Rosemary Frew | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
.jpg) Frew in 2025 | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| In office | May 2025–May 2026 |
| Predecessor | Shaw Paterson |
| Other post | Minister of Largo: Trinity |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 4 May 1988 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1961-10-02) 2 October 1961 Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Spouse | Dave Frew |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | New College, Edinburgh |
Rosemary Frew (born 2 October 1961) is a minister of the Church of Scotland, who became the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May 2025.
Early life
Frew was born on 2 October 1961 to Robert Ramsay Bone and Mary Donald.[1] She was raised in Clarkston, Glasgow.[2]
She was educated at Williamwood Junior High, Eastwood Senior High and Linlithgow Academy (1973-1979). She studied at the University of Edinburgh between 1979-82 for an MA, and then 1983-1986 for a BD.[1]
Career
Church of Scotland
She was licensed by the Presbytery of West Lothian on 29 June 1986. At first, she was an assistant at Markinch (1986-1987).
She was ordained in the Church of Scotland in 4 May 1988, originally serving Largo and Newburn with Largo: St David's. After 17 years in Largo, she served in Abbotshall Parish Church in Kirkcaldy. Since March 2017, she has served as the Minister for the parish of Bowden and Melrose in the Scottish Borders.[3]
Within the denomination, she has been Presbytery Clerk of the former Kirkcaldy Presbytery. In 2019, Frew became convener of the Ministries Council then the first convener of the Faith Nurture Forum.[4]
On 19 December 2022, she conducted the funeral of Doddie Weir in Melrose Parish Church.[5]
Moderator of Church of Scotland
On 31 December 2024, it was announced that Frew has been nominated to serve as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.[4] She took her place on 17 May 2025[2] and she will serve until May 2026.[4] Her Principal Clerk will be Fiona Smith who had welcomed the appointment of Lady Elish Angiolini as Lord High Commissioner to the 2025 General Assembly.[6]
Frew described her appointment as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland as "incredibly humbling", saying she was humbled by the fact she has "the qualities needed for the role".[7] She vowed to bring her "faith, hope, passions and enthusiasm to the position".[7] She had previously been approached several times prior to her appointment to the position about the possibility to assuming the role in the place, but claimed it was "easy to say no" as she didn't feel the time was right prior to her eventual appointment in May 2025.[7]
In October 2025 she accompanied King Charles III on a visit to Rome to meet the Pope. She was congratulated by the temporary Principal Clerk and in the Scottish Parliament.[8]
She is due to be succeeded in the role in May 2026 by Rev. Gordon Kennedy of Craiglockhart Church.
Personal life
She was raised in Clarkston, in East Renfrewshire, before moving to Linlithgow when she was 14. She was raised within the Church of Scotland, being part of Giffnock South Church, and then St Michael's Church in Linlithgow where she later became a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Youth Fellowship.[4]
She has been married to Dave since 8 September 1984, and has two grown-up children, Peter and Rebecca (Bex).[1][3][9]
See also
References
- 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
- Scotland, The Church of (2025-05-17). "'Excitement and trepidation' as new Moderator takes on key Kirk role". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
- "Meet Our Minister". Bowden and Melrose Parish Church. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- Scotland, The Church of (2024-10-31). "Rev Rosemary Frew is Moderator Designate for 2025-26". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
- "RECAP: Memorial service for rugby legend Doddie Weir held in Borders". Border Telegraph. 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
- Scotland, The Church of (2024-12-10). "Lady Elish Angiolini appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the 2025 General Assembly". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- "Melrose minister to be next Church of Scotland moderator". BBC News. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Scotland, The Church of (2025-11-18). "Moderator's "historic" visit to the Vatican recognised in Scottish Parliament". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- "Borders Minister Announced as Moderator-Designate for 2025". www.lifeandwork.org. Retrieved 2024-11-01.