Coll Parish Church.

It has been an exciting year for Coll Parish Church as we have accepted the challenge of looking after ourselves again. The Rev. Andrew Greaves left us for Glamis, Inverarity and Kinettles, at the end of August, having brought about a huge increase in attendances during his three years here.

Meanwhile, the Rev, Neil MacKinnon was inducted to the joint charge of Coll and Tiree. This left the church with a problem - Rev. MacKinnon is resident on Tiree and can only come across now and again - so what would happen on the intervening Sundays?

What has happened has been both inspiring and, to many, very surprising. Four members of Coll Parish Church embarked upon the Church of Scotland's Lay Readers Course in September, and they, along with many others of the congregation have taken turns in leading Sunday Worship. Esther MacRae meanwhile, has taken over the Sunday School here and was inducted as a new elder following Barbara Galbraith's departure for Tiree.

Adjusting to life without our own resident minister has not been easy but the congregation have responded well and God's Word continues to be preached loud and clear at the 'Church on the Hill'. In fact, it has been said that the variety of preaching styles is a definite bonus and that we should keep up the ad hoc rota system for evermore!

Recent innovations this year have included the 'Songs of Praise' services on the first Sunday of the month, which more often than not are helped along by the Bog Cotton Reel Band. Neil Morrison, one of the elders, has organised the rota of preachers and not a Sunday has passed without a service. Neil MacKinnon,true to his word, comes over whenever he can in order to lead worship.

Although we are not sure what the future holds - in many ways we are at the mercy of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh who still maintain that we do not warrant a minister in our own right - the Church is both alive and well on the Isle of Coll. Come and join us at 11.30 am on Sundays and see for yourselves!