Luss Parish Church
Encyclopedia
Luss Parish Church is a Church of Scotland
church in Luss
, Argyll and Bute
dedicated to Saint Kessog. The current minister is the Reverend Dane Sherrard, who joined in December 1998. Sherrard was previously minister in Buckhaven
, Fife
between 1977 and 1994, establishing in 1983 the Buckhaven Parish Church Agency, a government-backed jobs and training programme that went into liquidation in 1991. Sherrard then went to Cadder Parish Church in Bishopbriggs
.
The present church building was constructed in 1875, and subject to major restoration works in 2001. The church site has had 1500 years of continuous Christian presence, being originally founded by Saint Kessog, and has 15 listed ancient monuments in its graveyard.
The church has in recent times embraced the internet, broadcasting its services online, and inviting, in exception to usual Church practice, outsiders to take advantage of the picturesque location on the banks of Loch Lomond
for weddings, of which 153 were held in 2009. Notable weddings to have been held at the church include that of Kirsty Hume
to Donovan Leitch, Jr.
, Noel Edmonds
to Helen Soby and Sarah Heaney
to Ed Adams.
The church is a significant site for religious tourism
, with over 2,000 people visiting the church on busy summer days, contributing £5 million per annum to the local economy. It is estimated to receive 750,000 visitors a year, in a parish with a population of only 400.
The church celebrated 1500 years of worship in 2010 by opening a new visitors centre for Luss after the National Parks Authority sold its building to Purdies, a Scottish natural soap producer.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
church in Luss
Luss
Luss is a village in Argyll & Bute, Scotland, on the west bank of Loch Lomond.-History:Historically in the County of Dunbarton, its original name is Clachan dubh, or 'dark village'...
, Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
dedicated to Saint Kessog. The current minister is the Reverend Dane Sherrard, who joined in December 1998. Sherrard was previously minister in Buckhaven
Buckhaven
Buckhaven is a coastal town on the east coast of Fife, Scotland, on the Firth of Forth between East Wemyss and Methil. Its inhabitants sometimes refer to it as Buckhind or Buckhine...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
between 1977 and 1994, establishing in 1983 the Buckhaven Parish Church Agency, a government-backed jobs and training programme that went into liquidation in 1991. Sherrard then went to Cadder Parish Church in Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The area was once part of the historic parish of Cadder - originally lands granted by King William the Lion to the Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, in 1180. It was later part of the county of Lanarkshire and subsequently an independent burgh from...
.
The present church building was constructed in 1875, and subject to major restoration works in 2001. The church site has had 1500 years of continuous Christian presence, being originally founded by Saint Kessog, and has 15 listed ancient monuments in its graveyard.
The church has in recent times embraced the internet, broadcasting its services online, and inviting, in exception to usual Church practice, outsiders to take advantage of the picturesque location on the banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
for weddings, of which 153 were held in 2009. Notable weddings to have been held at the church include that of Kirsty Hume
Kirsty Hume
Kirsty Hume is a Scottish model who came to prominence in the fashion world in the 1990s. A columnist likened her appearance to a Botticelli angel....
to Donovan Leitch, Jr.
Donovan Leitch, Jr.
Donovan Jerome Leitch is an American actor. He is a member of the band Camp Freddy, and was a founding member of neo-glam group Nancy Boy along with Jason Nesmith...
, Noel Edmonds
Noel Edmonds
Noel Ernest Edmonds, is an English broadcaster and executive, who made his name as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He has presented many light entertainment television programmes, including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The Late, Late Breakfast Show, Telly Addicts, Noel's Saturday...
to Helen Soby and Sarah Heaney
Sarah Heaney
- Life and career :She began her TV career with Live TV as a news reporter, then went on to front S2 Live on the now defunct SMG digital channel S2. The BBC approached Sarah but STV Central offered Sarah presenting work on the news programme, Scotland Today....
to Ed Adams.
The church is a significant site for religious tourism
Religious tourism
Religious tourism, also commonly referred to as faith tourism, is a form of tourism, whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage, missionary, or leisure purposes. The world's largest form of mass religious tourism takes place at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca,...
, with over 2,000 people visiting the church on busy summer days, contributing £5 million per annum to the local economy. It is estimated to receive 750,000 visitors a year, in a parish with a population of only 400.
The church celebrated 1500 years of worship in 2010 by opening a new visitors centre for Luss after the National Parks Authority sold its building to Purdies, a Scottish natural soap producer.