A CIVIC reception was held for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland during his visit to West Dunbartonshire.

Provost Douglas McAllister welcomed the Right Reverend Dr Russell Barr to the reception at Clydebank Town Hall where he met elected members, senior council officers and invited guests.

Dr Barr visited West Dunbartonshire as part of a year long tour of Scotland visiting congregations, church projects and attending civic events on behalf of the Church of Scotland.

During his 10-day visit to West Dunbartonshire, Dr Barr visited local congregations, the blitz memorial and triptych panel at Kilbowie St Andrew’s church, Linnvale Primary School, St Margaret’s Hospice and Clydemuir Primary School’s Easter service.

Dr Barr also visited the HM Naval Base at Faslane as well as the Peace Camp.

Dr Barr was elected as to serve as Moderator at the General Assembly in 2015 and left his parish at Edinburgh's Cramond Kirk where he had served for 24 years.

Provost McAllister said: “I was honoured to welcome the Moderator to West Dunbartonshire and delighted to hold a Civic Reception to mark his progression to one of the highest positions in the Church of Scotland. Along with his years being a minister, Dr Barr is also renowned as the founder of Fresh Start, a charity set up to help homeless people to make a home for themselves. We were very fortunate to have such an inspiring, caring and supportive individual working on behalf of the church.”

Rev Barr said: “It was a pleasure to meet Provost McAllister and I learned more about the opportunities and challenges facing West Dunbartonshire Council. The Church of Scotland is committed to the health and well-being of everyone in the local community and one of the purposes of my visit was to highlight the good work which is being done and to encourage new partnership working between the church and West Dunbartonshire Council.”

Kilmarnock-born Dr Barr, graduated with a degree in history and philosophy from the University of Edinburgh. He has honours and Masters degrees in theology from New College in Edinburgh and has a doctorate from Princeton Theology Seminary in the USA.