Church of Scotland
Glenelg, KINTAIL & Lochalsh Parish
Parish Profile 2015
Introduction
1. The parish of Glenelg, Kintail and Lochalsh was formed by the union of the Lochalsh and Glenelg and Kintail parishes in March 2015. During the creation of this union, the new parish was allocated 1.7 ministries: one, lodged in Kyle and the otherlodged in Kintail. The expectation is that both incumbents will operate as a team for the benefit of the whole Parish.
The Call
2. The previous parish of Lochalsh has been without a Minister since December 2011 and Glenelg and Kintail since November 2014. In the first instance the call is for a full-time minister(lodged in Kyle of Lochalsh).
3. Re the first call, the congregation seeks a Minister who will share with them their vision of a pastor, called by God, with a heart for people in the Parish so we can spread the Gospel together throughout the community. The vision of the Kirk Session is to have the Word of God preached faithfully and to have effective pastoral care throughout the Parish. Particularly we are seeking:
a. an expository and evangelical Bible teacher,
b. a commitment to personal and corporate prayer,
c. an ability to engage pastorally with young and old hospitals and residential centres.
d. an ability to lead intuitively and empower an active congregation,
e. an ability to inspire, motivate and challenge the congregation with passion, preaching, presence and sense of humour,
f. an ability to maintain a church family, finding ways to unite different age groups,
g. an ability to use the gifts and abilities within the congregation to help it grow by motivating and getting the best from individuals and groups,
h. an enthusiasm for helping us to be mission-orientated, engaging throughout the parish and in the wider community.
4. Further information on the Parish can be found at the Annexes.
Annexes:
A.Geography of the Parish.
B.Places of Worship and Services
C.Church Buildings
D.Church Groups
ANNEX A
GEOGRAPHY OF PARISH
1. The Parish covers a large area, from Plockton in the north, to Kintail in the east and Glenelg in the south. A map of the area is at Fig 1.
Fig 1. Parish of Glenelg, Kintail and Lochalsh
2. The area is one of outstanding natural beauty, though the winding roads, some of them single-track, and the large amount of traffic in the summer, mean that travel within the parish can sometimes be a little slow.
3. The hub of the area is Kyle of Lochalsh, a village of around 650 people. The village has a police station, railway station, several hotels, a good-sized Co-operative store, filling station, large medical practice, a pharmacy,three dental practices, a leisure centre with swimming pool and a number of shops. There are regular bus services to Portree, Inverness and Glasgow and three trains per day to Inverness, the regional centre and about 85 miles away.
4. The other main centres of population are Plockton (approx 300), Dornie (approx 300), Glenelg (approx 250), Inverinate (approx 175), Ratagan (approx 75), Letterfearn (approx 25) and Arnisdale (approx 30). At Glenelg there isa daily mini-bus service to Kyle and a small car ferry to the Isle of Skye which runs between April and October.
5. The population of the Parish is around 2,700 and is spread around the many small villages in the area. There are primary schools in Plockton (including a Gaelic medium unit), Kyle, Auchtertyre, Inverinate and Glenelg. Secondary education is provided at Plockton High School with approximately 300 students, some of whom come from outlying areas and remain in the school hostel during the week. The school also hosts the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music which has a high profile within the community and further afield.There is a small hospital in Broadford on the Isle of Skye, though there are plans to build a new hospital in the same area in the near future. Children's nurseries are located in Kyle, Plockton and Auchtertyre. Care for the aged is provided in Dornie, Broadford and Portree and facilities for adults with additional support needs can be found in Kyleakin. A number of Christian-based aid agencies, such as Blythswood, Highland Food Bank and Christians Against Poverty, operate in the parish.
6. The main employer in the area is the Ministry of Defence which owns the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC). This facility, which contains a main base in Kyle and a Range Building in Applecross, is run by Qinetiq and employs around 300 people. Highland Council, the NHS and Marine Harvest also employ relatively significant numbers of people and tourism, crofting, building trades and creel-fishing cover the majority of self-employed businesses.
