Myrtle Gillies, a former presbytery clerk, took over from the previous incumbent, the Rev Ronnie Johnstone, and is only the second woman to hold the office.

Mr Johnstone spoke of Mrs Gillies's qualities and praised her contribution to the Church over many years.

"You served for five years as presbytery clerk and our blueprint for the future of the Church in Caithness is in no small measure due to you," he told Mrs Gillies at the event on Tuesday night.

The Thurso West minister also spoke of the contribution she had made as organiser of the Caithness and Sutherland Provincial Mod, which returned to Thurso last weekend after a 21-year break.

Mrs Gillies is also involved in the bid to bring the 2010 National Mod to Thurso for the first time in the festival's 115-year history.

Mr Johnstone paid tribute to her courage, faith and sense of cheerfulness and said they were gifts that would serve her well during her time as moderator.

Replying, Mrs Gillies thanked the minister for his kind words and for the "very hard work" he had done on presbytery's behalf over the past year. "Some difficult decisions were faced over the past 12 months but you handled them all with good sense and couthy humour," she told Mr Johnstone.

Mrs Gillies described the presbytery as "an excellent team" working for "the good of the Church".

She added: "I look forward to the next year and hope to see a resurgence in the Church here and maybe a couple of ministers coming to work in Caithness."

Mrs Gillies, who spent her childhood in Argyll, moved to the Far North in 1961 with her late husband John. Fourteen years later she helped found the Melvich Gaelic Choir and served as conductor for 20 years.

The new moderator is only the second woman to hold the post in Caithness – the first being Rena Mappin, of Watten, who became presbytery moderator in 2002. She took over from Thurso elder Ian Livingstone, who had broken new ground by becoming the first lay member to take the office.

Earlier, outgoing moderator Mr Johnstone had also paid tribute to the presbytery clerk, James Houston. Mr Johnstone said he was indebted to Mr Houston for his help during the past year.

"Your skill and patience were something which went beyond the normal call of duty," the minister told him.

g.calder@nosn.co.uk

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