Abbey lands its first female minister . . . and it's only taken 858 years

For the first time in 858 years, a woman has taken over the ministry at Paisley Abbey.

It is Rev Elspeth McKay who has landed the honour as the first permanent lady minister after legions of male clergy stretching all the way back to 1163.

The tradition-breaker has herself only been an ordained Church of Scotland minister for a comparative blink of an eye - just seven years.

She said: “My appointment is an honour and a privilege - the Abbey is absolutely stunning.”

Rev McKay is no stranger to headlines and even donned a tutu, wings and a halo to take to the streets and tell the Christmas story.

She has also worked with various donkeys, sheep and cattle to bring the story to life.

Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

But she has assured there won’t be a “field of farm animals” grazing on the lush lawn surrounding the Abbey.

Her inaugural service was on Halloween and she has been immediately impressed by the art and light installation show put on by Renfrewshire Council.

While she is used to old buildings - Aberdeen, where she began her career, was founded in 1495 - the beginning of the Abbey is much older at 1163.

Her last post was at Cumbernauld Old Parish, dating from 1689, but “nothing as old as here”, she said, speaking from her office in the Abbey.

“Every church is different and that is the wonderful beauty of it all.

“Paisley Abbey has a fantastic musical tradition and the liturgical style of worship is very much me, and that is what attracted me.”

Reverend McKay, mother to a 16-year-old son, has stepped into the pulpit to replace Rev Alan Birss, who retired in August last year after 32 years in post.

One of the things she has not unpacked yet is her oboe and she is keen to hear how it sounds in the Abbey’s amazing acoustics.

Her husband David is professor of music at Northumbria University in Newcastle and an organist.

She said: “It will be wonderful to get into the Abbey with David when it is all closed and just play.

“David has also joined the choir here and he adores the organ in the Abbey. I went in last Saturday when he was practising and it was an amazing sound.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the congregation in the years ahead.

“I am very excited and feel very privileged to be the new minister at Paisley Abbey and look forward to working with everyone.

“It is steeped in history and tradition, as well as worship being enhanced by the excellent music provided by the superb choir, all of which add to the unique flavour of worship.

“Building on this tradition, I hope to develop the gifts of the congregation to meet the Abbey’s opportunities and challenges as it moves into the future.”

She has become aware of the sheer number of church buildings there are in the town, and is also aware of closures and unions as congregations dwindled.

She said: “When I look out of my office window I can see all the spires, and the wonderful crown tower of the Coats Memorial.

“The first service was wonderful and it was really good to start as my appointment had been in the planning since the summer.”

Rev McKay’s mother was a minister, but the 54-year-old had a late calling to the church.

She has lived in Scotland since 1999, when she went to Aberdeen University to study European Law and later worked at the university.

Her first church post in 2014 was in the Aberdeenshire countryside at Echt and Midmar, before being inducted at Cumbernauld in 2017.

Five years ago she caused much joy in the rural parish by staging the Christmas Eve service with a highland cow and her calf, a donkey called Jason, a pony and some sheep.

While in Cumbernauld two years ago she enlisted a four-legged friend again in Noddy the donkey.

They put on ‘Follow the Star’, an interactive performance in which she starred as the Angel Gabriel, who met Mary as she popped off a bus.

She said then: “We want to bring the Christmas story alive and retell it in our own setting.

“It is easy, among the fripperies and preparations for Christmas, to forget what it is all about and we wanted to bring the story to everyone.”

Marion Sommerville, session clerk of Paisley Abbey, said: “After a wonderful service of induction, the Abbey congregation look forward with enthusiasm and anticipation to the next stage in its journey under the capable leadership and guidance of our new minister.”

Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here:smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial