Mr. Alexander Strickland has contributed the following

about the Parish Church today

I am very happy indeed to be given the opportunity to contribute an

article to this worthy project. It is now over five years since I became Minister

of Strathkinness Church and I enjoy very much being in North East Fife.

Strathkinness can be proud of its strong community spirit and I trust this is

something which lasts as long as the village itself lasts. Time and time again

I have been informed, particularly during a time of sorrow and trouble, that

the people of the village go out of their way to be of help to one another.

The church in the village stands in a commanding position (too much so

at times, for it gets the full blast of the westerly winds in the winter). One is

aware of its existence and I and the office bearers, as well as regular attenders,

only wish more would use it and come along to our services on a Sunday

morning at 11 am. where a warm welcome awaits.

Strathkinness Church is, of course, linked with Dairsie and Kemback

Churches and this has both advantages and drawbacks. By only paying a

percentage of the Minister’s stipend and other related costs to the Head Offices

of the Church, it means that we don’t have to receive financial help from

Church Headquarters. Although, having said that, we are not yet in a position

to pay the agreed proportion at the time of linking. We should be paying 48%

of shared costs but up until now have only been able to pay 40%, the other

two churches making up the shortfall. However, let me move on lest I am

accused of asking for more money, which is certainly not the intention of this

article.

Another benefit of a linkage is that an opportunity thus arises of meeting

with members of other churches, allowing friendships to be forged, and such

contact also acts as an encouragement to us for we come to realise in a very

real sense that we are part of something much larger than a local unit. It

helps in living out the faith and witnessing to it when we know that there are

others doing the same. One of the enjoyable features about the linkage is

the opportunity we have of holding joint services twice yearly, allowing us to

meet our partners in the other churches and getting to know them over a

‘cuppa’ in the hall after the service.

Of course there are difficulties in the linkage and these must be recognised.

I cannot possibly be in three places at once and I am conscious of the fact that

visiting is not done as regularly as it should be. But if anyone wishes to see

me for a particular purpose, then I would do that straight away if informed.

The fact that there is no manse in Strathkinness is a cause of regret for many

and I can fully understand such feelings, but I can get to Strathkinmess much

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