Notice is hereby given that the congregation of Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland has elected Reverend Carol Anne Porter to be our new minister and a Call to the said Reverend Carol Anne Porter has been prepared. This Call will lie in Dornoch Cathedral (in the Crossing) between the hours of 10am and 4pm or whenever the Cathedral is open.

Also:

• In Ardgay Village Hall on Sunday 19th day of January 2025 between the hours of 10.30am and 12 noon.
• In Creich Church on Sunday 26th day of January 2025 between the hours of 2pm and 4pm
• In the West Church Hall, Dornoch on Sundays 19th and 26th January from 10.30am until 12 noon

During that time any person whose name is on the Electoral Register of the congregation may sign the Call in person or by means of a mandate. If a mandate is to be used, the relevant form may be obtained from one of the Session Clerks. A paper of Concurrence will also be available for signature by any person who is connected with the congregation but whose name is not on the Electoral Register of the congregation.
Children are also welcome to add their names to this paper.

Alistair Drummond

Reverend Alistair Drummond
Interim Moderator

Come and enjoy Dornoch at night from a height. Cathedral Tower Open Monday 30 December From 6.30pm to 8pm with £5 adults, £3 Secondary age children, primary children free but ratio of 1 adult per 2 children for safety regulations.

Dear friends,

I don’t know about you but I haven’t taken well this year to the shorter days that come with winter.

Usually I enjoy the stay-at-home cosiness of it all. I mean, if you ask me, it’s never too early for jammies at the best of times! And so what if hibernation mode leads to an extra pound or three on the hips, there’s good reason those jammies are elasticated!

But… the season isn’t, this year, for me, the contented sigh it so often is. And hunkering in just doesn’t feel to be an option. Maybe because the world itself feels sometimes to be pressing in. Too much uncertainty. Too much violence. Too little trust and tenderness to pull us through.

If you feel like me, navigating Christmas could be even trickier. And getting in the Christmas spirit a bit of a tall order… if, I guess, what we mean by that is jollying ourselves up and getting on board with making of Christmas opportunity to up the consumer ante.

But what if getting in the Christmas spirit is actually to expect to find such elusive things as trust and tenderness. Because isn’t that how God came to us that first Christmas. Leaving behind power and knowledge such as we can only imagine. Entering the world the same way we all do, in the womb of a woman, trusting her to nurture and protect and  grow God in tenderness.

There is the wonder of it, the mystery, the beauty.

I pray, as Christmas nears, we all might find a little of this wonder and mystery and beauty settle in our soul, opening us to trust and tenderness, making of us a shelter for God who comes to us still. And real joy and deep peace will surely become us all.

Go gently, friends, venture well. And a truly happy Christmas to you when it comes,

Carol Anne

Sunday 15th December 11.00am Family Service in the Cathedral

• Afternoon Services in Care Home – 2.30pm Oversteps and T3.15pm the Meadows
• Family based Christmas afternoon service/walk at 3.00pm in Gearrchoille Wood, Ardgay, to include carols, story telling and hot chocolate. Meet at the car park.

Sunday 22nd December 11.00am Cathedral Family Service/Nativity

• Inter Church Open Air Service at 6.00pm (TBC) on the Cathedral Green, involving the Church of Scotland, the Free Church & the Episcopal Church. If weather is poor the Cathedral shall be used. Dress for outdoors.

Christmas Eve

Tuesday 24th December 11.00 for 11.30pm: Watchnight Service – Cathedral

Christmas Day

• Wednesday 25th December 10.00 am Family Christmas Service in Cathedral
• 12 noon a Christmas Lunch in Ardgay Hall for local people living on their own.

Sunday 29th December 11.00am: Family Service in West Church Hall

• 1.30pm Service of Lessons & Carols in the afternoon at Bonar Bridge Village Hall.

Towards Hogmanay and onwards

Monday 30th December Tower open 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Tuesday 31st December – Labyrinth in Dornoch Cathedral 4.0pm to 6.00pm

Wednesday 1st January – DORNOCH HOGMANAY STREET PARTY in The SQUARE

Thursday 2nd January – 7.00pm Concert with local talent in the Dornoch Cathedral.

Sunday 5th January 2025 11.00am: Family Service in West Church Hall

Once again, this year the Dornoch Firth Parish Womens Group are staging their  “No Tree Christmas Trees Exhibition in Dornoch Cathedral. Designed by local businesses and organisations, both young and old, displays can be viewed from Saturday 7th to Sunday 20th December.

Be sure and visit and enjoy the wonderful imaginative creations.

Here’s a picture of one of the Christmas 2023 ‘no tree’ trees in the Cathedral.

Christmas 2023 example

The Service to mark the closing of Kincardine Church had a full Church on Sunday 13th October. The local school, Gledfield Primary, had their own special Service on Friday before the pupils broke up for their October holidays. This was very fitting as the school was used for Services while the current Church was being built in 1909.
Regular Services were conducted until the end of December 2023 when Kincardine, Croick and Edderton and Creich Church and Dornoch Cathedral were united in a new Union, the Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland on, 1st January 2024.
The Service was be led by Interim Moderator for the Dornoch Firth Parish, Rev. Alistair Drummond, and supported by Rev. Carol Anne Porter, Locum Minister for the Parish, the Rev Mary Stobo, and Amanda Anderson, Highland & Islands Presbytery Support Officer, read the official closing statement at the end of the Service before Rev. Drummond gave the final blessing in Kincardine Church.

It was a historic and emotional occasion with some in attendance who were married, some were baptised and many whose parents had gifted various items to the Church. There was time after the service where the sizeable congregation shared memories with a display of photos as they enjoyed refreshments and the usual quality spread of goodies that Kincardine are noted for.

