Minister

email minister@lylekirk.org + manse phone number – (01475) 717229

Thursday 3rd March 2016

A very emotional evening on the night Rev Owen Derrick was inducted as Minister of Lyle Kirk. Although he has moved from USA to be our Minister, he is Greenock born and bred, and started his church life as a boy at the Mid Kirk, now Wellpark Mid Kirk, in Cathcart Square. 
The sanctuary at Lyle Kirk Newark Street was crammed with church members and visitors including a full busload from St Mark's Oldhall in Paisley, family and friends, not forgetting all the dignitories and representatives from the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley. The proceedings were officiated by Presbytery Moderator Rev Dr Ken Forrest, Rev Alan Sorensen, Presbytery Clerk Rev Dr Peter McEnhill, and Mr Leon Marshall who preached the sermon.
Following the formalities we were all treated to refreshments, the home baking excellent as always, and organist John Bell playing "The Water Mill" and "Elizabethan Serenade".
We then moved on to the less formal proceedings when Lyle Kirk's Session Clerk Ross Finnie officially welcomed Owen and his family to our church. Assistant Session Clerk Jimmy Fisher relayed thanks to Rev Alan Sorensen for his time and commitment as our Interim Moderator, and a very special thanks to our Locum Minister Eileen Manson, which was followed by standing applause from church members. 
Rev Owen Derrick treated us to a very emotional "Final Word", when he recalled his upbringing in the Church of Scotland and shared with us that he knew his parents would be very proud had they still been around to witness tonight's proceedings. 
John Bell played us out to the strains of 'Marche Festivale" as we headed home. 

All in all a night to remember and we now look forward to a new chapter in the life of Lyle Kirk with Owen steering the ship.

Reporter Adrian Howlett and Photographer Hugh Gilliland

 


Owen Derrick was born and brought up in Greenock and Ordained as an Elder in the former Mid Kirk (now Wellpark Mid Kirk.) In 1986 Owen moved to Perth, working mostly as a computer analyst whilst retaining a very strong faith connection. Owen emigrated to the United States in 1999 and entered the Lutheran School of Theology in 2003 becoming an ordained Pastor within the Lutheran tradition in 2007.

Owen married Dianne in 2001 and they have an adopted daughter Elianne. Owen and Dianne also have four adult children between them, as well as three grand-daughters, and a fourth expected in May 2016.  After holding a number of posts, Owen supported by Dianne decided in 2015 to return to Scotland. Owen has been undergoing the process of approval by the Church of Scotland, the last part of which has been a six month placement at Paisley: St Mark’s Oldhall which he completed on 23 February 2016.

Ross Finnie
Session Clerk