A congregation has paid thanks to a “shining beacon” at a north-east church.
The Rev Carl Irvine was inducted into Inverurie’s St Andrew’s Church last week as the new minister, after a two-year search for a permanent one.
Rev Sheila Craggs has been the interim moderator and minister of St Andrew’s during that time.
St Andrew’s has been without a permanent minister since the death of the Rev Graeme Longmuir in August 2014, but has been “wonderfully looked” by Mrs Craggs, who has been described as “a shining beacon to the congregation and the wider parish.”
Linsey Stewart, church administrator, said: “Nothing has been too much trouble for Sheila who has endeared herself to everyone with her outstanding pastoral care, her ability to smooth and solve problems , her down to earth sermons laced with her lovely sense of humour, and her magnificent soprano voice which has enhanced all her services.
“Her ultimate contribution to St Andrew’s has been helping the church to find a new minister.”