The Draft Presbytery Mission Plan, part of the Church of Scotland’s Radical Action Plan, was presented to us back in February 2022.  After discussion, the proposal made by the Legacy Presbytery of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright in February 2023, was that Maxwelltown West Church be United with Lochend and New Abbey Church.  This was approved by the Presbytery of South West Scotland in April 2023.

Finally, in November 2024 a Congregational Vote held simultaneously at Maxwelltown West and New Abbey churches approved the Basis of Union and confirmed Rev. Johannes as the Minister of the United charge of
Maxwelltown West and New Abbey Church of Scotland.

Catherine Lye and David Johnson, Session Clerks at New Abbey and Maxwelltown West respectively, have agreed to work together as Joint Session Clerks of our United church for one year until the review of the Union takes place.

“We know that there are many issues to work on as we take “small steps” to ensure as smooth a transition as possible as our two churches become one.  We will have one Kirk Session which will be responsible not only for spiritual matters, but also the organisational running of our united church.  Finance and Property matters will now come under the remit of the Kirk Session.  Many challenges lie ahead, but we proceed with a positive spring in our “small steps”, as we start to write a new chapter in the story of our two churches, now united as one in faith.”

Catherine Lye & David Johnson
Joint Session Clerks