Russell Barr (born 15 October 1953) is a minister of the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
, who was nominated in late 2015 to be the next
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week i ...
.
Early life and education
Barr was born on 15 October 1953 in
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...
, Scotland.
His parents were George, a GP, and Isobel, a theatre sister. His schooling days were spent at Kilmarnock Academy. He was active in a local Boy's Brigade company.
He left school with no qualifications, and a dream to become a professional golfer. He played off of scratch through his very regular playing, and he won many competitions as a teenager.
Through persuasion by his parents, he enrolled at
Langside College
Langside College was a further and higher education college located in the Mount Florida / Battlefield region of Glasgow.
It was established in 1947 and enrols over 5,000 students every year of whom many are from countries outwith the European U ...
in Glasgow. Through an inspirational history teacher, Bill Hodgson, he was able to pass exams. He made the choice to go to
Edinburgh University
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...
, beginning in 1972.
Through the university, he studied a degree in History and Philosophy, graduating in 1975, as well an honours and masters degree in theology from New College. The latter was completed in 1993.
He won the divinity honours class prize and in 1978 was awarded the Sir Will Y Darling Memorial prize as student of the year.
He received a doctorate of ministry from
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of ...
in 2000.
He once had a summer job freezing peas as Salvesen's near Granton.
Ordained ministry
His probationary year was in Edgerston, near Jedburgh, in the Borders of Scotland. From there, he was called to Garthamlock and Craigend East, in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow from 1979 to 1988. He then served at Greenock St Luke's from 1988 to 1993. From 1993, he was the minister of
Cramond
Cramond Village (; gd, Cathair Amain) is a village and suburb in the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland, at the mouth of the River Almond where it enters the Firth of Forth.
The Cramond area has evidence of Mesolithic, Bronze Age and Roman ac ...
Kirk in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
.
Russell Barr retired as minister of
Cramond Kirk
Cramond Kirk is a church situated in the middle area Cramond parish, in the north west of Edinburgh, Scotland. Built on the site of an old Roman fort, parts of the Cramond Kirk building date back to the fourteenth century and the church tower is ...
in October 2020, leading his last acts of worship as Minister on Sunday 25 October 2020.
In 1999, he formed the charity, Fresh Start,
which helps people who have been homeless establish themselves in their new home.
In 2011, he was Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh.
In October 2015 he was nominated to succeed Right Rev Dr
Angus Morrison as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
He took office in May 2016.
He was succeeded as Moderator by Dr
Derek Browning
Derek Browning (born 24 May 1962) is a minister of the Church of Scotland, who was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from May 2017 to May 2018
Early life and education
Derek Browning was born on 24 May 1962 in Ed ...
in May 2017.
Personal life
Barr is married to Margaret, a retired secondary school biology teacher. They met while studying at Edinburgh University.
They have one son, Robert, and a daughter, Lindsey.
They have three grandchildren: Eva, Caterina and Alessandro.
After retiring from Cramond Kirk, they now live in St Andrews.
He enjoys playing golf for fun.
See also
*
References
External links
Fresh Start
1953 births
Living people
20th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland
Princeton Theological Seminary alumni
Clergy from Edinburgh
Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
21st-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland
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