Ministry Team
� Who's Who � Ministry Team
St. Andrews believes in “every member ministry” that is, in a Church
in which every member is active and involved. Gods equips each one of us and
calls us to share the ministry of the Church to congregation and community.
Within this overall ministry, we operate a small, professional ministry team.
In doing this we acknowledge that no one person can be expected to do everything
and that, more importantly, God has given gifts to all of his people!
Our minister heads up the ministry team, each of whom lead and facilitate the congregation to fulfil our calling to ministry in various areas:
Our minister works full-time and the other positions are part-time for varying numbers of hours.
The Rev. Dr. W. Martin Fair B.A. B.D. D. Min.is MINISTER of the congregation. Martin, born in 1964 in Glasgow, began his ministry at St. Andrews in January 1992. Along with his wife, Elaine, and children, Callum, Andrew and Fraser, he stands at the heart of the congregation as its spiritual leader, visionary and teacher. Summing up the role of minister, Callum, then aged 5, concluded; “Dad - you're the one who brings the people their surprises!” Certainly, life is rarely dull when Martin is around.
Martin was inducted to be minister of the congregation and parish on 28th January 1992. He was born in Johnstone, just outside Glasgow and was raised in Thornliebank, again, a community lying just outside the Glasgow city boundary. Educated at Thornliebank Primary School and Woodfarm Secondary School, Martin went on to complete a BA degree in Politics and Geography at Strathclyde University.
His first employment thereafter, was as Youth Worker, with the local Church of England congregation in Bramley, Leeds. During that time, Martin sensed his own call to ministry and following successful application to the Church of Scotland, trained for the ministry at the Faculty of Divinity, Glasgow University, 1986-89.
There followed a two-year appointment with the Church of Scotland congregation on the Island of Bermuda, Christ Church. Martin maintains that, “it was a tough job but someone had to go!” Upon his return to Scotland, he fulfilled a six month contract at St. Mary's Church in Dundee city centre before being called as minister of St. Andrew's.
Martin is married to Elaine. They were childhood sweethearts and married on 4th July 1987, Independence Day! They have three children; Callum born in 1996, Andrew, 1998 and Fraser, 2001.
Martin lives a full and active life. When time permits, he loves nothing better that to 'head for the hills', whether to walk, climb or backpack. He plays some football and golf and has tried his hand at most other sports along the way! On the football front, he is a lifelong supporter of Glasgow Rangers and still manages to get to several games each season. Among his other hobbies are reading, cinema and travel.
Alison Davie serves as CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR and has done since the Church Office was opened in September 1999. Alison runs the Church Office and is frequently the first point of contact for visitors or callers. She supports the minister and takes care of much of the administrative burden of the congregation, ensuring the others are freed up to conduct their ministries. She is responsible for the congregation's publications, for hall letting procedures etc, and for maintaining accurate and up to date records.
Away from the office, Alison is also a bereavement counsellor at Roxburghe House in Dundee - work that she finds extremely fulfilling. She enjoys walking their large and lively dog, going to the gym and singing in the Arbroath Choral Society.
Alison worships at St Andrew's with her husband Lawrence; they have two children, Jacky and Andrew, both living elsewhere in the UK.
Sheila Dunphy is our YOUTH WORK CO-ORDINATOR, heading up our service to young people. Building on the work that has already been established in this area, and sustaining our volunteer youth team, she seeks to provide a programme of group meetings and activities together with being available to young people for personal support etc.
Sheila also gives an enourmous amount of time and energy to being manager of Oyster Trust, a local charity that seeks to uncover and develop the hidden potential in people, through operating OB's (an alcohol-free cafe bar for young adults) and doing streetwork with young people. Through the work at OB's she seeks to reach out to younger people who presently have no contact with the church.
Sheila and her husband Fraser are active members of St Andrew's and both have extensive experience in working with young people. With their two daughters, Becky and Naomi, they share a keen interest in outdoor activities, particularly athletics, hillwalking and skiing.
The other very significant member of the ministry team is the SESSION CLERK of St Andrew's. [Please visit our church leadership page to find out about the Kirk Session and the way our church organises itself to fulfil God's purposes for us.] Jane Miller holds this position, ably assisted by depute Session Clerk Joan Hainsworth.
Jane's and Joan's responsibilities in assisting Martin and the Session in the oversight of the congregation make them a key part of the ministry team, and they have great wisdom and compassionate understanding for both individuals and the congregation as a whole.
Jane (on the left) spent her working life in Music Education by teaching in schools and, latterly, as a Senior Lecturer in the Education Department of the University of Dundee. Her interest in music is now continued by being the conductor of Arbroath Choral Society and organist at St Andrew's - having agreed, over twenty-five years ago, to take on the job for just one year! She and husband Ken enjoy hill-walking and are trying to climb all the Munros. Jane also keeps fit in the gym and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
Joan (on the right) is enjoying retirement in Arbroath and has two daughters - Sarah who lives and works locally and Anna who lives and works in Glasgow. She has been Prayer Secretary and is involved in pastoral support within the Church. Outwith her Church activities, Joan is a member of Arbroath Choral Society and enjoys music and visits to the theatre. She's a keen recreational cyclist and has cycled the Great Glen Way.