Church of Scotland launches Take a Pew campaign to get Scots to talk about faith

L-R Church’s Youth Moderator, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Rev Neil Glover, who is convener of the Church of Scotland’s Ministries Council, STV news presenter and author John MacKay and Alastair Blackstock, who chairs one of the country’s busiest foodbanks in Falkirk (Church of Scotland)

TWO church pews are touring Scotland and playing host to famous names in a bid to get the country talking about faith.

The Church of Scotland is launching its Take a Pew campaign this weekend in an online video featuring STV news anchor John MacKay on the pews in the shadow of the Kelpies artwork in Falkirk.

Future guests for the video series include Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and expected locations for the touring pews are the Cairngorms, Glasgow Green and Glencoe.

In the first video, fronted by Glasgow minister Rev Neil Glover, self-declared agnostic Mr MacKay is joined by Church of Scotland youth moderator Hannah Mary Goodlad and foodbank chairman Alastair Blackstock to talk about the place of the Kirk in modern Scotland.

Rev Glover said: “Through Take a Pew, we will hear well-known faces like Ruth Davidson MSP, as well as ministers and ordinary people, talking about how faith relates to the big issues of the day and our changing society.

“By putting the pews in unusual settings we want to remind people the church is still here, and often where you least expect it.”

Mr MacKay said: “I think the challenge for the church is pretty much exemplified by the Kelpies here. They are very modern though they are based on something very traditional, and the church has to be able to do that too.

“But the language being used has been the same since I was a kid and I don’t think it connects with people who don’t believe.”

For more information visit the Church of Scotland website.

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