Bolton & Saltoun with Humbie with Yester.
Parish Profile.

We are seeking a minister who will be readily approachable, pastoral in outlook, community and parish minded, whose teaching and leadership will largely follow the mainstream tradition of the Church of Scotland. As in every walk of life, a sense of humour will be an advantage. The individual selected is assured of the support of three enthusiastic and friendly congregations, and the active assistance of the three experienced Kirk Sessions.

The population of the three parishes is around 1900 - 2000 with about 500 being Church members. The pattern of worship provides for one service each Sunday for each congregation, as well as other services such as Harvest Festival, Good Friday and Watchnight. Also schools' services. The Sunday service at Humbie is held at l0am; at Bolton, and on alternate Sundays at Saltoun, the service is also at l0am; while the service at Yester is at 11.30am. This allows the minister, on a rotational basis, to take two services with the third being covered by pulpit supply. Some further information about each parish is provided below.

The comfortable manse, built in 1977, is located in Gifford and is a five minute walk from Yester Kirk. It consists of two public rooms, kitchen, cloakroom and master bedroom with en suite facilities on the ground floor. Upstairs there are three further double bedrooms and a bathroom; all the bedrooms have fitted cupboards. The house is fully double glazed and has oil fired central heating. The structural condition is sound but some redecoration is planned before the arrival of the new incumbent. There is a productive garden of about half an acre. The three Kirk Sessions, which share the manse expenses, offer assistance with the cost of maintaining the garden, as well as some secretarial support if requested. There are bus links to both Haddington and Edinburgh but between and within the parishes a car is essential.

Saltoun is a parish of about three miles by two. The main settlements are East Saltoun village where the parish church and a thriving primary school are situated, and West Saltoun, a much smaller village with about 20 houses. There are also a number of farms and small settlements. The population presently is around 500, but relentless pressure from developers for new housing (with twenty more in the pipeline as this is written) will increase this number.

Bolton is a smaller parish sandwiched between Saltoun and Haddington. It contains the tiny village of Bolton (about 15 houses) where the church stands, plus a small village hall, five or six farms and some isolated houses. The population is small, perhaps around 100 people. Note, however, that planning applications have been lodged which would add over thirty houses to the village, more than tripling its size. There are challenges and opportunities for the church in both these parishes.

Both Bolton and Saltoun remain predominently rural and agricultural, but within easy commuting distance of local centres, including Edinburgh and Haddington where many residents work. No doubt the “commuter” element of population will increase.

Bolton and Saltoun have both had churches since before 1244. The present buildings date from the first years of the 19th century, although Saltoun church, which is "A" listed, incorporates much older stonework and contains beneath it the burial vault of Andrew Fletcher ("The Patriot") and many of his family.

Bolton church is "B" Listed. It was masterminded by Gilbert Burns, brother to the poet Robert Burns, who is buried in the churchyard with others of the Burns family. Both churches are believed to be in good structural and decorative order, and comfortably accommodate about 120 people each.

The parishes were united in 1926, with a provision that worship should continue in both buildings. This has been honoured ever since, in various forms, and now involves a rigorous alternation of the l0am Sunday service between the two churches. There are still a very few people who attend only one church, and thus worship fortnightly, but the great majority move happily from one building to the other.

The congregation has 157 members and no adherents. Following fairly rigorous “pruning of the dead wood” this number is not outrageously inflated. The congregation does not maintain a Supplementary Roll, believing this to be a diversion of effort from useful outreach and mission.

Attendance at services is between 30 and 40 (but of course not always the same 30-40), falling to between 25 and 30 at holiday times. A few years ago there were around 40 children in the various branches of the Sunday School, with six youth leaders. Sadly this has plummeted in recent years and the moment the ministry to our youth barely sustains itself. Part of the reason for this may be demographic. It is also possible that new leaders have been reluctant to come forward following the Church’s adoption of draconian Child Protection measures involving scrutiny by the (currently somewhat discredited) SCRO. There are several young families represented in the congregation, often with children outwith the State education system. Restoring real viability to the Sunday School and Fish People's groups would be a great asset to the congregation - something earnestly to be desired.

The Kirk Session comprises 17 Elders, and the church, which is self supporting, operates a quoad omnia constitution, which serves us well. The Guild has about 18 members.