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Lewis Chessmen, Hebrides News

High Church minister retires                 24/3/11

 

 

 

 

Rev Willie Black, the minister of Stornoway High Church of Scotland is to preach his final services this Sunday.

 

The popular 65-year-old pastor retires this weekend after a working lifetime in the ministry.

 

Mr Black will preach at morning and evening services this Sunday before finally stepping down from the pulpit.

 

He accepted a call from the High Church to Stornoway 13 years ago after Rev Roddy Morrison moved to Glasgow’s Gardener Street.

 

Mr Black was inducted as the first non- Gaelic speaking minister in the High Church in January 1988.

 

After graduating, his first charge was in Kinlochbervie in north west Scotland where he spent 10 years.

 

He experienced a culture shock after taking up a post with the OMF International in South Korea as that country went a spiritual revival on a enormous scale.

 

He and his wife Katie returned to Scotland and they later relocated to Lewis.

 

Some 230 wellwishers attended a a farewell tea hosted by the High Church congregation in the Caberfeidh Hotel on Friday evening.

 

Various speeches were given while a cheque and an oil painting of Creed River by local artist Ivor Mackay were presented given.

 

Last Sabbath morning the Rev A I Macdonald, former minister of East Church, Inverness, was the guest preacher at a thanksgiving farewell service.

Mr Black and his wife are retiring to Glasgow. They have three grown up daughter, Rhonda, Esther and Mary.