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Pastor swaps English city church for Moray village parish

Burghead's pastor Peter Turnbull
Burghead's pastor Peter Turnbull

Churchgoers in a Moray village parish are celebrating the end of their three-year wait for a new minister.

The congregation at Burghead’s Free Church has had to do without since Reverend Jim Abernethy retired in 2012, but their prayers for a replacement have finally been answered.

Pastor Peter Turnbull is leaving his 900-strong congregation in Sheffield to lead the small coastal parish of only 30 members.

The 30-year-old’s relocation follows several trips to Moray with his wife Morag, who comes from Elgin.

The dad-of-three said: “Spending time in Moray, where Morag grew up and her parents still live, has given us a love for the area and for its people.

“About two years ago we began to consider whether we should move to Scotland to be involved in gospel work.

“Things moved forward at a pace from last August, as we began to explore more specific possibilities.

“After a few trips to Burghead to meet the congregation they voted in favour of me becoming pastor.

“There is so much opportunity and so many interesting people here, from the Findhorn community to the military personnel at the two bases, as well as the kindly local people with a long fishing heritage.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

One of the minister’s aims at the head of Burghead Free Church is to make Sunday sermons “intelligible to those who haven’t set foot in a church building in many years.”

He added: “That doesn’t mean dumbing down, or giving lightweight teaching, but it does mean speaking in language that connects.”

The church will stage regular “invitation services” for regulars to bring along friends, colleagues and neighbours who wouldn’t normally attend.

Two members of Rev Turnbull’s current flock at Sheffield’s Christ Church Fulwood, both women in their 20s, will join him in Burghead to help him spread his message.

A welcoming event to mark his arrival will be held in Burghead community centre on Thursday at 7.30pm, and residents are invited to attend regardless of their religious persuasion.