the past year and I know that they are a very warm and welcoming congregation.”
A qualified nurse and midwife, Mrs Gillies became a minister 10 years ago.
“I felt God was calling me to serve him in another way,” she explained.
She will be inducted as church minister in a ceremony on September 11.
Linda Ingham, secretary of the church fabric committee, told the Courier:
“She was very good on Sunday and people really enjoyed the service.
“Around 70 people voted for her to stay on as minister.
“We’re really looking forward to having her on board as the new minister.”
Following Mrs Gillies’ induction, Lothian Presbytery is expected to move forward with plans to hire a support worker, in a bid to attract a new generation of churchgoers.
The role will involve working side-by-side with the church minister to provide support and advice to young people and those aged under 45 in Tranent.
They are also expected to assist other parishes in the Tranent cluster, such as Longniddry, Gladsmuir and Prestonpans.
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