Cullen & Deskford Church

Parishoners Diamond Celebrations

Congratulations to Vera & Doddie Reid who celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 30th January 2020. Doddie and Vera are surrounded by their four Daughters and Sons-in-Law, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.

Christenings in the Auld Kirk in 2019

Findlay Young son of Alexandra and Bruce on 14th April.

Seth Henderson son of Kevin and Laura on 9th June.

Clan Innes Visit Sunday 28th July

Forty plus members of the Innes clan visited the the Auld Kirk on Sunday 28th July as part of a tour round Scotland. The Auld Kirk has a variety of connections with the clan dating back to 13th centuary. Of particular interest was the Innes slab originally from St Anne's Aisle but now in the North Aisle.

Alistair McEwan from Avoch

On Saturday, 19th May, James Findlay met in the Auld Kirk with Alistair McEwan whose great-great grandfather, the Rev George Henderson had been Minister in Cullen Auld Kirk for 56 years (1829 – 1885).   It was the first time that Alistair (who now lives in Avoch having spent most of his life abroad) had been inside the Auld Kirk.   James was able to show Alistair the memorial plaque to the Rev George Henderson erected by the congregation on the west wall of St. Anne’s Aisle. He also reminded Alistair that the Rev George Henderson had arrived in Cullen in 1829 just at the end of the period 1820 – 1830 in which the Old Town of Cullen had been demolished and he had to accept the people’s wish not to accept the Laird’s offer to build a new church in the Square of the new town of Cullen.   The people preferred and insisted that they should be allowed to continue worshipping in their beloved Auld Kirk. Rev George Henderson had been the first minister to occupy the new manse built on Seafield Place.   James also pointed out the many changes that had been carried out, mostly at the Laird’s expense, to improve the interior of the Auld Kirk at various times during his ancestor’s ministry.   Alistair, who was able to tell James that his ancestor believed that his greatest achievement was his leading part in the building of the first Seafield Church in Portknockie in 1839. (Photograph supplied by Gordon McNeil)

Aidian Harrison from Northumberland

Sunday 24th September - Aidian Harrison from Northumberland, a visitor to the Auld Kirk on 24th September. Aidian is researching and photographing medieval sacrament houses, thus his interest in the Auld Kirk.

The Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire

Sunday 21st June - The Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Claire Nancy Russsell and her husband Oliver from Ballindalloch Castle on Speyside

Harrison Jonker

Sunday 21st June - The Children's Blessing was for Harrison Jonker whose parents Alexandra and Richard Jonker now live in the United Arab Emirates but with family still residing in Cullen. Richard wasn’t present. The photograph shows Harrison with his mother Alexandra and the Rev. Douglas Stevenson.