People

Our People and Parish

The congregation of Farnell numbers some 110 members, with attendance at Sunday service in 2009 averaging 25. The congregation is elderly, with a small proportion of younger parents with school age children. Our judgement is that further work in demonstrating the renewed life and vigour of our congregation will attract additional members and adherents including young people.

The Congregation is predominantly rural, connected to local farms and estates, with agriculture the main employment. Development of old houses and farm buildings is bringing in a number of new residents within the parish who commute to work out with the parish. Nevertheless the essential character of the community remains rural and although affected by population loss caused by farm mechanisation continues to demonstrate the traditional strength of such a community as celebrated in the statistical accounts.

Organisation 

Farnell Parish Church operates under a quoad omnia constitution when the Kirk Session of elders and office bearers is responsible for all aspects of parish organisation. The Kirk Session meets quarterly, has 15 members and organises its work round a number of heads and convenerships: Spiritual matters, finance, property, membership, child protection and presbytery issues.

Four new elders have recently been appointed, to reinforce the Kirk Session with younger members. They have assumed responsibility for a number of our fresh initiatives.

Our last permanent minister, Rev Ian Douglas, retired in 2002, and the life of the Church at Farnell has been sustained by two Interim Moderators, Rev William Hodge and Mr Ian Gray. We look forward within the Esk Group of Churches to discussions on the deployment of additional full time staff within the Group.

There is no Sunday School. As part of the current development plan, a Ladies Club has been reformed and meets 6 times a year; a coffee club for 16+ young people has been formed, meeting 6 times a year. A number of fund raising activities are mounted during the year, including coffee evenings and sponsored walks. The congregation collaborates with Farnell Village Hall, W.R.I. and Farnell Men’s Club in a number of ways including organising Remembrance Day.

Farnell Parish Church financial position is sound, with a modest surplus generated each year and with significant capital reserves lodged with the General Trustees. Opportunities exist to increase income to meet additional expenditure as costs rise to meet the requirements of the development plan.