{"id":266,"date":"2026-06-22T23:19:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T23:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/?page_id=266"},"modified":"2026-06-22T23:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T23:27:02","slug":"ministers-from-1526-to-present","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/ministers-from-1526-to-present\/","title":{"rendered":"Ministers from 1526 to Present"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"266\" class=\"elementor elementor-266\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-094e574 hero-inner elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"094e574\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b04b557\" data-id=\"b04b557\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02e1ac8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"02e1ac8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MINISTERS FROM 1526 TO PRESENT<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-145ad42 about-sec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"145ad42\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e04648e\" data-id=\"e04648e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd65ac1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bd65ac1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"453\" src=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-269\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-1.png 800w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-1-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-1-768x435.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-711ca2e about-col\" data-id=\"711ca2e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58617ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"58617ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Present Minister<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff8b166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff8b166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rev William Watt<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-367f23f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"367f23f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Kirk of Calder\u2019s 23rd Minister<\/strong><\/p><p>Rev William Watt was inducted as Minister of Kirk of Calder on:<\/p><p><em>12th February 2025<\/em><\/p><p>He continues the long tradition of ministry, worship, and community service at Kirk of Calder.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57b3eda about-sec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"57b3eda\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-832f333 about-col\" data-id=\"832f333\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c157e4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c157e4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Previous Ministers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a07e9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a07e9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul role=\"list\"><li>1526-1546\/7 Peter Sandilands A younger son of the 5th Knight of Calder. The last Roman Catholic Priest of the Parish. The Present building was planned by him and founded in 1541.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1548-1585 John Spottiswoode Took holy orders at the hands of Archbishop Cranmer in London. A strong supporter of the Reformation and so known to Sir James Sandilands of Calder. Witnessed the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Dauphin of France in 1558. With John Knox, he was among six elected to draw up the Reformation teachings, and he was made Superintendent of the Lothians.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1585-1604 John Spottiswoode Son of above, born in Mid Calder in 1565, and educated at University of Glasgow and succeeded his father in the Parish of Calder in 1583.. Accompanied King James VI to London in 1603 on his accession to the English throne. Became Archbishop of Glasgow, and in 1615 Archbishop of St. Andrews and primate of Scotland, In 1635 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He Crowned King Charles 1 (King of Scotland) at Holyrood in 1633. (Charles I had been crowned King of England in 1626); He died in 1639, and is buried at Westminster Abbey.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.geo.ed.ac.uk\/scotgaz\/people\/famousfirst1077.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-fpl-component=\"primitive\">\u2028<\/a><\/li><li>1604-1616 Robert Gilmure Graduate of Edinburgh. Died in 1616 aged 39.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1617-1638 John Tennent A younger son of James Tennent of Linhouse. Graduate of Glasgow. The bell-tower was built and a bell was purchased during his incumbency.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1638-1641 George Dunbar Formerly minister in Ayr. Opponent of the Royal and Episcopal authority. Banished to Ireland from 1624-37.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1643-1660 Hew Kennedie Of covenanting sentiments. Crusaded against the Calder witches. He was deposed in 1660 for his covenanting views. In 1667 he became minister in Trinity College Church, Edinburgh.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1663-1671 John Colvill Episcopal views, as approved by the authorities. Died in 1671 aged 41.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1672-1674 John Somervell\u00a0 Episcopal. During his incumbency the Communion cups were purchased.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1675-1689 Norman Mackenzie Previously minister in Whitburn. Deserted the charge when the Revolution took place. Became a brewer in Edinburgh, where he died in 1701.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1689-1696 William Burnett Translated to Falkirk in 1696.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1698-1758 John Lookup\u00a0 Classical and literary scholar. Died aged 84, in 1758 after ministry of 60 years.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1759-1772 James Watson Translated from Torphichen Parish. Died at the age of 50 in 1772.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1773-1792 James Dobie Ordained in Mid Calder. Translated to Linlithgow in 1792, where he was minister till his death in 1826 at the age of 80.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1792-1794 James Wilson\u00a0 Native of Lanarkshire. Translated to Falkirk in 1794.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1794-1842 John Summers Historian and author of a History of the Parish, printed in 1838. Given an honorary D.D. by Glasgow University in 1818. Memorial to him is found on the north wall of the building.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1843-1882 William Walker Building enlarged and restored during his ministry. Died aged 80 in 1882.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1883-1893 Matthew Gardner Translated to Peebles in 1893.\u2028 \u00a0<\/li><li>1894-1907 David John Porteous Translated to Port Glasgow in 1907.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1907-1949 William Weir Clark Previously assistant at Paisley Abbey. Retired in 1949. During his ministry the church was given the name of St John&#8217;s Parish (1929). Died in 1956<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1949 -1981 David Rosie Previously minister in Stranraer. In 1956 he became minister of the united charge of Kirk of Calder, a result of the closure of Bridgend Parish Church, the former United Free Church. Died , 1981.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>1981-2021 John Povey Ordained in 1981,\u00a0\u2028having been licensed by the Presbytery of Paisley in 1980. Retired 31st August 2021.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7cd19b1\" data-id=\"7cd19b1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67f82d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67f82d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-270\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-2.png 800w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-2-208x300.png 208w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-2-711x1024.png 711w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-2-768x1106.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8fbce12 about-sec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8fbce12\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-98860f0\" data-id=\"98860f0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-534a778 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"534a778\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-3.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-271\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-3.png 800w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-3-300x233.png 300w, https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MINISTERS-3-768x597.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f20cbe8 about-col\" data-id=\"f20cbe8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-388866c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"388866c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rev Povey with the Congregation on his last service in Aug 2021\u2028\u2028<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98b76b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98b76b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul role=\"list\"><li>From August 2021 to February 2025, as the Church of Scotland was reviewing all Parishes countrywide, and we had to wait until that had been completed before we were allowed to call a new minister. In the meantime the Edinburgh and West Lothian Presbytery appointed an Interim Moderator \u00a0Rev. Nanda Groenewald (Minister at West Calder and Polbeth Parish Church) and she led the session for the first couple of years, organised locum ministers for our Sunday Services, and set the work in motion to appoint a new minister. The retired\u00a0 Rev Gordon Jamieson in 2023 took over the interim Moderator role until his unexpected sudden death in mid 2024\u00a0 and\u00a0 Rev. Liam Fraser was appointed to take it forward till the new minister was appointed.\u2028<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>We received permission from the Church of Scotland mid 2024 to set up a nominating committee to invite applications and ultimately recommend the appointment a new minister.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul role=\"list\"><li>Rev William Watt our 23rd Minister was inducted on 12th February 2025<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MINISTERS FROM 1526 TO PRESENT Present Minister Rev William Watt Kirk of Calder\u2019s 23rd Minister Rev William Watt was inducted as Minister of Kirk of Calder on: 12th February 2025 He continues the long tradition of ministry, worship, and community service at Kirk of Calder. Previous Ministers 1526-1546\/7 Peter Sandilands A younger son of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-266","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":277,"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/266\/revisions\/277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cwsdemowebsites.com\/kirk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}