Kirk induction service to take place in Roman Catholic church

A "quirky yet welcome" event is set to take place within the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Perth this Wednesday evening.

New minister Allan Wilson is to be ordained to serve the Bridge of Earn area churches of Dunbarney and Forgandenny.

However, Wednesday's ordination and induction service is expected to attract such significant numbers of local people and visitors that neither of the two church buildings will be able to cope with the numbers.

Thankfully, ecumenical co-operation has saved the day, with the local independent Roman Catholic girls' school, Kilgraston, offering their chapel as a venue for the service.

This puts Wilson in the unique position of being a Kirk minister ordained and inducted within a Roman Catholic place of worship.

Wilson's induction service will also be somewhat special as it will be presided over by the moderator of the Presbytery of Perth, Harry McLennan, who is an elder of the Church of Scotland rather than a 'reverend'.

Speaking in anticipation of Wednesday evening's service, McLennan said: "The local congregation of Dunbarney and Forgandenny are looking forward to welcoming their new minister. However, the fact that Allan's induction is both ecumenical and historic will certainly make for a very special evening."