Back People
- Pastor
- Church Officer
- Session Clerk
- "Coach"
- Karina Macleod
- Murdo Macdonald
- Colin Macleod
- "Pordy"
- Margaret Macleod
- Iver Mackay
Pastor
The pastor of Back Free Church is Rev Dr Iain D. Campbell. He is a native of Lewis, and studied at the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, the University of Glasgow and at the Free Church College, Edinburgh. He holds the degrees of MA (Glasgow), BD (London), Dip.Th (Edinburgh), MTh (London) and PhD (Edinburgh). Iain was ordained as minister of Snizort Free Church, Isle of Skye, in 1988, and came to Back Free Church in 1995.
To see a summary of Dr Campbell's writings click here. He has edited Heart of the Gospel, a collection of sermons from two Lewis ministers, and has written The Doctrine of Sin. These have both been published by Christian Focus Publications. The Gospel According to Ruth has been published by Day One Publications. His latest book is entitled On the First Day of the Week: God, the Christian and the Sabbath, and looks at the Sabbath principle in the Bible and its relevance for today's Christian.
Dr Campbell has also published two books on church history. The first is entitled Heroes and Heretics, published by Christian Focus Publications, and looks at twenty centuries of the church. The second is Fixing the Indemnity: the life and work of Sir George Adam Smith, published by Paternoster Press, and is a publication of Dr Campbell's PhD thesis.
Dr Campbell also writes a weekly column for the local paper, the Stornoway Gazette, on a variety of topics both personal and cultural.
He was editor of the Free Church Youth Magazine, The Instructor, from 1990-96, and editor of the Free Church's denominational magazine, The Monthly Record, from 1996-2000. He has published extensively in other journals and magazines. Some of his devotional writings can be found on the Free Church of Scotland website. Iain is married to Anne, who is a Learning Support Teacher. They have three children, Iain, Stephen and Emily. Iain can be contacted on iaind@backfreechurch.co.uk.
Church Officer
The Church Officer is Mr Murdo Morrison, who is also one of our deacons. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Church building. He is married to Christine, a teacher.
Session Clerk
The Session Clerk is Mr Neil Murray, a retired schoolteacher. He is married to Catherine, and has two children and two grandchildren. Mr Murray is also a busy lay-preacher in the congregation and throughout the Presbytery. The Kirk-Session is made up of the minister and ruling elders of the Congregation. As Clerk, Mr Murray is responsible for minuting Session meetings and dealing with relevant documentation and paperwork. He can be contacted on sessionclerk@backfreechurch.co.uk.
"Coach"
Mr Kenneth John Mackenzie is one of our elders. He is married to Ishbel. Kenny is also a nationally renowned football coach, who has been running a Christian-based football coaching club in the district for Primary children. His hard-work and Christian input are both much appreciated. Since June 2003, Kenny has been in Uganda, helping with the construction of African Bible College.
Karina Macleod
Karina has been a member of Back Free Church for many years, and her family have had a long association with the district and with the church here. Karina is now serving with WEC International at WEC's Missionary Training College in Brazil. Our local Missionary Support Group try to support Karina in various ways, not least through prayer and fund-raising events. To read Karina's newsletters, click here.
Murdo Macdonald
Murdo Macdonald has been an Elder in our congregation since 1981, and served as Church Officer in the congregation for many years. He is an accomplished precentor, in both Gaelic and English, and also conducts some services. To read his testimony, click here.
Colin Macleod
Colin is a Deacon in our congregation. He is married to Jessie, and they have four children. Colin was also the Superintendent of the main Sunday School at Back, and has been actively involved in the Youth Fellowship and in the Psalmody class for children. He came to know Jesus Christ from a background of agnosticism and rebellion. To read his testimony, click here. Colin now lives in Edinburgh, where he is studying for the ministry of the Gospel at the Free Church College.
"Pordy"
John Murdo Martin is a Deacon of Back Free Church, although he has moved away from the district and currently lives in the Isle of Skye, where his wife Dolina is a police-officer. A former medallist at the Mod - an annual festival of Gaelic song and music - John, or "Pordy" as he is called, is gifted with a fine singing voice and is a popular precentor. Pordy has produced two CDs of Christian praise items, in both Gaelic and English. The first, "Airc a' Choimhcheangal" was produced in 1998; the second, "I Heard the Voice" in 2000. For a review of the new CD, click here. Both are on the Smith/Mearns label, and are available from pordy@backfreechurch.co.uk.
Margaret Macleod
Margaret Macleod is a member in our congregation, and is married with three children. She is employed by Western Isles Council. She has written several pieces of Christian poetry, some of which has already been published elsewhere. You can access several of her poems by clicking here.
Iver Mackay
Iver is a Christian artist, whose paintings are popular in Lewis and beyond. He is a member in Back Free Church, and has a distinctive style of landscape painting. Along with Dr Campbell, the pastor, he has contributed to the booklet Landscapes and Longings, a presentation of island scenes and island faith. The booklet was produced to raise funds for Bethesda Home and Hospice in Stornoway, and features 14 of Iver's prints as well as Scripture-based meditations from Dr Campbell.
