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Former ministers of Bellie Parish Church

1751 - 1769
Rev Patrick Gordon. Educated at King's College, Aberdeen, Mr Gordon was Schoolmaster of Aberlour from 1720 until 1725, and then of Bellie between 1725 and 1731. A missionary at Enzie from 1731 to 1738, he was ordained and admitted to Rhynie in 1739.

1769
Rev John Rose. A former minister of Leswalt, he was presented by Alexander, Duke of Gordon, but sent his resignation.

1770 - 1809
Rev James Gordon. Educated at King's College, Aberdeen, Mr Gordon graduated M.A. in 1747. Before serving as minister of Bellie, he was chaplain to the Royal Scots Fusiliers in Gibraltar in 1753.

Rev John Anderson1809 - 1819
Rev John Anderson. Born in 1759, Mr Anderson was the son of local farmer George Anderson and Helen Shand. He was ordained in Kingussie in July 1782 and admitted to Bellie in September 1809. He was appointed a Commissioner to the Duke of Gordon in 1819.

1819 - 1837
Rev William Rannie. Educated at King's College, Aberdeen, Mr Rannie was initially presented by the Duke as an assistant to Mr Anderson, before succeeding to the full charge in 1819.

Rev David Dewar1837 - 1843
Rev David Dewar.
Educated at Edinburgh University, Mr Dewar was appointed master of the Duchess of Gordon's private school in 1830, before being ordained into the ministry in 1837. He served as minister of Bellie until 1843, when he left along with several members of the congregation to form the Free Church in the village. He died in 1885.

Rev Robert Cushney1843 - 1881
Rev Robert Cushney. Educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen, Mr Cushney held a previous charge at Insch from 1836. He was admitted to Bellie in 1843, where he served until his death in March 1881, at the age of 70. His two sons both became ministers.

Rev John Peter Watt1882 - 1898
Rev John Peter Watt. Born in 1852, he was the son of Rev William Watt, minister of Foveran. Educated at the University of Aberdeen, Mr Watt served as minister of Hogganfield Chapel, Glasgow from 1879, before translating to Bellie in July 1882. He demitted office in October 1898 and died in June 1899.

Rev Robert Venters1899 - 1934
Rev Robert Venters. Born in May 1868, Mr Venters was son of John Venters, a collector of Inland Revenue. He graduated M.A. from Glasgow in 1890 and B.D. from Edinburgh in 1894. He served as assistant minister at Greyfriars, Dumfries before being ordained and admitted to Bellie in March 1899.

Rev Christopher Barnett1934 - 1947
Rev Christopher Barnett. Transferring to Bellie in September 1934, Mr Barnett served as a forces' chaplain in Aldershot from 1939 until 1943 and in North Africa, Sicily and Italy between 1943 and 1945. He translated to Dundee, Hilltown in May 1947.

Rev John Jameson Glover1948 - 1951
Rev John Jameson Glover. Born in March 1907, Mr Glover graduated M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1929. Before serving as minister of Bellie, he was minister of Haverton Hill, Rochdale Trinity and Walford St Stephen's and was an officiating chaplain to HM Forces. He died in August 1973.

Rev Murdo Macrae1953 - 1954
Rev Murdo Macrae. Ordained and admitted to Stobhill in 1933, Mr Macrae was minister of Glasgow Wilton, Iona and Ross of Mull, Balquihidder and Kilarrow before he was inducted to Bellie in February 1953. He died in April 1954.

Rev Gavin Brown1954 - 1958
Rev Gavin Brown. Born in May 1912, Mr Brown was minister of Kirkcaldy St John's (1941) and the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam (1949) before he was inducted to Bellie in September 1954. He transferred to Falkirk Laurieston in September 1958.

Rev Alick Hugh Macaulay1959 - 1981
Rev Alick Hugh Macaulay. Born in June 1916, Mr Macaulay graduated M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1937. During the war, he was engaged in Church of Scotland Huts and Canteens and in the Royal Navy and also served as a forces' chaplain. He was minister of Ullapool before becoming the first minister of Bellie linked with Speymouth in 1959. He retired in June 1981.

Rev David Ferguson1982 - 2001
Rev David Ferguson. Born in March 1936, Mr Ferguson served as assistant minister of Glasgow Possilpark during 1965 and 1966. He was ordained and inducted to Tingwall in 1966 before translating to Motherwell Crosshill in 1972. He translated to Bellie linked with Speymouth in March 1982 and retired in March 2001.

Rev Gordon Henig2001 - 2003
Rev Gordon Henig. Translating to Bellie linked with Speymouth in November 2001, Mr Henig was previously minister of Ordiquihill and Cornhill linked with Whitehills. The early part of Mr Henig's career was spent outwith the ministry, which included several years' naval experience.

 

Former ministers of Speymouth Parish Church
1731 Robert Miln
1758 Thomas Gordon, who translated from Dundurcas
1785 James Gillan D.D., who translated from Kinloss
1829 John Gordon
1848 John Cushny M.A., who translated to Huntly
1872 Peter Dunn, M.A.
1890 George Birnie, D.D., first minister appointed by the congregation
1941 Richard Noble, M.A., who died in office
1955 Robert Campbell, M.A., who translated to Kirkcaldy
1959 Alick Hugh Macaulay, M.A., first minister of Bellie linked with Speymouth. He retired in 1981.
1982 David Ferguson, who oversaw the re-union of Speymouth with Garmouth in 1988. He retired in 2001.
2001 Gordon Henig, BSc BD, who retired in 2003.