Canon Richard Grosse retires on 30 April as Rector of St Mary, Aberfoyle and St Andrew, Callander, where he has served since 2004, and as Synod Clerk since 2015. We wish Richard and Melanie many happy years to come in their new home (when they are able to move).

Despite the challenge of this crisis to the start of any new ministry, we are delighted to welcome a number of new clergy to the Diocese. The Services of Institution will take place when possible, but most of them have already begun their ministry here.

• The Revd Kathy Barrable has been Licensed as priest-in-charge of St Mary, Newport and St Margaret, Tayport. Kathy comes to us after a long ministry in South Africa.

• The Revd Lesley-ann Craddock has been Licensed as priest-in-charge of St Mary, Birnam. Lesley-ann has served in England and also in Glasgow and the Diocese of Moray.

• The Revd Bonnie Evans-Hills was Licensed as priest-in-charge of St Margaret, Leven on 1 May. Bonnie has served in England, and has long experience in international Inter-Faith work.

• The Revd Gerry Dillon was Licensed on 1st May as priest-evangelist of the Central Fife Centre of Mission, a partnership with Church Army, and priest-in-charge of St Luke, Glenrothes and St Finnian, Lochgelly. Gerry has previously served the Central Fife Group as non-stipendiary priest.

• The Revd Steve Butler will be Licensed as priest-in-charge of St John, Pittenweem and St Michael, Elie. The date will be confirmed once arrangements for his move can be made. Steve comes to the Diocese from the Diocese of Edinburgh.

We are delighted to announce that the Rev’d Kathy Barrable is now instituted as Priest in Charge of St Mary’s, Newport on Tay and St Margaret’s of Scotland, Tayport.  We are delighted to welcome her to the diocese and hope that she will have a long and happy time in her two charges.  Welcome Kathy.

At St James Dollar’s Thursday morning service today we celebrated The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Members and friends joined the online service from their homes. We were comforted by the words of the service, the hymn we sang together and by the friendly chat afterwards. We were physically apart but we were together in spirit.

For further information please click the link below:

Coronavirus – Bishops’ Guidance – 17 March 2020

At St James the Great, Dollar, we are following Journey Into Freedom, a Lent course based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. Each day of Lent and beyond into the Easter season we are invited to prayerfully reflect on a piece of scripture, painting or photo and thought for the day which follow the pattern of the Spiritual Exercises. At our weekly meetings we share, only if we want, anything that stands out for us from our readings and prayers. We also have short teaching sessions and examples of different ways to pray, noticing God in our lives and making good decisions. Up to ten folk from St James’s and other local churches and people taking holidays in the area have come along and generously shared their reflections.