THE OCTOBER MESSAGE FROM THE
INTERIM MODERATOR.
​ 

My new friends in Fairlie and Largs
I was interested to read the Revd John Purves’
“farewell” letter in the last issue of this newsletter.
Like him, I once had golden curls, and like him I
found that the many hats I have worn in the last
forty years in the ministry have worn them all
away!
My background was as a teacher of English in
Glasgow schools. I trained for the ministry in New
College, Edinburgh University, and was a
probationer minister in Fife. Three charges
followed: in Dumfries: Greyfriars, Cambuslang:
Old and Greenock: Ardgowan. In 2010 I was
called to Interim Ministry and served in
Edinburgh, then Clackmannanshire and latterly in
Kilwinning: Mansefield Trinity, where I am still
Interim Moderator.
My wife Alison and I live in West Kilbride where
we are both members of the parish church. In
retirement I have been called on so much as a
locum and to provide pulpit supply that when I do
attend worship at West Kilbride, people invite me
to sign the Visitors’Book! We have two sons, both
living in British Columbia in western Canada (but
500 miles apart) and two grand-daughters.
It is my privilege to be your Interim Moderator in
the vacancy, but because of my many other timeconsuming
commitments in the wider Church of
Scotland it is not possible for me to be your Locum
Tenens. I am also delighted to advise you that Rev.
Sandy McCallum will act as Locum during the
vacancy.
Meantime, I shall conduct worship for four
Sundays beginning on 24th September, when I
look forward to meeting many of you on Sunday
mornings.
Alan Ward