ANNEX B
PLACES OF WORSHIP AND SERVICES
1. Until recently there were 6 Church of Scotland places of worship iin the parish: Plockton, Kyle of Lochalsh, Kirkton, Dornie, Inverinate and Glenelg. Those at Plockton and Kirkton have been sold, whilst that in Inverinate is in a bad state of repair and is no longer used, the congregation meeting in Inverinate Community Hall. The Church in Dornie is not used and is being considered for sale.
2. Kyle Church. The building is in a reasonable state of repair and the church has a congregation of around 50 members and 70 adherents. Since the charge became vacant there have been no Sunday evening services, but morning services have continued with guest preachers and, on occasions, by the elders themselves. These take place at 1100.
3. Glenelg Church. There is a regular Congregation of around 20-25 and, as for Kyle, there are no Sunday evening services at the moment. The building is in a poor state of repair and this is being addressed. Sunday morning Services take place at 1215.
4. Inverinate Community Hall. The building is relatively new and is in an excellent state of repair. Attendance at the Sunday morning service, which starts at 1015, is around 15.
5. Sacraments. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is carried out as follows:
a. Kyle - last Sunday in January.
b. Inverinate - first Sunday in March.
c. Kyle - Maundy Thursday.
d. Glenelg - Good Friday.
e. Kyle - last Sunday in June.
f. Inverinate - first Sunday in September.
g. Glenelg - first Sunday in November.
6. Baptisms are conducted by arrangement.
7. Special Services. Watchnight services are held in Glenelg and an inter-denominational Watchnight service is also held in Plockton Free Church. An early morning Easter Sunday service, also inter-denominational, is held at the open-air Church (the Gleick) in Plockton. Joint area inter-denominational services, normally with Communion, and which are very well attended, are held every quarter in Kyleakin Hall.
8. Gaelic preparatory services are held in Kyle Church on the Thursday preceding the Communion service there.
ANNEX C
CHURCH BUILDINGS
1. As well as the four churches, there is a number of other buildings still owned by the Church. These are:
a.Kyle Church Hall. This was extended in the last 5 years, funded by a loan from the General Trustees. This loan was repaid with the proceeds of the sale of Plockton church. Both the original hall, and the extension, are in a good state of repair and are well used by various groups and organisations.
b.Kirkton Church Hall. Whilst still used occasionally, the sale of the nearby Kirkton church has meant that the hall is surplus to requirements and will be sold.
c. Kyle Manse. The house was built between the wars but has been upgraded and is in good condition. It has a large garden and is situated within a 5 minute walk of the Church and the village of Kyle of Lochalsh. The house is currently being let but will be returned to the Church prior to the appointment of the full-time Minister.
d.Inverinate Manse. A large detached house on the shores of Loch Duich built in 1969 and with a large garden. The building is adjacent to the Church and is in need of some work but is currently being let to a local couple. It will be returned to the church prior to the appointment of the associate Minister.
2. Whilst the Parish is financially solvent, it is a fluid situation which is being worked through in the wake of the recent union.
ANNEX D
CHURCH GROUPS
1. A number of groups in the parish meet on a regular basis, namely:
a. Bible Studies. Meet weekly in Glenelg.
b. Prayer Meetings. These are held weekly on a Wednesday in Kyle Church Hall.
c. Women'sPrayer Meeting. Held monthly in a home in Glenelg/Kintail.
d. Youth Bible Study. A local house group in Glenelg which attracts up to 12 teenagers for Bible Study, games and snacks on a Friday night in the Easter to October period.
e. Sunday School. There are Sunday Schools in all three places of worship during term time. The Sunday Schools normally attend the first part of the service and leave after the Children's Address to their respective meeting areas for further spiritual guidance.
f. Church Youth Group. Meets in Glenelg on a Saturday night in the October to Easter period and attracts up to 25 teenagers.
g. COOL. Christian Outlook on Lochalsh. An inter-denominational Christian Youth Project which employs a full-time youth worker, affiliated to Scripture Union, and which has been in existence for 15 years. COOL is active in all schools in the area.
h. Summer Holiday Clubs. Run each year with around 25-30 children taking part.
i. Youth Activity Week. Runs alongside the Holiday Club with 20-30 teenagers attending.
j. Men's Prayer Breakfast. Takes place in Kyle Church Hall on the first Saturday of the month and in Ratagan on other Saturdays.
k. The Guild. An active Guild operates from Kyle Church.
Issue 13 June 2015