News

Tribute Paid to Rev Cath

Rev Cath Shaw conducted her last scheduled service of worship at John Knox on Sunday, where she has been Locum for almost 4 years.

Cath was surprised when after leading worship John Corrigan paid tribute to her service at John Knox and presented Cath with an engraved pen and garden vouchers.

The children from Trailblazers then came back into church and led the congregation in singing ‘We really want to thank you Lord’.

John said, ‘Your detailed planning and preparation skills, your superb communication skills and your inclusive, no fuss, down to earth, personable and empathetic nature are evident. But they all fall short of your number one quality – your unstinting love of God.’

He continued, ‘John Knox has become a warmer, even more welcoming, family friendly Church, and you have significantly increased the number of people actively participating in furthering the Kingdom of God in this community.’

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When Miss Catherine Carruthers was born in Glasgow and after school and university, armed with her Masters Degree and other qualifications, Cath’s chosen profession was primary school teaching - firstly in Glasgow then Yorkshire where husband Bert was from, then Glasgow again then Kilmarnock and finally for 14 years here in Stewarton at Lainshaw.

Cath’s connection with the Church has been life-long. Her parents actually met each other at Church.

When Cath and Bert moved to Stewarton in 1976 with their 4 children Janet, Carol, Stewart and Malcolm, Cath joined John Knox Church. She was encouraged by our then Minister, George Campbell, to put her life skills and experience to good use in the Church – and she did.

Sadly in August 1981, Bert passed away after suffering from multiple sclerosis for a time.

Poignantly, Bert had also joined John Knox just a few weeks before he died.

Cath’s response to the support she received at that time was to become even more involved in the life of this Church. By 1984, she had been ordained as an Elder, and was starting the Pastoral Group.

This is Cath’s 4th retiral – her first was from teaching – but within a few months of taking early retirement from Lainshaw she was working again – part time – providing pastoral support to the congregation of Prestwick Kingcase.

As if that was not enough, she spent 4 years studying and in placement before being ordained as a voluntary Auxiliary Minister in 1998 at St John’s Church in Onthank.

Unusually, if not uniquely, Cath’s licence as an Auxiliary Minister was extended to another Presbytery so she could officiate at Kingcase in Prestwick.

After 7 years at St John’s, retirement No 2 arrived in December 2005.

It was then time to return to her own Church – John Knox.

Cath accepted the invitation to become the Locum Minister here after Rev Dr Sam Hosain retired.

In addition to being Locum Minister of John Knox, Cath was still working in her Pastoral role in Prestwick until her 3rd retiral comparatively recently.

In the last 4 years, over 30 people have chosen to formally join this congregation while only 4 have opted to leave and all 4 were because they were leaving Stewarton.

The number of people regularly attending the Church is now at its highest level in 10 years.

Cath’s time as Locum doesn’t end until Thursday (7 January), when Gavin Niven will be ordained and inducted.