Minister says Inverclyde has made her who she is today

Reverend Susan Henderson, minister at Port Glasgow and Greenock East United Reformed Church (URC) - and Greenock West before it closed last year - will leave Inverclyde next month to take up a new post in Thurso.

But the 58-year-old says that Inverclyde is a special place, and admits she feels quite emotional about leaving after six years.

Reverend Susan Henderson at Port Glasgow Reformed Church is leaving Inverclyde after six years (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

She told the Telegraph: "I was ordained and inducted in Port Glasgow, although I was minister for the three churches.

"It was my first charge as a minister, so it will always have a special place in my heart. It's been a wonderful opportunity working with the three churches.

"Each are unique in their own way. The community have allowed me to grow and become the minister I am today.

"My heart is in two places at the moment. Leaving is difficult, but the joy, care and laughter I have experienced here I will take up to Thurso."

Susan who hails from Nairn, is mum to Mathew, 33, who lives in her home town, and daughter Katie, 30, a nurse, who has worked for the charity Mercy Ships and who now lives in Australia.

She also dotes on her nine-year-old grandson Olliver.

Susan has thoroughly enjoyed her time working with her own congregations, but says she has also relished working with other denominations in the town as part of Port Glasgow Churches Together.

"I loved that," she said. "We've got a sense of calling but we also value other churches and what they are doing within the community."

The popular minister is perhaps best known to the wider community as the face of Church Angels Foodbank, which has helped hundreds of families over the years, as well as helping run school holiday clubs alongside William Boyle, minister at Port Glasgow New Parish Church.

She has also worked with the 14th Greenock Boys Brigade in the town's east end.

Reverend Susan Henderson at Port Glasgow Reformed Church is leaving Inverclyde after six years (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

Susan said: "I think the people I've worked with in the food bank have made a big difference. We must have helped hundreds of families over the last six years."

She says there is a great sense of community in Inverclyde, and that it's the area's people who are at its heart.

"I find the people are really hospitable," she said.

"People will always speak to you in all congregations, in all of Inverclyde.

"I think it is a special place, with a really interesting heritage with the shipbuilding industry. That fascinated me when I came here, and I wanted to learn all about it.

"I think there is faith here. And if there isn't, people allow you to have your faith, and individuals and groups are willing to help or donate to church organisations.

"I would say people look out for each other, especially in Port Glasgow."

Susan with Church Angels volunteers (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

Susan was brought up in a Christian household by parents Carol and Mick, and although she was a church-goer when she was young, that tailed off in her teens.

She helped out with her local Sunday school, and worked in a variety of jobs, including as a lifeguard, a swimming teacher, a veterinary assistant and a member of an airline's cabin crew, based at Gatwick and jetting off to all manner of sunny European destinations.

"It was great fun working for the airline and living outside London," she said, "and I have moved around the central belt with my training, so I've had a chance to value city life."

Susan latterly worked as a pupil support assistant, which she says stood her in good stead for reaching out to the younger generation through local schools and school holiday clubs.

"I love working with children," she said. "It's all about the joy they give you, and it's wonderful that the holiday club is still going strong.

"I will miss it this year and I'm gutted about that.

Reverend Susan Henderson at Port Glasgow Reformed Church is leaving Inverclyde after six years (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

"Children are here, they are in our churches, and we need to nurture and care for them to keep them as young adults."

While some did suggest to Susan when she was younger that she might consider a career in the minister, it took rather longer than that for her to hear the call.

She says she began training for the lay ministry, then, after a year, realised she was being called to do more.

She started studying the URC's Training for Learning and Serving course, which lasted for two years. A further four years of study followed at the Scottish College (Congregational and United Reformed) in Glasgow, which delivers programmes for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments of the URC.

Now her next step will take her back to the Highlands, within the Caithness Episcopal, Methodist and URC Partnership - a post she says particularly interested her because of her training, undertaken alongside an Episcopalian charge.

Susan will lead her last Sunday service in Inverclyde on July 19 - though her very last service in the area will see her leave on a real high, when she marries a happy couple at Greenock East URC on July 22.