CHURCHES and community projects throughout Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute will play host to the Church of Scotland’s Moderator later this month.

The Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr will spend a week in the Presbytery of Dumbarton which covers an area stretching from Bearsden and Milngavie in the east to the Peninsula communities of Garelochhead and Rosneath.

Dr Barr, recently returned from a visit to Kenya as part of his Moderatorial year, will be joined by his wife, Margaret, on the visit which will see him meet, among others, Syrian refugees in Clydebank, local MPs, MSPs and councillors, staff at HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane), residents of Faslane Peace Camp, staff and patients at hospices in Balloch and Clydebank, and at Vale of Leven Hospital, and staff and inmates at Lowmoss Prison.

He will also attend the unveiling of a memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, visit schools and young people’s projects in Balloch, Dalmuir and Milngavie, visit the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer and hear about the work of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Other highlights include meeting representatives of the Tullochan Trust which works to empower young people throughout West Dunbartonshire, a visit to Helensburgh to learn about community outreach projects and a trip to Dumbarton FC to watch the host side play Greenock Morton FC.

Dr Barr will also spend time with congregations hosting an information meeting with serving ministers, a session for potential local worship leaders and seeing how congregations in Bearsden work with the community. Congregations in Clydebank, Vale of Leven and Bearsden and Milngavie will also come together on the two Sundays of the Moderator’s visit to share together in worship.

A Presbytery-wide Songs of Praise evening at Helensburgh Parish Church at 7pm on Sunday, April 2, will conclude the visit.