Cleric chosen to assist Duchess of Rothesay

THE cleric chosen to assist the Duchess of Rothesay in her new role as Chancellor of Aberdeen University has now been appointed Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland.

The Duchess of Rothesay. Picture: TSPL

As Dean of the Chapel Royal, Professor Iain Torrance will be responsible for the oversight of the ecclesiastical establishment in Scotland, which is part of the Royal Household.

Prof Torrance takes on the role following the retirement of the Very Reverend Dr John Cairns. Prof Torrance is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Divinity at Aberdeen University. He was appointed a Chaplain to the Queen in 2001.

He has also been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Aberdeen University to assist the Duchess of Rothesay in her role as the first women to be appointed Chancellor of Aberdeen University.

Commenting on his appointment, Prof Torrance said he was greatly honoured by the trust which the Queen has placed in him. He has a particular interest in inter-faith dialogue and the welfare of people who migrate to Scotland.

Prof Torrance said: “Between 2014 and 2018 we will be involved in a national commemoration of the First World War and we need to find appropriate ways to learn from it.”

The Right Reverend Lorna Hood, the Kirk’s Moderator, said: “The Chapel Royal will be delighted in the appointment of Iain Torrance as its Dean and we thank John Cairns for his years of diligent service to the church in a variety of roles but especially at this time as Dean of the Chapel Royal.

“Both John and Iain have faithfully served the church with distinction and we rejoice with them in this recognition by the Queen. The Church of Scotland is proud of its relationship with the Royal Household and we look forward to maintaining those links in the future.”