Visit of Presiding Officer, Mr George Reid

The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland was honoured with a visit from Mr George Reid MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Mr Reid was invited to address the Assembly by the Moderator, Rev Donald Smith. Mr Reid thanked the Moderator for the privilege of addressing the Assembly and spoke warmly of the contribution of the Free Church to the opening of the new parliament building at Holyrood when a group of Gaelic psalm singers led by the Rev Iain D Campbell of Back in Lewis represented the Scottish churches on that occasion which many present felt to be extremely moving.

Mr Reid reminded commissioners of the formation of the Free Church in 1843 and how much the church achieved in difficult circumstances in those days. He spoke of the important place of faith fitting into the new Scotland and urged the Free Church to continue to play its part in making a contribution to helping with the many social problems that confront the nation and to continue to exercise its God given right to express the Church’s views to the Scottish Parliament.

He concluded by bringing the good wishes of the Scottish Parliament to the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.