At a special service held at Markinch Parish Church on Sunday 21st July, the Rev. Alex Forsyth celebrated 40 years as an ordained minister.
A number of invited guests were there to mark the occasion, including Mrs Margaret Dean, Lord Lieutenant of Fife and Cllr. Kay Morrison, Depute Provost of Fife. The sermon was read by the Rev. Ken Froude, minister of St. Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy. The service was followed by a buffet lunch in the church hall and the presentation of gifts to Rev. Forsyth and also flowers to his wife Jean.
Left to Right:- Mrs Margaret Dean, Lord Lieutenant of Fife – Cllr. Kay Morrison, Depute Provost of Fife – Rev Alex Forsyth – Lt. Col. Helen E Homewood MBE, Army HQ Scotland – Mr. Lindsay Roy MP
Originally from Kirkcaldy, Alex has degrees and diplomas in Social Science, Theology, Pastoral Theology, and Biblical Studies from Cambridge University, Overdale Theological College, The Open University, and Geneva Theological College. He was ordained on 24th July 1973.
Prior to being inducted as parish minister at Markinch in 2002 he served the church in Birmingham, Ashington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leven, and in Angus in the linked parishes of Edzell/Lethnot, Fern, Careston, Menmuir and Glenesk.
While he was in Northumberland he served for nine years as a chaplain to the staff and patients at Northgate Special Needs Hospital. He continued to serve as a hospital chaplain when he was minister at Leven, caring for the staff and patients in the surgical, psychiatric, geriatric and psycho-geriatric wards at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.
For 25 years he served as a cadet chaplain and completed 26 years as a Territorial Army Chaplain. The regiments he served with include: The Royal Army Medical Corps, The Royal Scots, The Cameronians, The King’s Own Scottish Borderers, The Black Watch and The Royal Engineers.
In addition to serving on several major boards and committees of the national church he has twice served as moderator of the Presbytery.
In 2006 he was appointed to serve on the General Assembly’s, ‘Chaplains to Her Majesty’s Forces Committee.’
Married to Jean for 42 years, they have two children, Julie and Richard and two grandchildren, Abbey and Alex. Daughter Julie is a social worker with Barnardo’s and their son Richard is an army officer. Outside of work Alex’s interests include books, films, 60’s and classical music, the great outdoors and his dogs, Layla & Beamish.
On retiring from the Territorial Army Alex agreed to care for army veterans. Currently he is chaplain to The Black Watch Association and to The Royal British Legion (Scotland).