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Episcopal priest retires after 10 years in charge of Sutherland and Easter Ross congregations





Rev James Currall has retired after nearly 10 years as Episcopal priest-in-charge of congregations in Sutherland and Easter Ross.

James served congregations in Invergordon, Tain, Alness, Dornoch, Brora, Lairg, Ardgay, Tongue and the Crask Inn (the Scottish Episcopal Church's very own pub).

His last service was in St Andrew’s Church, Tain, on January 5, when the congregation was joined by worshippers from St Finnbarr’s, Dornoch, and St Columba’s, Brora.

From left, Jamie Campbell, organist at St Andrew’s Church, Tain; Rev James Currall; Janet Macdonald, Sacristan at St Andrew’s; and Rev Simon Scott priest-in-charge at St Finnbarr’s, Dornoch.
From left, Jamie Campbell, organist at St Andrew’s Church, Tain; Rev James Currall; Janet Macdonald, Sacristan at St Andrew’s; and Rev Simon Scott priest-in-charge at St Finnbarr’s, Dornoch.

The service celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany with some very talented singers leading the large congregation in a joyful celebration of the coming of the Magi, the revelation to the Gentiles and the presentation of gifts.

During the sermon the three youngest members of the congregation brought up the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh accompanied by the appropriate verse of ‘We Three Kings’.

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At the end of the service, James and his wife, Anna, were presented with gifts and a prayer was said for them in their retirement. This was followed by splendid refreshments and lively fellowship in the hall.

Rev James Currall is presented with gifts by Caroline Barnes of St Finnbarr’s, Dornoch, and Joanie Whiteford of St Andrew’s Tain. Father Simon Scott is looking on.
Rev James Currall is presented with gifts by Caroline Barnes of St Finnbarr’s, Dornoch, and Joanie Whiteford of St Andrew’s Tain. Father Simon Scott is looking on.
The congregation pray with Rev Currall and his wife, Anna.
The congregation pray with Rev Currall and his wife, Anna.

A graduate of the Universities of Manchester and Aberdeen, where he gained degrees in biological sciences, James met Anna at Aberdeen. Her parents, Alan and Irene Joyce, were well known across Sutherland with Alan a popular science teacher at Golspie High School and Irene very much involved in community activities and a keen beekeeper.

James’ first job was as a lecturer and researcher in Environment Science at the University of Bradford before moving on to a career in management and then answering God’s call to ordained ministry and entering training in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

After ordination, he served in Largs in North Ayrshire for three years before he and Anna moved north to the Diocese of Moray Ross and Caithness, settling in Spinningdale.

When Alan and Irene’s last house in Ferry Road, Golspie, came on the market in June last year, James and Anna moved back to the village.

James is a popular ‘Food for Thought’ columnist with the Northern Times.


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