THE RECTOR

The Revd Andrew McCafferty became the Rector of St.John's on Jan 18th 2008

Short Profile

Raised in Glasgow where I was confirmed in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1964. I was in the Army from 1965 – 1979 (Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch) and from 1979 to 2000 was a member of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. Ordained as Deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998 in Exeter Cathedral I worked as a non stipendiary minister in Devon before rejoining the Army (Royal Army Chaplains’ Department) in May 2000. I left the Chaplains’ Department in September 2004 and was appointed Team Rector of The Crosslacon Team Ministry (4 x parishes/5 x churches) in the Diocese of Carlisle where I remained until being appointed as Rector of St John’s Forfar.
Married to Norma, we have two daughters (Debbie & Kim) and two grandchildren (William and Katie).

WHAT IS THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH?

It is called Scottish because we trace our history back to the earliest known Christian communities in Scotland about 400 A.D.

It is called Episcopal (from the word Greek word for bishops - episcopos) because we have maintained a form of church order involving the threefold ministry of Bishops, Priests, & Deacons.

You can find out more about our history, news, activities and worship on the Provincial website www.scottishepiscopal.com (Books on the subject, by Dr. Edward Luscombe, former Bishop of Brechin and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church are listed further down this page)

We formed a particularly close relationship with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the late 1700s – one of the most turbulent periods in our history.

During a period of heavy persecution, three of our bishops met in Aberdeen and secretly consecrated Samuel Seabury as the first American Episcopal Bishop.

Today we are part of the world wide Anglican Communion, which also includes the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA) and the Church of England.

Year by year, decade by decade, century by century the Church has changed.

Developments in recent years have included liturgies in contemporary language, the establishment of the General Synod (our central governing body), the expansion of collaborative ministry and the launch of Mission 21, a church wide mission initiative. Currently in our Diocese of St Andrews,
Dunkeld and Dunblane we are undergoing a Diocesan Review led by our Bishop, The Right Reverend David Chillingworth.

We have also been increasingly involved in talks and meetings with the other Christian traditions in Scotland and with leaders of the country’s other faiths.

Changes will continue to happen, but all will be well if the Church continues to hold fast to its love of God and concern for the people of this nation.

The love that was there for Ninian, Columba and all the early Saints of Scottish Christianity has not changed. God continues to guide those who seek to walk in His ways.

We pray that the Scottish Episcopal Church will do this in partnership with the other Churches of this land in the years ahead.

The Reverend W.A. McCafferty
Rector of Forfar & Lunanhead

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Rt Rev Edward Luscombe is an acclaimed scholar of Scottish Church History and has written the following books:

Maththew Luscome, Missionary Bishop in Europe of The Scottish Episcopal Church (Published 1992 by The Scottish Episcopal Church)

A Seminary of Learning - History of Edinburgh Theological College (Published 1994 by TheScottish Episcopal Church)

Dean of Edinburgh, The Representative Man (E B Ramsay) (Published 1995 By The Scottish Episcopal Church)

The Scottish Episcopal Church In The Twentieth Century (Published 1996 By The Scottish Episcopal Church) Bishop Luscombe’s book contains much that is relevant to the Diocese. The present Bishop is Brian Smith who was installed on 23rd June 2001. For more general information on the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church see http://www.scotland.anglican.org/about/history/

Episcopacy In An Angus Glen (Glenesk) (Published in 2002 By The Author)

Steps To Freedom (Synod of Laurencekirk 1804) (Published in 2004 By The Scottish Episcopal Church) This book, ‘Steps to Freedom’ marks the bicentenary of an historic meeting of clergy in 1804. It was at this Synod of Laurencekirk that the Scottish Episcopal Church took a major step on the path towards the repeal of the penal laws of the 18 th century, under which the Church suffered persecution. The acceptance of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (a statement of belief) by the Laurencekirk Synod brought the Church into line with the Churches of England and Ireland and provided the principal ground on which Parliament repealed the persecution laws.

Hands Across The Sea (Scots & The Church of England in America in the Colonial Period) (Published in 2006 By Meadowside Publications, Dundee) The former Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, The Revd Canon John Peterson has written: Today as battles are being waged in the American Episcopal Church for the very heart and soul of our church, Bishop Luscombe has written an absolutely fascinating history on the impact of Scotland on the episcopate in the New World. For over 100 years the Episcopal Church in the colonies had no bishops. Consequently all of the aspirants to the diaconate and priesthood frm the colonies had to make the hazardous journey by sea to Britain to be ordained. At the same time priests from Britain were being sent to America , primarily under the the Episcopal authority of the Bishop of London and under auspices of the Society for the Propogation of the Gospel. The church was to become known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA. Bishop Luscombe shows in his significant work how the Scottish Episcopal Church ultimately helped shape the ecclesiology and missiology of this new church some 3500 miles away from the British Isles.

A Tale of Two Centuries (The Farquars of Pitscandly) (Published 2006 by the Author)

Across The Years (The history of Episcopacy in Forfar 1560- 2000) (Published in 2006 by thr author) A really fascinating story which highlights Episcopacy in Forfar, but tracks the 'up's & down's ' of Episcopalian history from the Reformaion.

George Don The Forfar Botanist (Published 2007 by The Pinkfoot Press in Collaboration with Angus Council Cultural Services) (Bill Middleton, former Provest of Angus writes in his forward to the work:) I am glad to commend this remarkable small work. Dr. Luscombe has undertaken a great deal of research into the life of an extraordinary son of Angus who deservedly merits this fitting tribute.

The book is easily read and gives a fascinating insight into one man's love for, and dedication to the beauty which he disovered in the Botany of Angus-shire (as Don called his county); Glen Cova in particular had an immense attraction to him. He did all this at great personal cost. His own life ended in poverty, but it had greatly enriched the scientific knowledge of his own day and of subsequent generations.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Ted Lucombe for reminding us of the life and work of this forgotten genius. George Don richly deserves to be widely read by anyone interested in our native botany and in the history of the Royal Burgh.)

Edward Luscome served as Bishop of Brechin for 15 years and as Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Chuch from 1985 until 1990.