Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.044509
GOING from a mountainous eastern region of Tennessee to coastal Buckie has taken the South and West Church’s new minister 20 years, but it has been a dream worth following. Last Thursday evening saw a warm Buckie welcome extended to Rev Wes Brandon when he was formally inducted at the kirk. Rev Brandon joins the South and West after a year spent working in Paisley as part of his transfer agreement from the Presbyterian Church USA, where he served as a minister for 15 years. However, it is certainly not by whim that the town’s latest clergy finds himself on these shores. “I was born in Germany to a military family and I’ve always felt more European orientated in my mind than American,” he told the Advertiser. “My entire life I’ve wanted to be in Europe. “My fascination with Scotland – and I know this sounds kind of cheesy – came after watching the Brigadoon musical. What really persuaded me I wanted to be here was a minister from Glasgow who transferred to my grandparents’ church in the States and he was to be a big influence. When I was in the seminary
training to become a minister he invited me over to Ayr to do a year internship and I fell in love with the country, I knew definitely I had to come here.” The call of the sea was to lead to Rev Brandon looking at vacant charges in Portsoy, Portknockie linked with Findochty and Buckie South and West. He continued: “I grew up in a mountainous region of eastern Tennessee so perhaps I’ve always been drawn to the sea. “Buckie was pretty much a perfect match – a nice, small coastal town where the people are friendly and the views are incredible. It’s also close enough to Elgin, Inverness and Aberdeen. It’s the perfect location for me.” While getting to know the area, the people and his church are his first priorities, Rev Brandon went on to underline a commitment to focusing on youth in a variety of positive ways as a major longer term goal. of his ministry Before heeding the long-present call to the ministry and entering the threeyear seminary-based training course, Rev Brandon said he had a long association with the church in the USA, including working at summer camps for both the Prebyterian and Lutheran Churches. Outside of the church, Rev Brandon saw a very varied slice of life in the seafood restaurant trade where he served as a waiter, bartender and manager for around six years. In his spare time he enjoys a number of outdoor pursuits, including walking and hiking.