WEST KINTYRE AND GIGHA CHURCHES KILLEAN & KILCHENZIE PARISH CHURCH KILCALMONELL PARISH CHURCH GIGHA & CARA PARISH CHURCH Welcome How do you feel about waking up every day to a view across the Western Seaboard? Our parishes stretch along the western shores of the Kintyre peninsula and include the Hebridean island of Gigha. View from the Manse at Muasdale Standing stones at Ballochroy People have been settling in this area since Mesolithic times. They have left permanent reminders on our landscape of standing stones, burial mounds, duns and ancient chapels that tell us just a little about how they lived and worshipped. 10,000 years later folk still live and worship in this beautiful part of Scotland. Some were born here and are 5th or 6th generation locals. Attracted by the peace and beauty of the area, many others have now made it their home. Currently our congregations are in vacancy with unrestricted tenure.If you are a Minister and feel called to explore our charge further,we would welcome your enquiry,in confidence.You may well have studied many Church profiles,however we pray God will guide you to a Parish like ours with its own distinctive features. www.westkintyreandgighachurches.org 1 CHARGE:- 'Gigha and Cara linked with Kilcalmonell linked with 'Killean & Kilkenzie' Kilcalmonell Parish Church WHITEHOUSE CLACHAN GIGHA Gigha Parish Church TAYINLOAN MUASDALE Killean & Kilkenzie Parish Church GLENBARR KILKENZIE BELLOCHANTUY The charge is a rural one composed of 2 mainland churches 11 miles apart and a Church on the Isle of Gigha which is a short 20 minute ferry crossing from the mainland at Tayinloan. If the ferry to Gigha is cancelled due to adverse weather, an elder always has a service ready and leads worship. We consist of 3 genial and close congregations.Our formal name is Gigha and Cara linked with Kilcalmonell linked with Killean and Kilchenzie. However our shorter everyday name is the Church of Scotland in West Kintyre and Gigha. The Church of Scotland in West Kintyre and Gigha consistently meets its annual financial commitments. BUILDINGS Killean & Kilkenzie: - 1 Church and 1 adjoining Church Hall at A'Chleit and 1 Village Hall in Glenbarr. The Manse for the linked charge is in Muasdale. Kilcalmonell: - 1 Church at Clachan Gigha & Cara: - 1 Church at Ardminish CONSTITUTION Model Deed on the mainland and Unitary on Gigha CALL Our congregations are open and inclusive and the call is unrestricted 2 CONTACT DETAILS If you are a Minister of Word and Sacrament and feel called to this charge then please get in contact with the Convenor of the Nominating Committee: Ms Marilyn Shedden [email protected] Tel:01583 421104/07833 164918 or the Clerk to the Nominating Committee: Mrs Christine Mineham [email protected] Tel:01583 505342/07709581320 3 OUR PARISHES WORSHIP Worship takes place every Sunday in each of our three Churches unless a special joint service has been arranged.Services are led by our Hub Minister,a trained reader or by one of the Local Worship Leaders. Occasionally worship is conducted by lay preachers, retired ministers or visiting ministers. Members of the congregation share in giving the scripture readings from time to time. Argyll Presbytery also supplies 52 weeks of pulpit supply payment. Two of our elders have been trained to conduct funerals if a Minister is unavailable. GIGHA PARISH CHURCH Our Churches attract many visitors and we are fortunate to be able to leave them open and accessible at all times. We sing and enjoy a variety of praise from traditional psalms to new songs and hymns.A’Chleit Church has an organ,music being provided by two organists on a rotational basis,while Clachan and Gigha Churches lead praise with digital hymnals.We celebrate the sacrament of Communion twice a year in March and November.Home Communion is available, on request, to those who are infirm or housebound.We are open to different forms of worship,however,we desire and respect the place of the traditional and family type service. Easter,Harvest,Remembrance and Christmas have an important place in the worship of each congregation.On Remembrance Sunday we observe the two minute silence at our War Memorials and special services are also held at Easter and Christmas. Sunday School is available in A’Chleit and Clachan Churches whenever children are present with their families.Gigha Church holds family services to welcome children.Our main outreach to children takes place through elders and the Hub Minister working as school chaplains and through Messy Church. A’Chleit and Clachan Churches share leadership of Messy Church for the children in the parishes and beyond.Messy Church meets in Tayinloan Village Hall 4 times a year and also has a summer barbecue on the beach beside A’Chleit Church.Having covered the main Christian Festivals over the year Messy Church is currently focussing on Bible stories to