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Profile of the Rector
information about St. John's
Details of services and times
Details of social events
A guide to the church halls
Our mission
Contact information

Welcome to the Web Site of
St. John the Evangelist
Scottish Episcopal Church, Forfar, Angus

(Rector: The Revd Andrew McCafferty, MA.)

We have a click-on link (please scroll down the page) to the web-site of the Diocese from which you can access the world's Anglican communities

Click on the Social Events button for details of our forthcoming events, the Tuesday Club and St. Mary's, Kirriemuir events.

Diocese of St Andrews, Dunblane and Dunkeld )

(Click above to access Diocesan website & the world-wide links)

Please click on this link to download the June edition of our monthly magazine "The Eagle" (Editor: Dorothy Bruce-Gardyne)
(PDF, 373kb) (Adverts from local companies who kindly support us are featured on the two last pages -if you contact any of them, please mention St. John's)

Please let me know if you have any comments, or would like to add anything to the site. Material or comment, memories etc would be most welcome.

(Pat Slingsby:01307 818 787 email: idvies@mail.com

(Site updated June 14th 2009))

Please scroll down for various current notices

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BISHOP: Bishop David has been appointed Primus of The Scottish Episcopal Church

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CADET SUNDAY June 7th: The Rector, who is chaplain to the local ACF conducted a service in the presence of The Lord Lieutenant and The Provost of Angus for 90 young members of the force plus officers, friends, family & members of St.John's congregation.The cadets were addressed by Col. David Lloyd-Jones OBE., (who also did the 1st reading) Lt.Col S Roud, Col. A Cassidy and The Rev Andy McCafferty (Padre) Cadet RSM Jenny Mainds did the 2nd reading. The service was concluded with a Benediction by The Rt Revd Dr. E Luscome (Former Bishop of Brechin & Primus of The Scottish Episcopal Church) A retiring collection was taken for St. Dunstans Home for Blind Ex-servicemen and women. Refreshments were served in the halls afterwards. It was a very enjoyable occassion

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Nora's Garden Opening on Saturday & Sunday, May 30th & 31st was a great success. More info later

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The Coffee & Plant Sale on May 16th th raised £714. 00 Many thanks to all who supported, to Nora for the super plants & those who provided goods and helped with all the associated tasks.

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The coach trip to Rosslyn on April 22nd was really an enjoyable visit and raised £404

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The December Coffee Morning Raised £1000

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SUNDAY, November 16th Bishop David joined us for worship and preached a very interesting and topical sermon. There was an opportunity to meet +David and Mrs Chillingworth afterwards.

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SATURDAY, November 15th Our 'Supper with Guest Speaker' raised £854 see Social Events for report.

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SUNDAY, November 11th, REMEMBRRANCE DAY. Our Rector conducted a service at The Cross in Forfar at 11am. The service with was attended by our Lord Lieutenant, Mrs James Osborn, the MSP Mr John Swinney and represntatives of the armed and other uniformed services included wreath laing and the National Anthem. In St.John's afterwards a congregation of 300 or so attended a non-Eucharistic Ecumenical sevice conducted by the Rector. Col. Lloyd-Jones read the lessons and laid our usual wreaths at the memorials in church to members of St.John's who sacrificed their lives in the Great and the 2nd World Wars.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19th St. John's held an Ecumenical service at 11am to celebrate the work & dedication of our emergency services. The congregation was joined by members of the local emergency organisations. The Rector, a former police officer and member of HM armed forces said what a great honour it was to have representatives of these services, who contribute so much towards public safety and wellbeing with us. The Rector hopes to make this an annual event.

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SEPTEMBER 14th Was a busy day at St. John's. The'Kirkin' of The Council took place during the 11am service. The local dignitaries including Mike Wier MP and Sheriff Veal was headed by The Provest, The Hon. Ruth Leslie-Melville as they processed into church with liveried attendants and the ceremonial mace-bearer to be be welcomed by the Rector resplendent with a row of medals on his robes. A very appropriate and excellent address was made by Bishop David. The Bishop , Mrs Chillingworth, two of thier visiting friends from Ireland joined members of St. John's and our civic guests for refreshments in the halls aftrewards. It was a most enjoyable and memorable event. EVENSONG AT 6PM WITH A VISITING CHOIR FROM ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, PAISLEY headed by their choir-master Denis Meney was yet another enjoyable event. The choir, their Rector, and accompanying friends joined us in the halls afterwards for a drink and snacks. A really great day.

