A FORMER lawyer who has “fond memories” of East Lothian is getting ready to become a church minister for the first time.

The Rev Katherine Taylor takes over the reins at Tranent Parish Church next Thursday (October 28), after members voted by a huge majority for her.

Now, she is getting ready to swap Edinburgh for East Lothian and follow in the footsteps of the Rev Erica Wishart, who left to take on a role as a trainee specialist palliative care chaplain, working for St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.

The new minister told the Courier: “I completed my training at the end of 2019 and throughout the pandemic have worked as a locum minister at North Leith Parish Church.

“At the same time, I was searching for my first charge. I am delighted to have found it in Tranent.

“The congregation has a strong commitment to prayer, serving the local community and to links with other churches, all of which I share.

“In recent months, Tranent Parish Church has reached out creatively with a new online presence and overall it is an exciting time to start ministry in the town as the Church of Scotland makes radical changes to encourage the growth of faith in the 21st century.

“As my husband Kenneth and I get ready to move from Edinburgh to Tranent, I am very hopeful about the future.”

Erica stepped down from the role last year, with the Church of Scotland going through the appropriate process to find her successor.

Katherine, 55, preached as sole nominee at Tranent on August 29 and, following the service, members voted for her.

She then accepted the invitation to become minister and will officially start later this month.

She has already attended the town Rotary Club’s 50th anniversary dinner.

Despite growing up in Scone, near Perth, she is no stranger to the area.

She said: “I have fond memories of East Lothian from childhood, as I spent many happy summer holidays in North Berwick, learning to swim in the outdoor pool, and singing and playing games on the beach with the Church of Scotland summer missions.”

Katherine’s journey to become a minister has seen her switch career path.

She added: “Leaving school, I studied music for a year but decided that I was not meant to be a professional musician and changed course to study law.

“I worked as an employment lawyer in Edinburgh and then spent eight years at home looking after my three children, who are now aged 23, 20, and 17.

“This gave me more time to connect with my local community, both in the primary school and in my parish church, Duddingston Kirk, where I first experienced the call to train for ministry.”