So it was down to Troon on Friday night for Tom Montgomery’s installation as Rector of St Ninian’s Church there.
I have to say that St Ninian’s was looking absolutely beautiful for the evening. A gorgeous swag of flowers was behind the altar just over the heads of the clergy and there were beautiful candles in all the windows. Anne Tomlinson preached, introducing two new possible symbols of ministry (headphones, symbolic of listening and a microphone, symbolic of proclamation). Fr Bishop-Elect Gregor celebrated and in the name of the Primus installed the new rector, and Tom himself looked radiant and happy throughout.
It was a lovely evening all round. Prayers and blessings upon Tom and St Ninian’s and their future life together.
Had Canon M round for dinner last Friday. To say he was excited by his new charge would be an understatement… Glad the evening went well. Mrs N and I were scheduled to attend but didn’t manage it due to a combination of on call and severe cold between the two of us. Glad it went well.
In Tom Montgomery St Ninian’s Troon now have a very wonderful and caring priest, and their gain is St Margaret’s, Newlands’ loss.
I know this, as do my closest family, as he ministered to us in very difficult circumstances a few years ago when certain things were bad, and we could not have wished for a better person to do so.
Tom will always be in our hearts.