PARISH PROFILE FOR TOMINTOUL, GLENLIVET & INVERAVON
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PARISH PROFILE
FOR
TOMINTOUL, GLENLIVET & INVERAVON
A SNAPSHOT
OF OUR PARISH
Our parish is situated within the Moray-shire area of the Cairngorms National Park. Tomintoul, at
1164 feet above Sea Level, lays claim to be the highest village in the Scottish Highlands.
Inveravon, in the old County of Banffshire lies by the Rivers Avon & Spey and close beside the
famous Ballindalloch Castle. Glenlivet is a Crown Estate and all set in the midst of distillery
country
Is
Tourism is extremely important to the local
economy and helps shape the congregations.
We seek an evangelical minister to join us, and
lead us, working alongside our folk, encouraging
and developing the work already under way and
thus help growth here in our parish.
Tomintoul
We are one congregation, worshipping in two churches, enjoying a variety of traditional and
some contemporary worship. We believe the Word of God to be vital and significant in our
lives. We wish to develop more into being a praying people who try to live
under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit
The Cockbridge to Tomintoul road is usually the
first to be closed by snow in the winter and was
‘immortalised’ as such by Sir Terry Wogan on his popular
early breakfast radio programme. At every time of
the year, this really is one of the most beautiful parts of
Scotland - admired by countless thousands and a wonderful Strath Avon
witness to God’s creation
While we recognise that differences occur and we will always
seek to be supportive of, and loving towards, those whose
opinions and experiences vary from our own, the Kirk Session
does not feel it is appropriate, for example, that same-sex
marriages should be celebrated in any of our properties.
Both churches have undergone major refurbishment work over recent years, all of which is
funded and expected to come to an end late in 2013/ early 2014. Much of what we do in our
parishes is ‘weather dependent’ for part of the year!
TOMINTOUL, GLENLIVET & INVERAVON
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
SCO 001802
Pictish Stones, Inveravon Church THE DOWNAN STONE, GLENLIVET
TOMINTOUL CHURCH
- WITH SCAFFOLDING!
ARRIVALS AT INVERAVON CHURCH -
WORLD-WIDE SONGS OF PRAISE
SERVICE
COFFEE AFTER
SONGS OF PRAISE -
INVERAVON CHURCH SOUP & SWEET
IN
GLENLIVET HALLHALL
AV ON CHURCH THE MAN
INVE R SE - IN TO
TOMINTOUL CHURCH MINTOU
L
A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THE
WIDER PARISH AREA
Tomintoul lays claim to be the highest village in the Scottish Highlands
The villages have several businesses and well stocked shops, an art glass works,
pubs, hotels, guest houses, B & B establishments and several holiday homes
The population is approximately 1200 in total with around 400 resident
in Tomintoul village the larger percentage living in scattered communities
around the area in which are several large, privately owned estates involved
in tourism, stalking, fishing, forestry and farming
This is distillery country and the resulting direct and indirect employment is significant
Ballindalloch Castle and its famous cattle are close by Inveravon
In addition to the church , the congregation in Tomintoul has a small hall
which will soon be refurbished, adding to the facilities available locally.
High school age pupils attend Speyside High School in Aberlour ( 24 miles distant)
Although the population has expanded in recent years there is
still a very good community spirit, a Community Council and several
popular and successful village events, in all of which the church
community is involved.
THE OLD FIRE STATION GLENLIVET HALL
INVERAVON PRIMARY TOMINTOUL WITH OUR SOUP & SWEET TEAM
CATCHERS AT THE
ANNUAL
BOTTLE RACE
LECHT SKI AREA
A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THE
CHRISTIAN WORK & LIFE IN THE PARISH
Weekly worship services are held in both churches - Inveravon and Tomintoul
at 09.30 and 11.15 respectively
with approx. 20 folk attending each service
In both churches organists lead our worship
and we use CH3 and Songs of God’s People
A number of our folk are able and prepared to share in leading worship
Communion is usually held about four times a year
In common with so many congregations around the country
we no longer have a Sunday School but we are in the process of starting
Messy Church with a view to engaging with both children and their parents.
We have a very good relationship with the local Roman Catholic community,
occasionally sharing leading roles like Remembrance Day services.
We are great supporters of the ecumenical ‘Unite’ events held
throughout this Presbytery area, with several of our members
involved in the ‘Unite’ choir.