A GOLF event and dinner has raised more than £15,000 to support the Dornoch Firth Parish.
The organisers of the fundraiser welcomed the backing from nearly 50 competitors and supportive businesses.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club teed-up access to the Struie Course and Morrison Construction, who are building the eagerly awaited new clubhouse, were the main sponsors.
Each hole was sponsored by a local trader, with Glenmorangie providing team prizes and Royal Dornoch sponsoring the longest drive and nearest the pin.
A clubhouse dinner held after the golf was attended by 59 players and supporters, with the raffle generating £1700 and the auction raising a further £3240.
An out of town bidder enjoyed a successful internet bid for a three-night stay at Knockbreck House kindly donated by Town and Country Lettings.

New clubhouse project manager Brian Harper drives off with Morrison Construction team members Mark Cooper, Scott Birch and Calum MacKay joined by RDGC general manager Neil Hampton and Dornoch Firth Parish fundraiser John McMurray.

Other items in demand were a 100-year-old ladies set of hickory clubs, with bag, and a new to the market Octogrip putter featuring the Royal Dornoch name and logo on the base.
Fundraising convener John McMurray said:  “It was a very successful event and hopefully it will become an annual fixture on the local calendar.
“The money raised will be used to continue the fine work of Dornoch Firth Parish.
“The 15-strong volunteer fundraising team, together with other helpers giving their time on the day, would like to thank all those who sponsored the event, participated, bought raffle tickets, and bid for auction items. A big ‘Thank You’ is due to them all.”
The winning Bandits team featured Derick McCaskill, Graeme Simpson, Keith Henry and Phil Prince.
The runners-up, Jeani’s team, included Jeani Hunter, Christine Cruden and Ian Roylance.
The Mairi Urquhart and Sons Funeral Group team of David Ross, Suzanne McClenaghan, Grant Geddes and Martin Geddes finished third.

The winning Bandits team pictured with Dornoch Firth Parish fundraising convener John McMurray

Former Royal Dornoch captain and Cathedral elder Willie McKay said: “It was a fitting result for the Dornoch Parish golf event to have a son and son-in-law of the late Rev Jim Simpson, the former Minister and past captain of RDGC in the team.”
Other prizewinners were – nearest the pin: John Nimmo, Balmore GC; Ladies longest drive: Fran Robertson, Royal Dornoch; Gents longest drive: Brian Harper, Strathpeffer GC.

Dornoch Cathedral Tower opens from 11am to 12.30 on Wednesday 25th September (the last market day) for the final opportunity to see Dornoch Town from the high parapet looking over the Firth, north to Ben Bhraggie and west to Struie hill and Dornoch Bridge.

Get there early and be at the front of the queue. Take time to view the beauty of the Cathedral and admire the stained glass windows.

ROYAL Dornoch Golf Club and Dornoch Cathedral share a heritage dating back hundreds of years.
Clergy lured north from St Andrews are credited with bringing golf to the Highlands.
As 2024 marks the 800th anniversary of St Gilbert laying the foundation stones, the ancient Cathedral is responding to a financial crisis.

[Golf event application form click here]

Now, the world-famous golf club is playing its part in a major fundraising drive.
On October 5, the Struie Course is hosting an event which will benefit the Dornoch Firth Parish and the Cathedral fund.

Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch Golf Club (left), the Rev Carol Anne Porter and fundraising committee convener John McMurray launch a charity golf day to support the Highland Cathedral.

The event is being sponsored by Morrison Construction, the company building the new clubhouse, which is on target for a 2025 opening.
A four-person team challenge has been teed-up, with prizes for the top three, along with rewards for a hole in one, nearest the pin and the longest drive.
The £70 per head entry fee includes pre-round tea/coffee and a bacon roll and a one-course dinner.
In addition to a raffle, a range of items will be auctioned, including golf and in-demand whiskies.
Entry forms can be secured from fundraising committee convener John McMurray via johnmcmurray1400@gmail.com and 07801496609.
The Rev. Carol Anne Porter, locum minister, said: “We are so pleased to have support from Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
‘The club’s generosity will help us ensure the Cathedral stays open and in the best condition possible for all those who, in visiting or sharing in worship here, find peace and perspective.
“We are grateful to everyone involved organising and participating in the event.
“I’m sure it will be a memorable and enjoyable day among friends old and new.
“We are also delighted that through the support of Royal Dornoch, our main sponsor for this event is Morrison Construction, the contractors building the new clubhouse.”
Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, noted that the town had been built on the Cathedral and golf.
“It was worrying to learn that the Cathedral is facing financial challenges, and the club is eager to back the fundraising campaign,” he said.
“I’m confident the autumn golf day will be well supported, and some fabulous items have been secured for the raffle and the auction.
“The Cathedral dates to 1224 and, with a Grade A listing, it is regarded among Scotland’s most historic church buildings.
“The Cathedral and the golf courses are vital to the economic wellbeing of the town, attracting visitors in their droves every year.
“There have always been close ties between the church and the golf club, with several past captains serving as ministers, and local members and visitors worshipping at the Cathedral.
“Written evidence of golf being played here dates to 1616 and historians believe it was brought north from St Andrews by visiting clergymen.”
Dornoch Cathedral was at the heart of a media storm in 2000 when Madonna and Guy Ritchie chose it for the christening of their son, Rocco.
Ten years later, entrepreneur Elon Musk and Hollywood actress Talulah Riley were married and left the church in a horse-drawn carriage.
Earlier this year it emerged that a shortfall of more than £50,000 was anticipated in the kirk finances, posing a threat to the future of a popular tourist attraction staffed by volunteers which is also used for concerts and events, in addition to worship.