How we operate

The Church from the Lychgate

courtesy of Clackmannan Primary School

Clackmannan Parish Church is part of Stirling Presbytery in The Church of Scotland.  Geographically our probably reaches the most easterly part of the Presbytery, bordering Dunfermline Presbytery at Kincardine and at Blairingone, on the Perth and Kinross/ Clackmannanshire border.

Being part of a Presbytery means we have a Presbyterian Church Government, which means that ministers and elders from each congregation in a Presbytery meet together to oversee the work of the church in the local Presbytery area.

The Church of Scotland has the vision of being  a church which seeks to inspire the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ through enthusiastic worshipping, witnessing, nurturing and serving communities.  As the national church, each congregation has a pastoral responsibility for it's parish.  Should residents in a particular area require the help of a church or a minister, the local church and minister should be contacted. 

Clackmannan Parish is bounded on the south by the River Forth, from the mouth of the Black Devon to Kennetpans.  From there the Parish reaches the county boundary along the A977 Kincardine to Kinross Road at Kilbagie, and up to the Gartarry Roundabout, turning east on the A907 Dunfermline Road, as far as Brucefield, turning north to enclose Forestmill, before coming back along the south side of the Gartmorn Dam, south down Hilton Road and back to the River Forth.

Clackmannan Church is designated as "Quoad Sacra".  This means that leadership and spiritual matters are dealt with by the Kirk Session - that is the Church Elders meeting together as a group.  The minister is "Moderator" (or Chairman) of the Kirk Session.  He is also the "teaching elder" whereas the others are 'ruling elders'. The Secretary of the Kirk Session is the Session Clerk.  Currently we have some 34 Elders.

Financial and property matters are dealt with by our Congregational Board, chaired by the minister, and which consists of fifteen elected members of the congregation, along with fifteen elders.  The Minister, Session Clerk, Clerk to the Congregational Board, and Treasurer, have traditionally been ex officio members of the Congregational Board.

 ©Clackmannan Parish Church of Scotland, March 2011