Clyne linked with Kildonan and Loth, Helmsdale
Introduction
Brora web site: www.brorahelmsdalecos.co.uk
The vacancy has arisen due to the previous minister, Rev. John Macgregor, who moved to another charge in June 2016.
History of the Charge
Clyne linked with Kildonan and Loth Helmsdale, although separate parishes we have been formally linked for a number of years.
Statement of Faith
Central to the Church of Scotland is our love and worship of God through following the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ. We express our love for God by our love, pastoral and practical care for each other and for those whom we live and meet with in our daily lives.
Read more in the Church of Scotland website
Our beliefs are based on the Bible and we believe in a Bible led Ministry.
A new leadership which will help us reach out to our Communities, and provide the Pastoral Care we all feel so badly needed in our Parishes.
Our Churches hopes are to make connections with the “Dementia Friendly Communities” based in the local Hubs, and other organisations in the Communities, for example Community Councils, British Legions and a ministry which continues to engage with the school and the children.
A Ministry where we work together with other Faiths and none.
A Ministry which can help us to continue to help others in the name of the Lord, which is intended to enable spiritual growth and development through worship and witness in the wider Community through the message of the Gospel.
A Ministry which could continue to strengthen our links in the centre of village life.
We believe in one God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons living in the unity
Life of the Church
The congregation is made up mostly of elderly people. Our Churches play an active part in the Church of Scotland, Crossreach Home in Dornoch, ‘Oversteps’. The Friends of Oversteps are raising money to help towards the garden in Oversteps, which needs a lot of attention. The Elders also take their turn on ‘trolley Duty’ at the home, delivering birthday cards and a monthly visit to the residents. This is a very rewarding task and much appreciated by the residents and staff.
Clyne Church host a very successful holiday club each year during the summer holidays.
Both Churches support the work of the Highland Food Bank (Blythswood),we also support the Blythswood Shoe Box appeal, Christian Aid, Tear Fund, Fishermen’s Mission and Scottish Bible Society etc.
Our Annual sponsored walk has raised thousands of £’s for the Scottish Bible Society.
2018 will be our 30th year, so we are hoping to plan something special for that year.
We are fortunate to be involved with the local primary school. They come to our church for Assemblies two or three times a year, weather permitting, and this is always a wonderful time of fellowship.
The Knitting Group meet weekly, and have various projects over the year, including a Prayer Shawl ministry. We have given a number of prayer shawls to those in need of comfort,plus a large number of knitted goods donated to Blythswood.
Although small in numbers, we are BIG in heart, and regularly hold fund raising activities both for Christian charities and for our own Church.
The picture of our Harvest Thanksgiving table
Wonderful service with the Primary School in conjunction with the Archie foundation
Helmsdale Church Harvest Thanksgiving 2017, distributed between the local hub and the Highland Food Bank.
Worship Life
We are both committed to working together so that the Word can be shared in the community, and provide a place where the community feel welcome.
We join with Christians of other denominations at special services like, World day of Prayer, Fishermans Mission, Harvest etc
We encourage and appreciate music events
We encourage everybody to join our Christmas celebrations especially the children
We encourage the congregation to move Prayerfully into a changing future.
Our Elders offer Pastoral care for people who are not able to get out of their homes
Our Churches have various during the year e.g. World day of Prayer, Fishermans Mission, Harvest etc
Our Sunday Morning Worship Times
Clyne: 10.30am
Helmsdale: 12.00noon
Groups
Church GroupsChurch Committees
Fellowship meeting Kirk Session
Prayer / Bible Study Fabric Committee
Singing group Finance Committee
Knitting group /Prayer Shawl Ministry
Story keepers
Stewardship Challenge
Many of our Church members are actively involved in many organisations in their Communities, showing the Church is a living, working Church in both villages.
Kirk Session
The Kirk sessions of Clyne, linked with Kildonan and Helmsdale, have both adopted the unitary constitution.
Interim Moderator: Rev Anthony Jones
Clyne Kirk Session comprises of twelve elders
Helmsdale Kirk Session comprises of five elders.
Clyne: congregation comprises of 60 communicant members with a further 43 adherents.
Helmsdale: congregation comprises of 20 communicant members with a further 10 adherents.
Church Buildings
The Clyne church building has been built in grey sandstone with wooden beams and the seating is fixed pew which can accommodate up to 180 people. Music is provided by a 2 manual and pedal pipe organ constructed by Miller of Aberdeen and which was installed in the early 1920s. The organ is also a dedicated war memorial.
An adjacent stone built Hall with toilets and a kitchen, can accommodate up to 70 people.
The Helmsdale Church Building, was built in 1909 and has had extensive improvement work done in the past comprising a hall, vestry, kitchen and toilet, the latter two being ready for an update. Extra resources include a photocopier, digital projector, radio mike system and a laptop computer. Music is provided via an IPod, linked to the sound amplifier and loop system.
