Long-serving Laurieston Parish Church minister set to retire

Reverend Mary Henderson will look back with great fondness on the 11 years she has spent at the Laurieston, Redding and Westquarter Parish once she officially leaves the ministry on June 30.

After three decades of service, she has decided it is the right time to move on even if the current lockdown circumstances mean saying a proper goodbye will not be possible at least for the time being.

Parishioners had organised a garden party for last Saturday to bid Rev. Henderson a fond farewell, however, the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered that plan.It’s the fact others were going to such lengths on her behalf which matters most to Rev. Henderson, though.

She said: “It sounds it would have been wonderful. They even had Kinneil Band coming to play. It’s a pity but it means a lot they were going to do that for me.

“I’m at retirement age and I’m in no doubt the time is right for retiring but I will miss the people. I have enjoyed being in this area. The friendly people is what I’ll miss most.

“I’m sad I haven’t had a chance to say goodbye properly but once we’re allowed to meet again I will certainly come back to see them.”

Rev. Henderson started off in ministry at Overtown Church in North Lanarkshire before moving on to Martyrs’ Parish Church in St Andrews.

She then took on the position of associate minister at Dollar and Muckhart Parish Church in Clackmannanshire prior to joining Laurieston Parish Church in 2009.

Rev. Henderson will again be on the move when she retires as she is moving to St Monans in Fife. However, her ties to this region, where she served as the moderator of Falkirk Presbytery, will remain.

She explained: “Falkirk is more central and I will come back and visit people.

“I have been moderator of Falkirk Presbytery this year and that’s having to end with a virtual meeting on June 16 when I should’ve been handing over to the new moderator.

“My retirement will also mean a big change for the churches in the Braes area. The churches are working much more closely as I won’t be replaced.”