Former Kirk moderators celebrate inaugural Guild event

Two former Moderators are to mark the Church of Scotland Guild’s first-ever regional annual meeting later this month by delivering the keynote addresses.

Very Rev David Lacey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2005-06, and Very Rev Andrew McLellan, who held the same post during the 2000-01 session, will speak at Castle Douglas town hall, Kirkcudbrightshire, on Saturday.

Over 350 Guild members from the south-west of Scotland, including Annandale and Eskdale, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Stranraer and Wigtownshire, are expected to attend the inaugural event.

Guild Acting General Secretary, Fiona Punton, said that the event was designed to show members from far-flung areas what the national Guild was doing.

“It can sometimes be difficult for members from rural areas to manage a day trip to our annual meeting, which is normally held in Dundee," she said.

“So rather than have hundreds of people missing out, we decided to bring the meeting to them.

“We hope we can bring the feeling and fellowship of our annual meeting to Castle Douglas, and for local members to appreciate the value of belonging to this wonderful movement.”

The Guild, prominent campaigners against human trafficking, prostitution and domestic abuse, also raised £1 million for local congregations across Scotland last year.