CONGREGATIONS at two churches are getting ready to say their farewells to East Lothian’s longest-serving minister.

The Rev Laurence Twaddle, minister at Belhaven linked with Spott, will swap the Garden County for the Alps this month after almost four decades as a minister in East Lothian.

Far from retiring, the minister is taking on a new role as the minister for the Church of Scotland in Geneva, Switzerland.

The minister held his final county services on Sunday and said: “It was touching and very special at both Spott and Belhaven; both quite different but both special moments.”

The congregation of both churches are gathering tomorrow (Friday) from 5pm to 9pm to say their own farewells to the minister, who has served them for almost 39 years.

John Creasey, chairman of the congregational board of Belhaven Parish Church, said: “Laurence wholeheartedly gives of himself and supports not just the church but he supports the schools, he supports Belhaven Hospital, he supports Dunbar United as the club chaplain, he supports East Coast FM, he has worked for Radio Forth – he is always there.

“The first thing Laurence says to you when you phone is ‘how may I help you?’ and that is the way he is with everybody.

“It is not just the congregation – if anyone needs help or support, Laurence is always there.”

Mr Twaddle, 65, had planned on stepping down from his role in East Lothian in April before he spotted an advert in the Church of Scotland’s Life and Work magazine for the post in Switzerland.

Since then, Mr Twaddle, who has a final column in this week’s Courier, has been out to Switzerland getting ready for the big move.

Both county congregations joined together for a Songs of Praise evening on Sunday in Belhaven Parish Church, where a selection of the minister’s favourite hymns were sung.

Mr Creasey said Mr Twaddle would be sorely missed.

He added: “It was quite an emotional evening.

“When you are losing somebody who has been with you for 38 years, 39 years in April, it is a long time.”

Mr Twaddle, who is also the hospital chaplain at nearby Belhaven Hospital, as well as the club chaplain at Dunbar United Football Club, where his son John played in midfield, is due to move to Switzerland’s second biggest city later this month.

Mr Twaddle’s wife Lindy will fly out with him on the day but will be back in the county until the February school break, when she will step down from her role as headteacher at Macmerry Primary School.

Paul Rafaelli, headteacher at Dunbar Grammar School, said: “The Rev Twaddle has been school chaplain for over 38 years, and has been an enormous support to our students and wider community.

“We are sorry to see him go, but would like to thank him and wish him all the very best in his new role in Geneva.”

Read Laurence’s farewell column here.