ARBIRLOT & CARMYLLIE CHURCHES A PARISH PROFILE Arbirlot Church Carmyllie Church 1 LOCAL INFORMATION Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010 The adjacent parishes of Arbirlot and Carmyllie lie immediately west of the town of Arbroath which has an active harbour, marina and fishing fleet and is famed for its Arbroath Smokies. In 1320 the Declaration of Arbroath, also known as the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed. It is recognised by millions of Scots at home and abroad as the most treasured document in Scottish history. Arbirlot, which borders Arbroath, takes its name from the Elliot Water which flows from Carmyllie to the sea at Elliot. The parish is bounded by fine sandy beaches which stretch along the Firth of Tay from Broughty Ferry near Dundee to Lunan Bay near Montrose. Sailing is a popular pastime in these waters. Arbirlot Village Arbirlot parish rises inland about 4 miles to meet Carmyllie parish which extends a further 4 miles to the north west, rising to a height of about 600 feet with extensive views of the county of Angus. The county of Fife, with its beautiful countryside and the world-famous St Andrews golf courses, is just across the water and readily reached by the Tay Road Bridge; Carnoustie, with its equally famous golf courses, is a few miles south of Carmyllie. Arbroath Harbour 2 Our parishes are about 15 miles from the centre of Dundee, 60 miles from Aberdeen and 80 miles from Edinburgh. All are reached by dual carriageway and all have airports allowing easy access to London and other major cities. The railway station in Arbroath has direct services to the main Scottish cities as well as to London. Whilst this accessibility is undoubtedly beneficial, there is no need to travel far to visit wonderful gardens and historic buildings. Dunnotar Castle lies to the north on the coast road, Glamis Castle is about 15 miles to the north west and the House of Dun lies about 12 miles north of Arbroath where the awe-inspiring Arbroath Abbey is situated. Just beyond Forfar lie five outstandingly beautiful Glens, each with its own special characteristics. The county has many delightful outlets for local arts and crafts and we are well provided with cinemas, theatres and musical venues, including the famous Caird Hall. In Dundee lie the Frigate Unicorn, one of the oldest wooden warships still afloat, and the RRS Discovery which carried Captain Scott on his ill-fated journey to the Antarctic. Dundee is home to the magnificent McManus Gallery which recently displayed Titian’s painting of Diana and Actaeon. A ‘sister’ to the Victoria and Albert Museum is to be developed on the Dundee Waterfront and the designs for the new building are out for public consultation. THE PARISHES Arbirlot Most of the parish is rural, centred on the attractive conservation village of Arbirlot where the Church and manse are located, with a small part of the parish in Arbroath town. The valley of the Elliot provides pleasant wooded walks and the elevated area of the parish gives splendid views over prime farmland. The parish has a population of about 400 adults employed in agricultural-related activities, the oil industry, universities/academia and travelling to work in Arbroath, Dundee or further afield. Arbirlot Church Arbirlot Primary School has a roll of 25 children with 2 teachers. There is also a nursery, a playgroup and a parent and toddler group. The school is an important part of parish life and has a very good relationship with the Church; our minister visited the school every week and held end of term services for staff, pupils and the community four times a year. Young people attend Arbroath, Carnoustie and Forfar secondary schools. The close relationship between the parishes of Arbirlot and Carmyllie is echoed in the relationship between Arbirlot and Carmyllie primary schools which share a Head Teacher. 3 Carmyllie The concentrations of population in Carmyllie are in the small villages of Redford and Greystone with Carmyllie Church lying in attractive open countryside midway between the two. Forfar, where Presbytery meets, is 8 miles away and a bus service linking Arbroath with Forfar passes through Redford 4 times daily. Farming is still the mainstay of the community, but, increasingly, the inhabitants of Carmyllie commute to nearby towns and cities for work. Carmyllie School Carmyllie Primary School in Redford has a roll of 29 children with 2 teachers and 4 nursery school pupils. Carmyllie children attend the playgroup in Arbirlot and a parent and toddler group meets in Carmyllie school. Both parishes benefit from the proximity of excellent opportunities for further education at Arbroath College, Dundee College, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Abertay University and Dundee University. Dundee University has a particularly good reputation in the Sciences and computer studies and is rated very highly nationally