tell children and families. KILLEAN & KILCHENZIE PARISH CHURCH 4 A monthly magazine called “Church Chat” is produced for distribution, not only to regular churchgoers but also for the wider community and is particularly appreciated by those who are housebound, aged or infirm and no longer able to attend Church. One of our elders also writes a weekly “Thought for the Week”column in our local newspaper KILCALMONELL PARISH CHURCH 5 THE MANSE AND GLEBE The Manse for the three Churches is a large, detached, well maintained bungalow situated in the village of Muasdale. From the front of the manse there are wonderful views across the sea towards the islands of Gigha, Cara, Islay and Jura. The manse consists of two public rooms, a study, four bedrooms, fitted kitchen, utility area, a bathroom with shower and a separate cloakroom. Our next Minister will be able to choose new kitchen units and fittings. The manse has a large open garden with attractive shrubs, small trees and a patio area to the rear and a smaller garden to the front with hedging surrounding it. There is off road parking for two or three cars. Recently, extensive insulating work has been successfully completed to enhance the comfort of those occupying the manse. There is a wood burning stove in the living room. All three congregations happily contribute to maintenance costs and there is an ongoing property maintenance schedule to ensure regular re-decoration. Each congregation has property committee members who meet together to oversee larger projects. As with many country parishes a glebe is attached to the Manse for the Minister’s horse!! However,with the advent of motorised transport, the glebe is currently rented to a local farmer. The Manse from the front garden The rear view of the Manse The secluded rear garden of the Manse 6 THE INTERIOR OF THE MANSE The kitchen Public room Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Minister’s office/study 7 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE The Church plays an important part in our local community. Organisations within the community which are associated with the Church include: • Church Guild in A’Chleit (other congregations very welcome at Open Meetings) • Prayer Shawl Ministry (knit and natter) • Messy Church • A’Chleit Hall Art Club • Glenbarr Hall Badminton Clubs • Line Dancing • Work Parties (Church and Hall cleaning squad, painting and decorating team). More details about these organisations can be found on the ‘Organisations’ page of our website. We are well aware of the need to keep our buildings in good order and have a programme of fundraising events which also promote social fellowship and provide an opportunity to raise the profile of the Church within the community. Such events include: • Regular coffee evenings in the village halls which are well attended by Church members,locals and holiday makers • Soup and sandwich lunches after special services • Tea and chat afternoons for Church members, locals and guests from residential homes • An annual meal and social evening attended by up to eighty people • A Men’s Night where the men of the congregation organise and serve teas and coffees and staff stalls and fun events • After service friendship cuppa (and a chance to hear if anyone needs help or company) • Church calendar depicting local scenes of outstanding beauty.This has proved to be a good source of income as it is popular with local people and holiday makers alike. • In preparation for Easter,some men and women knit small chickens in such a way that a Cadbury’s cream egg can be fitted inside.Local hotels,tea rooms and shops sell them on behalf of the Church. • A “Fun Day” is held on a local farmer’s field attended usually by over one hundred people.A tea tent and various stalls surround a sporting arena where children’s races and adult challenges and events are enjoyed by everyone. • Every July A’Chleit and Clachan Guilds hold Sales of Work in the local village halls.The home baking at these sales enjoys a splendid reputation and this brings in customers from far and wide. • An annual harvest supper • Occasionally a Quiz Night is held in Tayinloan Village Hall where tea, coffee and baking is served. • Flower festivals held in our Churches in aid of local charities • Carol singing around the village • Annual breakfast in the Church in aid of Christian Aid • Gift Day in aid of Church Funds • Retiral collection for specific charities e.g Kintyre Food Bank,Erskine Homes Some of the “staff” at the Men’s Night 8 THE WIDER COMMUNITY Kintyre is often described as the 'Mainland Island'. It is on the extreme west coast of Scotland, joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus at Tarbert, Loch Fyne. The peninsula is about forty miles long and contains within it everything that makes Scotland such an attractive living and holiday destination for many people.