MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
People
The Church is people so who have been and are the people here? The roll call is far too long to list. What follows are just some of the more conspicuous names.
Ministers The Very Revd Dr William J G McDonald (Bill), who was the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1989-90, following his immediate predecessor at Mayfield, the Very Revd Professor Jim Whyte, was minister here for 33 very distinguished years, from May 1959 until his retirement in November 1992. More details can be found of both these men in the article on 'Our Moderators'.
He was followed by the Revd Alexander W Young (Sandy). Born in Stirling in 1959, Sandy graduated from Glasgow University in 1986. He joined us with his wife, Pamela, and their 2 daughters, from Ardrossan in September 1993, as the first minister of the newly created Mayfield Salisbury Church, and the union was fused very amicably under his guidance.In 1999 Sandy Young left to become Hospital Chaplain to the principal Edinburgh hospitals. In 2000, the Revd Scott S. McKenna was appointed and through preaching and leadership conducted an outstanding teaching and spiritual ministry, until his call to Ayr in 2019.
In January 2021, the Revd Dr Sandy Forsyth was appointed our Minister and continues the good work of his predecessors.
There have also been many Assistants and Associate Ministers over the years: Vernon Stone, Bill Henney, Alistair Heron, Douglas Aitken, Alison Matheson, John Wells, George Munro; and Pastoral Assistants including Joe Ritchie, Jean Cochrane, Hamish McIntosh, Nancy Mills, Margaret Nuttall, Fergus McPherson, Sheila Wallace, Philip Hacking, Sheila Bryer and Kay McIntosh. The congregation continues to be particularly well served by our pastoral staff. In many years also there have been students for the ministry attached for short periods; several of whom have gone on to notable ministries of their own.
The church has also always emphasised the importance of children and young people. Youth specialists have numbered Fiona Fidgin, Bruce Sinclair, Angus Adams and Hillary Leslie.Organists since 1969 have been: Norman Shires, Philip Hacking, Methven Aitken, Damien Mason, Dr John Willmett, Dorien Schouten and today Kate Pearson.
Their work has been supplemented by Choir Directors: Marjorie Turkington, Christine Bethune, Hugh Macdonald, and today Walter Thomson (the well-known conductor of the Jubilo Choir, and founder of "the Show Stoppers").
Church Officers have been John Kennedy, David Beath, George Sword, William Frier, CSM Lawrence Porteous, John Mabon, Samuel Hay, James Manson, Robert Turnbull, Wilfred Batty, David Stewart and Robert Nicoll. Today's Officer is William Mearns whose new title "Church Manager" indicates that his function has extended well beyond the role of "the minister's man". Today the church office is high-tech, where William manages the web site and prints out beautiful material which demonstrates that the church is a thoroughly modern and professionally run organisation Quite a change from 1980, when the gift of an overhead projector for Sunday School use drew gasps of admiration when demonstrated to the Kirk Session!
There are many photographs of the church as it is today on the Gallery
1975 onwards - Revd Ralph Smith, 25/09/10
