Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish Church facts for kids

Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Church, often called ABK Church, is a Christian community in the southern part of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It brings together people from the town of Inverbervie, the villages of Catterline, Gourdon, and Kinneff, as well as the area of Arbuthnott. This church helps people connect with their faith and each other.

Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Church
ABK Church
Location	Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff
Denomination	Church of Scotland
Tradition	Evangelical
Churchmanship	Reformed
Website	http://www.arbuthnottbervieandkinneff.org.uk/
Administration
Presbytery	Presbytery of Kincardine and Deeside

How ABK Church Started

Originally, the three churches in Arbuthnott, Bervie, and Kinneff were completely separate. Over time, Arbuthnott and Bervie churches began to work together. They even shared a minister and had a joint Kirk Session (a church council) in recent years.

Later, Kinneff Church joined them. This happened so that Stonehaven South Parish Church could link up with Stonehaven Dunnottar Parish Church. From 2007 to 2009, Georgie Baxendale was the minister for the combined parish. Dennis Rose served as minister from 2010 to 2016. On March 7, 2019, Andrew Morrison became the new minister at just 27 years old, making him one of the youngest ministers in the Church of Scotland.

Arbuthnott Church: A Historic Place

Arbuthnott Church is located on the Arbuthnott estate. It is one of the oldest churches in Scotland that is still used regularly for worship today. The church was officially opened in 1242 and was dedicated to St Ternan.

The oldest part of the building is the chancel, which is the area around the altar. The rest of the church was added around the year 1500. After the Reformation, the first minister was a member of the Arbuthnott family. This person later became a leader of the Church of Scotland. Church services are held here every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.

On October 24, 2021, a new extension was officially opened. This new part of the church was opened by Rev. Linda Broadley, who was a temporary minister at ABK Church. During her time, people started raising money to add proper toilet facilities to the building. The extension is at the back of the church. It includes a toilet that is easy for everyone to use and a small kitchen area with a sink and storage.

Bervie Church: A Busy Community Hub

Inverbervie Church is the largest church in the parish. About 70 people attend worship services here every Sunday. The church building you see today is in the middle of town and opened in 1837.

A pipe organ was installed in the church in 1904. New stained glass doors were added in the year 2000 to celebrate the new millennium. These doors were designed by students from Bervie School. Services are held every Sunday at 11 AM. Each Sunday, a praise group helps lead the singing. There are also special activities for toddlers, children, and teenagers during the service.

Kinneff Church: A Changing Story

Kinneff is a smaller area, but it used to have two church buildings. One was the Kinneff Old Church, which is now looked after by a special trust. The other was the newer Kinneff Church, which was originally built as a Free Church. The Old Church closed in the mid-1900s.

In April 2010, the church members decided to close the newer Kinneff Church as well. Kinneff Church held its last service on Sunday, June 13, 2010. The building has since been changed into homes.

Gourdon Mission Hall: A Coastal Gathering Place

The Gourdon Mission Hall has always been closely connected to Bervie parish. This small village is right on the coast, just south of Bervie. Services are usually held at the Mission Hall every Sunday evening at 6 PM. However, starting from October 31, 2021, the time changed to 3 PM for a trial period during the winter months.

The parish minister leads one service each month. For the other services, different guest speakers come from churches in the wider Aberdeenshire and Angus areas. Sometimes, speakers from ABK Church itself also lead the worship.

Other Church Buildings

Besides the main churches, ABK Church also owns several other buildings in Inverbervie.

• The Church Centre: This building used to be the minister's house (called the manse). It is next to the main church building. It has several rooms for meetings and a fully equipped office. The main meeting room has modern digital technology and kitchen facilities.
• The Herd Centre: This building used to be the YWCA Hall. It is located at the bottom of Townhead. The centre has a large hall and a fully equipped kitchen.
• The Manse: The current minister's house is located in the West Park housing estate, on the edge of Inverbervie.