Parish Ministers - Past and Present
The Present Minister (since 2000) - The Rev. Arrick Wilkinson
Arrick Wilkinson, the minister at Kirkoswald was ordained and inducted in the parish on 11th July 2000. This is his first charge as a minister, but certainly not his first job.
Born in Glasgow in 1944, Arrick has lived in the west of Scotland all of his life. He attended Glasgow High School for Boys, then Loanhead Primary School in Kilmarnock and Kilmarnock Academy. He then went to Glasgow University to study mathematics, but discovered the then new subject of Computer Science and graduated B.Sc. in Maths and Computer Science.
For the next 30 years, he worked in the field of information technology, firstly for Glasgow University in the Computing Laboratory and then in the Department of Natural Philosophy - ie. Physics. In 1986 he took up a post at Dundee College of Technology, (now the University of Abertay Dundee) as Head of the Computer Services Department.
During much of these 30 years, Arrick had been an elder at Avendale Old Parish Church in Strathaven, latterly being convener of the Membership and pastoral Care commission of the Kirk Session. A growing sense of call to some form of ministry led him first to enrol as a counsellor and research worker at Billy Graham's Mission Scotland in 1991 and then to undertake the TLS course offered by the Scottish Churches Open College and then their Worship and Preaching Course.
He returned to Glasgow University as a student in October 1995 to study for his Bachelor of Divinity degree, graduating in 1998. During this time he worked in three placements, at East Kilbride: West with the Rev. David Currie, at Hamilton: St John's with the Rev. Bob Kent and at Motherwell: Crosshill with the Rev. Stuart Dunn. In addition he worked two summers, one in Iona, at the Parish Church with Rev. David Taylor and then in Glasgow: Cranhill with the Rev. Jim Trevorrow.
He completed his probationary period at Wishaw: St. Mark's with the Rev. Harry Findlay in June 2000.
Arrick is married to Nan and they have three daughters, Anne, Kathryn and Morag. Nan and Arrick met in the Glasgow University Computing Laboratory in 1967 and they were married in March 1969. The above photograph shows, from left to right Kathryn, Nan, Morag, Anne and Arrick at Morag's graduation from Stirling University in July 1998.
Nan has exercised her own talents; during the 29 years they lived in Strathaven, she served on various Church committees, including a period as Convener of the Church and Community committee at Avendale Old and she was also a volunteer both with the WRVS and the local Strathaven Arts Guild where she organised catering both for the weekly lunches and also for functions ranging from barbecues to weddings.
Both Nan and Arrick have been involved in an international organisation called "The Friendship Force" which aims to promote international understanding by experiencing other cultures. Nan has served as both Vice-President and President of the West of Scotland Friendship Force group and both Nan and Arrick have served as "Exchange Directors" for incoming and outgoing exchanges. These reflect not only their enjoyment of travelling but also of not being "just tourists". Together they have visited the USA, USSR, China, the Holy Land and Kenya.
They also share interest in the performing arts and in music. Nan is an active gardener - Arrick says he loves watching Nan work in the garden - and they have both been long-time members of the National Trust for Scotland, having both served as Secretary of the Lanarkshire Members' Group.
Previous Ministers of the Parish
Before the Reformation (Pre-Reformation)
1530 - ???? : Thomas Fergusson
1547 - 1565 : Quintin Kennedy
After the Reformation (Post-Reformation)
1567 - ???? : Hugh Kennedy
1574 - 1577 : John McCavell
1577 - 1591 : James Boyd
1577 - 1591 : Hugh Kennedy
1607 - 1613 : Patrick Anderson
1616 - 1660 : John Brune
1660 - 1666 : John Osburne
1667 - 1668 : Alexander Abercrombie
1668 - 1687 : Claude Hamilton
1687 - 1691 : John Osburne
1694 - 1719 : Henry Adam
1720 - 1751 : William Cupples
1752 - 1806 : Matthew Biggar
1806 - 1845 : James Inglis
1845 - 1889 : John Finlay
1890 - 1931 : James Muir
1931 - 1953 : Donald McLean
1953 - 1964 : George Irving
1964 - 1974 : Donald Stephen
1974 - 1999 : James A Guthrie
