THREE women have become the newest members of the clergy of the Church of Scotland.

Louise Mackay, 27, was ordained and inducted into St Nicholas Church, in Lanark, as the Right Rev Dr Russell Barr, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, looked on.

The Moderator, who is minister at Cramond Kirk in Edinburgh, where Ms Mackay trained for 15 months, said the occasion gave him confidence that the Kirk “continues to be in good hands”.

The Rev Elspeth MacLean, 61, a former small animal vet, took up her post at Forth St Paul’s Parish Church in September last year, while the Rev Maudeen MacDougall started work as minister for the parishes of Carstairs and Carnwath last March.

Lanark Presbytery clerk, the Rev Bryan Kerr, said the three women brought experience and innovation to their posts in “equal measure”.

Ms Mackay, who was also mentored by the Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator Designate for 2017-18, said: “I am delighted and blessed that I have been called to St Nicholas. I am excited about what the future holds for myself, for the congregation and for the local community.

“I hope that I am able to use my energy, creativity and zest to lead my new congregation and in the context of the wider work done by the Church of Scotland.”

Ms Mackay was raised in Selkirk and has a degree in psychology.

The Moderator said: “It was a delight to see her grow and develop into the thoughtful, caring and highly skilled minister which she has now become.”