in Medicine with a University Teaching Hospital. PARISH LIFE The scattered nature of settlement and the influx of newcomers to both parishes has diluted the focus of traditional parish life in recent years; nevertheless there remains a good community spirit. Parishioners who do not choose to join Carmyllie Church continue to support our activities both financially and by their attendance at services and other Church activities. Arbirlot continues to draw worshippers from Arbroath, despite more conveniently located town churches. Sunday School - Harvest Barrow Arbirlot Church has an excellent hall which is utilised regularly by the Sunday School, WRI, Men’s Club, Tai-Chi group, two children’s theatre groups and art shows. There are undoubtedly other ways in which it could be used to the benefit of the parish. An annual Burns’ Supper is held in the hall, organised by the Church, but attended by many from the parish and beyond. On occasion, soup and coffee are served in the hall after the Church service and the social committee organises events such as open days in local gardens, sponsored walks and silent auctions which bring together parishioners, both members and non-members of the Church. These events also raise funds. 4 The Carmyllie Church hall is small but very adequately houses meetings of the Guild, Church coffee mornings, sales of work, a twice-weekly art group and meetings of our flourishing Heritage Society. It is also the venue for the Session meetings which are held jointly with Arbirlot. Most of the parish activities centre on the large, modern Carmyllie hall which has no direct involvement with the Church. It is there that the Men’s Club and WRI meet and the very active Carmyllie Amateur Dramatic Society rehearses and puts on performances twice a year. Carmyllie Guild Meeting Carmyllie hall and its grounds host archery classes, badminton, dog training, dancing and piping classes, as well as providing a venue for parties, quizzes, dances, barbeques and school sports days. In recent years, our Churches have organised an annual ceilidh for agricultural workers from predominantly Eastern European countries to introduce them to Scottish country dancing, stovies and the famous Forfar Bridies. THE MINISTRY Arbirlot and Carmyllie Churches have been linked for the past 27 years. The congregations have a very good, collaborative relationship, reflected in the many activities that we undertake together and in the joint Session meetings and Church services which we have from time to time, including ‘favourite hymns’ evenings and the Watchnight service. Harvest Service at Carmyllie Church We are fortunate to have been able to sustain such a positive and supportive interdependence; we try to help each other out so that, for example, when an organist in one Church is unavailable, the other Church’s organist will play at both services. We seem to be able to meet the challenges that arise with enough sensitivity to each other’s needs - and with enough humour - to overcome any problems. 5 Church services are held each Sunday at 9.30am in Carmyllie and at 11am in Arbirlot. Communion is celebrated 4 times each year in each Church on the same Sunday and, by tradition, the Remembrance Day service is held at the War Memorial in Carmyllie. A joint Maundy Thursday service with Communion is held each year and the two Churches host either the early evening or the late Watchnight service. The congregational rolls have been revised recently. Arbirlot has 193 members and Carmyllie has 123. Arbirlot has a Sunday School staffed by a Church elder and parent helpers. Carmyllie does not have a Sunday School at present, but we have two young children attending Church regularly whom we hope will provide the nucleus for a new class in the future. Although there are no other youth organisations directly connected with the Church at present, there are young people in the parishes who would benefit from the provision of youth-orientated activities and we are keen to develop these. Hospital visiting has been a much appreciated part of the minister’s role, with a wide selection of hospital locations ensuring that the journeys are varied and interesting. Our congregations are acutely aware of the challenges of a part-time ministry and we will work together to be flexible and attentive to the demands of the post so that the minister can meet the needs of both parishes in the time available. Arbirlot Congregation THE BUILDINGS The Church buildings and halls are in excellent condition with up to date lighting and heating systems. Both Churches have good organs (as well as excellent organists!). Carmyllie Church is to have an induction loop installed in the near future, generously donated by a member and Arbirlot is also considering this facility. In 2009, the Listed Buildings Inspectorate considered Carmyllie Church and its cartilage to be uniquely unspoiled in the East of Scotland.