City minister goes west for new role

A SENIOR Edinburgh cleric has been elected the Scottish Episcopal Church's new Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.

The Very Rev Kevin Pearson, who is currently Rector of St Michael and All Saints Church at Tollcross and Dean of the Edinburgh diocese will take up the post after a service of consecration and installation in Oban.

Mr Pearson, 56, was previously rector at St Salvador's, Saughton Mains, chaplain to Napier University; associate rector at Old St Paul's in the Old Town, and priest-in-charge at St Peter's, Linlithgow, before moving to St Michael and All Saints in 1995.

He is married to Dr Elspeth Atkinson, director of Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland.

He said he was "delighted, excited and humbled" by his appointment. But he added: "I am very sad to be leaving St Michael and All Saints Church, which I know will continue to be a vibrant congregation at the heart of diocesan life."