‘Unite ‘ was established in 1999 to present gospel events
to our communities at the time of the millennium
Presently pastoral care is shared between a 2 day Locum Minister
and the congregation and elders working together.
An average of 2 weddings are held annually in the churches, most of which
are led by the minister of the charge.
Four to five funerals are held in the churches annually and the Inverness and Aberdeen
Crematoria are used occasionally
While there are no care homes in the parish, a sheltered housing scheme and associated day
centre is to be found in Tomintoul and members conduct regular worship for the residents.
Aberlour has a residential care home and we conduct worship there once a month.
Tomintoul’s own medical practise
Fleming Hospital, Aberlour
Stephen Hospital Dufftown
Dr. Gray’s Hospital Elgin ( the most regularly used )
Raigmore Hospital Inverness
and finally,
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary provide for the health care needs of the parish
Parish pastoral care is presently undertaken by the fellowship as a whole, under the the
guidance of the Kirk Session and, currently, in liaison with the Locum Minister
While we do not, at this time, produce our own Parish magazine we make use of the
opportunity to comment through the local community newsletters
‘The Thistledown’ & ‘The Touler’
Tomintoul Primary School has around 40+ pupils while
Inveravon Primary has 15 and Glenlivet Primary School approx. 11 pupils
The minister is welcomed as chaplain at all three and there is good interaction between
church and school staff and pupils alike
Our church has a
QUOAD SACRA CONSTITUTION
Our Elders & Board Members meet regularly, usually on the same evening
to discuss the life of the church.
In 2011, in preparation for our new Presbytery Plan we, in common with all the charges
locally, held a ‘Vision Day’. This gave us an opportunity to consider, frankly, the strengths
and weaknesses of the congregation together with it’s hopes and expectations as we
headed towards this vacancy.
Some issues have been addressed already and matters of fund-raising and fabric repair
& maintenance, which had exercised us in the past, are now largely resolved with
refurbishment of most of our property almost complete.
To address the identified lack of children in our fellowship, we have already
taken steps to put in place a Messy Church programme with much involvement from
within the membership.
We are working at trying to further improve our profile in the Parish.
While Community-wide projects exist and are very popular, we are looking at
ways to improve personal contact on a more spiritual level.
We are a small, but willing bunch of people, aware of each other’s needs, enjoying good
fellowship together and we are looking forward very much to having our minister
living amongst us once again.
Our hope is to work together with our new colleague to extend what we have, to
face the challenges many churches in Scotland are experiencing today and move forward
in a way that will consolidate the work of sharing
the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this place we love so much.
The charge is on a 50%/50% basis shared between work in the parish and work
on Presbytery-wide projects, which have yet to be agreed. These will necessarily
be subject to discussion between the congregational office bearers,
the Presbytery and the incoming minister so that needs of the Presbytery and the
particular gifts of the minister are matched as accurately and constructively as possible.
SO, WE ARE NOW
following the recent retirement of our minister, Sven Bjarnasson,
looking for someone who feels called to our linked charge,
who will also join us and walk with us as we try
to grow as His disciples and
bring the message of salvation through Christ
to our community in a loving, supportive and affirming way.
HOPES & ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
We have enjoyed happy relationships over many years with our previous ministers
and our gratitude for the care of these men is great.
Recognising the strengths we have gained from these past ministries
our hope is that -
We will, as others have before us, leave a legacy, a platform on
which continued growth may be
sustained for those who follow us.
CONTACT DETAILS
Interim Moderator : Bill Steele
bill.steele4@btopenworld.com
Clerk to the Nominations Committee : Tricia Lawson
tricialawson@me.com
Chair of the Nominations Committee : Alex Grant
larigdhu@live.co.uk
Thank you for taking the time to read this -
we’ve tried not to hide anything,
there’s nothing to be read between the lines.
Instead, we’ve tried to bring an
honest picture of us to the table.
If we can answer any further questions on an
informal basis - please feel free to speak with
our Interim Moderator or the Chair or Secretary
of the Nominations Committee.THE FOLLOWING LINKS
WILL GIVE MORE GENERAL INFORMATION THAN
WE COULD SENSIBLY PUT
IN THIS PROFILE
www.lecht.co.uk - for the ski area
www.visittomintoul.co.uk - for lots of local infomation
www.cairngorms.co.uk - National Park website
www.tgwf.co.uk- Tomintoul & Glenlivet Walking & Cycling FestivalYou can also read
