Colin Renwick
Thu, Nov 5th 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
COLIN RENWICK, MINISTER OF DUNBLANE CATHEDRAL
On Thursday 5th November, members of the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club welcomed Colin Renwick, Minister of Dunblane Cathedral, as the speaker for the evening. Brought up in the small Ayrshire town of Dull – now twinned with Boring (Oregon, USA) - he played the church organ as a 12 year-old. However, Colin’s talk clearly showed that he could not be labeled with either of the attributes attached to his childhood town. In a lively and entertaining talk he outlined his own background and his various experiences in the Church of Scotland.
Unsurprisingly, given his musical talent Colin studied for a degree in music at Glasgow University. Having successfully completed the degree, his planned to study for a doctorate. However, that was not to be: increasingly, and ultimately irresistibly, he was drawn towards the ministry. The crunch came when he had written two letters, one applying to Dundee University, the other an application to the Church for selection. The decision having been made in favour of the Church, he was successful in the selection process. However, as the process was completed late in the year, he put off University entrance and spent a year in a very deprived area of Glasgow, where he came in contact with life in the raw – an eye-opening experience.
Having completed his theology degree at Aberdeen University, Colin had hoped for an overseas posting. When it came, was to Rothesay! There, for a year as a probationer, he undertook the varied tasks a minister performs, and responded to the range of calls which can arise from parishioners. Many of these had a humorous element, at least when seen in retrospect.
Colin’s first parish in Maybole, where he stayed for seven years, was a further learning experience. As he described it, “the parish helped to mature a wet-behind–the-ears minister”. The parishioners also contrived to find occasions to bring together Colin and the local female GP, from which a successful and happy marriage ensued.
From Maybole he moved to Jordanhill, Glasgow, where he spent eighteen years. It was during this time that his interest in the Church overseas was renewed: he became closely involved in the Whole World Mission Council - of which he became the Convenor – and the Middle East Committee. Colin spoken movingly about the conditions he found in the Middle East, particularly those recently experienced in Syria, Israel and Gaza. Further afield, he visited Nepal, Bangladesh and Malawi where he encountered an upsurge of interest and engagement with the Christian church. In Blantyre, Malawi, one church had a congregation of some 10,000, with 12 choirs. In these regions he was particullrly impressed by the efforts to create circumstances where people of different faiths.were finding ways of talking to each other.
Now happily settled in Dunblane, Colin identifies a number of challenges for the Church and himself. Recruitment to the ministry is problematic, as also is the general decline in numbers attending services. He also sees a need for the Church to make greater use of social media to develop better contact with young people. For him personally, an important aspect of his ministry is to ensure that he is always available to people for the high and low points in their lives.
Gordon Robb, Speaker’s Host, thanked Colin for an engaging and entertaining talk; members responded warmly in endorsing these comments.
In an intimation, Jill Adams, Chair of the Youth Committee, reported the success of the Queen Victoria School Interactors who had raised £567 at a Macmillan Coffee Morning, and who had helped with a local Poppy collection which raised £2,600. A recent high point for them had been a video-conference with Malala.
On Thursday 5th November, members of the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club welcomed Colin Renwick, Minister of Dunblane Cathedral, as the speaker for the evening. Brought up in the small Ayrshire town of Dull – now twinned with Boring (Oregon, USA) - he played the church organ as a 12 year-old. However, Colin’s talk clearly showed that he could not be labeled with either of the attributes attached to his childhood town. In a lively and entertaining talk he outlined his own background and his various experiences in the Church of Scotland.
Unsurprisingly, given his musical talent Colin studied for a degree in music at Glasgow University. Having successfully completed the degree, his planned to study for a doctorate. However, that was not to be: increasingly, and ultimately irresistibly, he was drawn towards the ministry. The crunch came when he had written two letters, one applying to Dundee University, the other an application to the Church for selection. The decision having been made in favour of the Church, he was successful in the selection process. However, as the process was completed late in the year, he put off University entrance and spent a year in a very deprived area of Glasgow, where he came in contact with life in the raw – an eye-opening experience.
Having completed his theology degree at Aberdeen University, Colin had hoped for an overseas posting. When it came, was to Rothesay! There, for a year as a probationer, he undertook the varied tasks a minister performs, and responded to the range of calls which can arise from parishioners. Many of these had a humorous element, at least when seen in retrospect.
Colin’s first parish in Maybole, where he stayed for seven years, was a further learning experience. As he described it, “the parish helped to mature a wet-behind–the-ears minister”. The parishioners also contrived to find occasions to bring together Colin and the local female GP, from which a successful and happy marriage ensued.
From Maybole he moved to Jordanhill, Glasgow, where he spent eighteen years. It was during this time that his interest in the Church overseas was renewed: he became closely involved in the Whole World Mission Council - of which he became the Convenor – and the Middle East Committee. Colin spoken movingly about the conditions he found in the Middle East, particularly those recently experienced in Syria, Israel and Gaza. Further afield, he visited Nepal, Bangladesh and Malawi where he encountered an upsurge of interest and engagement with the Christian church. In Blantyre, Malawi, one church had a congregation of some 10,000, with 12 choirs. In these regions he was particullrly impressed by the efforts to create circumstances where people of different faiths.were finding ways of talking to each other.
Now happily settled in Dunblane, Colin identifies a number of challenges for the Church and himself. Recruitment to the ministry is problematic, as also is the general decline in numbers attending services. He also sees a need for the Church to make greater use of social media to develop better contact with young people. For him personally, an important aspect of his ministry is to ensure that he is always available to people for the high and low points in their lives.
Gordon Robb, Speaker’s Host, thanked Colin for an engaging and entertaining talk; members responded warmly in endorsing these comments.
In an intimation, Jill Adams, Chair of the Youth Committee, reported the success of the Queen Victoria School Interactors who had raised £567 at a Macmillan Coffee Morning, and who had helped with a local Poppy collection which raised £2,600. A recent high point for them had been a video-conference with Malala.