The Church Hall can accommodate 30 people, we use the Hall for our various hospitality events and Sunday services in the winter. An anteroom is used as a workroom by the knitting group who meet on Tuesday afternoons. This room can also be used for Sunday School. There is electric heating and double glazing throughout.
Manse
The manse is a substantial building commanding a prime site overlooking the golf course. The manse comprises 2 public rooms and 4 bedrooms and one of the bedrooms has en suite facilities. There are also a further 2 separate toilets and a large kitchen. There is also a large double garage and several outbuildings.
A photo of Clyne Manse, Clyne Church and views from the Manse
Community Profile Clyne Church, Brora
The village of Brora is situated on the east coast of Sutherland and lies on the A9 trunk road midway between Inverness in the south and Wick and Thurso in the north. Clyne Church is on the left hand side of the road travelling toward Wick and Thurso and is at the north end of the village.The village at one time boasted many diverse industries such as coal mines, salt pans, brick works, a quarry, a woollen mill, a small number of fishing boats and a distillery. During the war and for some time afterwards here was a government radio station. Sadly most of these industries have disappeared other than the distillery and some fishing boats.
There are approx.1928 residents in the village although this number does increase during the summer months due to the number of holiday homes in the area. Hunting and fishing takes place during the season and there are many walks both strenuous and easy depending upon one’s ability. As previously mentioned there is a local golf course in the village and others at Helmsdale, Golspie and Dornoch.
There is a medical practice within the village and a hospital in Golspie however more serious cases are dealt with in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness approx. 60 miles away. There is a thriving primary school in Brora and a secondary school in Golspie which takes pupils up to S6.
Community Profile of Helmsdale
Helmsdale is situated beside the main A9 roadway, overlooking the Moray Firth and is on the NC500 tourist route. The population is about 700, the population of the whole parish around 1100 with some of the residents choosing to retire to this part of Scotland from the south. Therefore the population is mostly an aging one. The parish of Loth extends southwards about 9 miles, and the parish of Kildonan extends northwards, embracing Kildonan, Borrobal, Kinbrace, Achentoul and Badanloch (36 miles in total).
Helmsdale has an excellent road and railway network to all parts of Scotland and the South, a recent development being the North Coast 500 route, a Visit Scotland initiative to encourage visitors to take a road trip around the east and west Highlands and the Far North which has proved to be popular in recent years.
Today Helmsdale is a quiet village in the winter months, with its once impressive fishing industry reduced to a few crab and lobster boats. In the summer months however, the village changes into an often bustling community with cyclists, coach tours and visitors from far and wide, on their way to Orkney, John O’Groats, and various other attractions in the area. One of the main attractions to Helmsdale has to be the famous Helmsdale river, one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Scotland.
There are three small hotels, various b & b’s, gift shops, tea room and restaurants, catering for residents near and far, also for the visitors who appreciate the fish and chips!
The culture and history of the area are of particular attraction to descendents of the Highland Clearances and Timespan, the local Heritage and Arts centre provides a comprehensive history of the Clearances with access to local and online research. Timespan also hosts visiting artists and craftspeople and is a centre for various activities throughout the year.
Helmsdale has a 9 hole golf course and fishing and tennis are easily accessed, tennis courts are situated at the rear of the Community Centre which also hosts many local associations including the library, a Men’s Shed, the Scottish Women’s Institute, the Helmsdale Hub and sometimes fitness and art classes. Helmsdale has a lot of community spirit, coming together to enjoy community events such as Harbour Day (RNLI), the Flower Show, and the Highland Games. Everyone is friendly and supportive of each other.
Schools
Helmsdale Primary School is located in the village and has close links with both the Church of Scotland and the Free Church.
Secondary pupils travel daily by bus to Golspie High School which is 16 miles away.
Medical Facilities
The Health Centre is located within the village, providing medical, dental and chiropody services, together with the services of the Practice Nurse.
The Lawson Memorial Hospital is located in Golspie (16 miles away) for all physio, x-ray, scanning procedures etc.
Caithness General Hospital is located in Wick (37 miles away) and Raigmore Hospital providing all general medical services is in Inverness (78 miles away).
Contact Details:-
Convenor, Nomination Committee Mrs Janys Wetton
Tigh Air Achnoc, West Helmsdale, Helmsdale KW8 6HH
Tel: 01431 821492 email: janyswetton@gmail.com
Clerk to the Nomination Committee, Mrs Margaret Cairns
11 Farr Crescent,
Helmsdale
Sutherland
Tel No. 01431821609 email: cairns894@btinternet.com
Interim Moderator :
Rev. John Chambers O.B.E. B.Sc.
Bannlagan Lodge, 4 Earl’s Cross Gardens, Dornoch IV25 3NR
tel: 01862811520
Email: chambersdornoch@btinternet.com