New minister for Scalpay Free Church 6/2/13
Rev Andrew Coghill has accepted an unanimous call to become the minister for the
Scalpay Free Church congregation.
Services are held in the Church of Scotland building on the island. The charge has
been vacant since 2009 following Rev Dr Malcolm Maclean’s departure to Greyfriars
Free Church in Inverness.
Mr Coghill, 48, was formerly the pastor at Leurbost Church of Scotland but quit that
denomination in protest over the induction of practising gay ministers. He was admitted
to the Free Church last year.
A Free Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We are delighted that Rev Andrew Coghill
has accepted the call to minister in Scalpay, and are certain he will proclaim the
whole counsel of God in his pulpit and pastoral ministry.
“Andrew is by no means a novice in any aspect of the Christian ministry, and has
shown the courage of his strong Biblical convictions given the difficult circumstances
he faced in the Church of Scotland.
“We believe he will be a huge asset to the cause of Christ, and are sure he will
receive a very warm welcome as he and his family settle into the Scalpay congregation.”
Mr Coghill was brought up in Aberdeen and went to Cults Academy on the outskirts
of the city.
Feeling the call to ministry, he studied divinity at Aberdeen University where he
graduated with an honours degree in Church History, followed by a two-year diploma
in Pastoral Studies.
He was licensed by the Presbytery of Aberdeen in 1992, and was a probationary minister
in the Church of Scotland at Martin’s Memorial in Stornoway from 1992 to 1993.
In 1993 he was called to Leurbost Parish Church, where he was ordained as a minister
by the Lewis Presbytery and served until 2011.
He is married to Deborah, and they have four children: Joshua, 18, Philip, 16, Naomi,
14, and Nathan, 6.