On the 19th of November there was a Presentation and Lunch to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Induction of the Rev Gary J McIntyre to St Ninians Parish Church. The Session Clerk Leslie Asher made the Presentation and said the following words:-
It is a great honour and privilege for me to say a few words this morning on such a joyous and momentous occasion. Before I make this presentation a few thoughts about the Reverend Gary J McIntyre.
I am sure I speak for everyone in the sanctuary today, and everyone watching online, when I say as a congregation we feel very blessed to have Gary as our minister over the last 25 years. A real cause for celebration. His impact on this parish and its parishioners, and indeed the City of Stirling is nothing short of spectacular. For example, I have not met one person in the Parish of St.Ninians who does not know Gary McIntyre, and, I have not met one person in the Parish of St.Ninians that Gary McIntyre does not know, it is astonishing! If you want proof, just take a walk through the Parish with him, I have done this, and he knows everyone, he even knows there first names. His impact on this congregation and Parish is almost impossible for me to put into words. Gary has excelled as a Parish Minister.
He is very highly regarded by many congregations in the legacy Presbytery of Stirling and has served as interim Moderator at many Churches where he has used his very individual set of skills to great effect and is currently Interim Moderator at Bannockburn Allan linked with Plean and Cowie.
Looking to the bigger picture, Gary is part of, and chaplain for, the presidential team of the 2023/24 Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, their year culminates at the 2024 Royal Highland show in June at Ingliston, Edinburgh. This illustrates that he is very well respected way beyond St.Ninians Old and the City of Stirling.
I would like at this point to give you a short history of Gary’s journey as a Minister. He was licensed to preach the gospel on 26th June 1992 at a service held in the Highland Parish Church in Campbeltown, his hometown. He then served as an assistant to the Reverend Ian Rennie in the Parishes of Upper Tweedale in the Borders. He was then ordained and inducted to his first charge on the Island of Bute as Minister of Kingarth and Kilchattan Bay Church linked with the High Kirk of Rothesay, after five and a half years in Rothesay he received the call to St.Ninians Old on 19th November 1998, and here he is today, 25 years later, and can I say, most sincerely, we look forward to having him here for many years to come.
Gary on behalf of everyone in the Sanctuary today and everyone watching online it gives me the greatest of pleasure to present you with this cheque to mark your 25 years as Minister at St.Ninians Old. A wonderful achievement by a wonderful man and a wonderful Minister. Gary we all love you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