SEPTEMBER 13th (Gaelic Language Service)

A Gaelic Language Service of Holy Communion was held in church on Sat13th Sep. The Very Rev'd Emsley Nimmo, Dean of Aberdeen & Orkney presided assisted by The Very Rev'd Randal McAlister former Dean of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and the Rector.
The entire service was sung and the Rector read the Gospel. Afterwards refreshments were served to all attending some of whom had travelled from Aberdeen, Edinburgh & Glasgow. Most are members of The Gaelic Society of the Scottish Episcopal Church (Comunn Gaidhlig na h-Eaglais Easbaigich)

 

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SUNDAY Feb 24th

It was indeed a pleasure to attend a jam packed St.John's on the 24th for the Girl Guides 'Thinking Day' Service The Guides, Brownies and Rainbows in their uniforms placed their flags on the alter sang some excellent hymns and recited their promise to Queen and country. Out of the wonderful collection which amounted to £294 the Guides very generously donated £100 to St.John's. (A report by Dorothy can be found in the current issue of the Eagle-Click on the link above.

THE BISHOP'S LENT APPEAL

The 2008 Diocesan Lent Appeal is to support the work of IMKERHOF in Namibia. It is a kindergarten and pre-school establishment, set up by the daughter of one of the retired clergy of our diocese. (www.imkerhof.org) St. John's raised £324. 55

CHRISTIAN AID

The annual house-to-house collections in May raised £4000 in Forfar. The volunteers from St. John's, organised by Julian Ashley collected £1425 (Well done everybody!)

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PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE FOR VARIOUS ITEMS OF GENERAL INFORMATION THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE MENU ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. Bishop Luscombes new book- 'George Don The Forfar Botanist' (See Rector Page). Forthcoming events (See Socials)

(SOME OF ST. JOHN'S HISTORY CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING ON 'ABOUT ST. JOHN'S)

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BOOKS BY BISHOP EDWARD LUSCOMBE

For information and reviews of the Bishop's several fascinating and eminently readable books about the Scottish Episcopal Church, Please click onto The Rector button

 

 

 

 

St John’s is one of the oldest charges in the Scottish Episcopal Church, the first Rector’s ministry dating from 1688, when the post-Reformation Church in Scotland came to its- so far irrevocable division into Presbyterian and Episcopalian denominations.

Among the clergy who have served in St John’s since then have been:
George Skene, who served as a Chaplain in the Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart – ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ – and whose portrait and walking cane are kept in the sacristy.
John Skinner, Rector 1797-1841. His grandfather was the famed John Skinner, writer of “Tullochgorum”, the poet-priest of Linshart and friend of Robert Burns. His father, too, was named John (1744-1816), and he became Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Bishop John Skinner was one of the three Scottish Bishops who in 1784 consecrated Samuel Seabury as the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the then new United States of America. Of his sons, John was Rector of Forfar, and William succeeded his father as Bishop of Aberdeen.


The Congregation of St John’s is drawn from the people of Forfar itself, the nearby villages such as Letham and Padanaram, and the countryside of Angus. (Some of our families have been associated with St John’s since the 18th Century.) In recent years, a number of new members have joined – mostly people who have come to live in this part of Scotland from other parts of the UK, and whose different backgrounds and experiences have brought a new enrichment to the Church family. All will bear witness to a very friendly and welcoming congregation. Come and meet us, come and share our worship and companionship. You, your friends and family will be made most welcome.

Words of Invitation, words of Witness . . .“Many of us think of church goers as people who spend an hour every so often at a worship service on Sunday morning. This is far from the truth. In many ways, Sunday morning is just the tip of an iceberg – what isn’t seen is the huge amount of caring and helping and serving inspired in individual people by their sharing in worship. That’s why we say that the spiritual life of the Church is essential. Sadly, in an increasingly secular and selfish age many of us can easily spend so much of our time and energy trying to be rich in material things that we end up poor in soul. The Church’s worship is essential to keep us aware of the things of the soul, and remind us of the real riches of our lives – loyalty, compassion, justice, kindness, peace, goodwill to all” (A Member of St John’s)

 

A FRIEND IN AFRICA RECENTLY SENT THIS TO ONE OF ST.JOHN'S MEMBERS

THE GREATEST MAN THAT EVER LIVED

The Greatest Man in History

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honoured to serve such a Leader who loves us!

 


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