Iain Greenshields
Iain Greenshields | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
_(cropped).jpg) Greenshields in 2022 | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| In office | May 2022 to May 2023 |
| Predecessor | Jim Wallace |
| Successor | Sally Foster-Fulton |
| Other posts | Minister of St Margaret's Community Church, Dunfermline |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1 May 1985 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1954 |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Spouse | Linda Anne Greenshields |
| Children | 6 children |
Iain MacLeod Greenshields (b. 8 March 1954) is a Church of Scotland minister, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly from 2022 to 2023.[1] He undertook key roles as Moderator for the funeral of Elizabeth II and the Coronation of Charles III. He was ordained in 1984,[2] and was latterly (until 2025) the minister of St Margaret's Community Church in Dunfermline, Fife where he was a minister for 16 years.
Education and career
Greenshileds was born on 8 March 1954 as the son of John Greenshields (a Glasgow police officer) and Catherine Greenshields (nee. Macleod).[3] Greenshields grew up in Glasgow and studied theology at the University of Glasgow.[4]
He studied at the University of Cambridge in 1985 for a DRS.[3]
He was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow on 1 June 1984. He was an assistant at Glasgow Broomhill between 1983 and 1984.[3]
He was ordained into the charge of Cranhill on 1 May 1985. On 2 May 1993, he moved on to Larkhall, Lanarkshire to become minister of St Machan's Church.[3] During this time, he became involved with ministry to offenders, as part-time chaplain of Shotts prison and the Longriggend Young Offenders Institute. He was also a part-time chaplain to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride.[3] He moved to Kensaleyre in 2002,[4] where he remained until 2007. It was then that he transferred to St Margaret's Community Church of Dunfermline. He retired from this role in 2025.[5]
In May 2023, he took part in the coronation of Charles III and Camilla, presenting a Bible to the King.[6]
Political views
Greenshields has publicly attacked the deportation policies of the United Kingdom.[7] He has a keen interest in addiction issues, arguing that drug possession should be decriminalized.[8] He is an ambassador for Epilepsy Scotland, having lived with the condition himself for nearly 65 years. He is a supporter of Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), Tearfund and The Barnabas Trust. His views politically are social democratic.
Bibliography
- From the Heart (Moorley's, 1987)
- Treasure in Unsure Places (Moorley’s, 1997)
- Prayer (Moorley’s, 1997)
- In Control of the World (Moorley’s, 1997)[3]
Family life
Greenshields and his wife have six children, three of whom are biological (Alistair, Ross and Caitlin),[3] three of whom have been adopted from China: their names are Eilidh, Siona, and Siusaidh.[4]
References
- ↑ Scotland, The Church of (2021-10-25). "Rev Iain Greenshields is the Moderator Designate of the General Assembly 2022-23". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- ↑ Bartynek, Shirley (2021-10-31). "Lanarkshire reverend to be Moderator of the Church of Scotland". Daily Record. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 MacDonald, Finlay Angus John, ed. (2000), Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae. 11: Ministers of the church from 1. January 1976 to 30 September 1999 / ed. by Finlay Angus John MacDonald (PDF) (1. publ ed.), Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, ISBN 978-0-567-08750-8, retrieved 2026-06-05
- 1 2 3 "Ness connections of Moderator-Designate". www.stornowaygazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- ↑ The Church of Scotland Yearbook 2025-26. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press. 2025. p. 166. ISBN 9781800830615.
- ↑ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ↑ McCurdy, Rebecca. "Rwanda deportations dishonour God, says Kirk leader Iain Greenshields". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- ↑ "New Church of Scotland moderator believes drug possession should be decriminalised". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2022-06-20.