General Details | The West Mainland Churches | The Island Churches | Youthwork | The Choir | Christian Aid | The Women's Guild | The Kirk Sessions | Additional Information


General Details

These two parishes form what is known as the Westside area of Shetland, and could be considered to be a single geographical unit. However, the district comprises of a number of small communities, each with quite distinctive characteristics. Most of the habitable areas lie where the best agricultural land can be found and many defy the rigours of extreme exposure to the North Atlantic Ocean. The remoteness of the area, however, is adequately balanced with a very beautiful landscape populated with warm-hearted and extremely inventive people well adapted to coping with life. In the two main communities of Aith and Walls you will find the two largest churches, and in Sandness and Sand two smaller buildings serve their pastoral needs.



Located in Aith is Britain’s most Northerly Lifeboat Station run by The R.N.L.I. The Lifeboat Station houses a modern Severn Class Lifeboat, which is stationed to guard the lives of seafarers operating on the west side of Shetland. The lifeboat is often called out to give service to boats in difficulty at sea in some of the most stormiest of conditions experienced in Britain, and the work of the Lifeboatmen is undoubtedly difficult and very hazardous. Each year in June a Lifeboat Gala Day is held in Aith to raise funds for the RNLI. The day is a very fun-packed day for adults and children alike, and it attracts large crowds. A special dedicated Lifeboat Church Service is held each year in Aith Church, linking the work of the Lifeboat with the church. The service is built up around a nautical theme, with hymns of the sea, and with guest speakers who have a nautical background. The event is well attended by local people, Lifeboatmen and their families. In Lerwick there is another Lifeboat Station serving the east side of Shetland. Shetland is surrounded by the sea; the sea is important to the Island’s economy; and many men make a living from the sea. So consequently the Lifeboat and the work of the lifeboat is important to everyone.

Aith Lifeboat, the "Clarles Lidbury" in Aith Voe.

There are three primary schools situated at Sandness, Walls, and Skeld. At Aith there is a Junior High School, where children are educated up to fourth year Standard Grade level. Out on the remote islands of Foula and Papa Stour they have small primary schools to meet their educational needs. Education in Shetland is of a very high standard. Both Aith Junior High School, where children go for Secondary 1 - 4, and Anderson High School in Lerwick where Secondary 5 - 6 are done, are constantly in the top 3 schools in Scotland in their league for the number of passes achieved.

Aith Junior High School with playing fields and multi-court.

There is a NHS Medical Centre at Bixter, which is centrally situated, and only about 1 mile away from the Manse. General Merchant shops are located at Bixter, Walls and Aith, each with petrol pumps for fuel. At Bixter there is a Veterinary Practice and garages are located at both Aith and Bixter. Public Transport to Lerwick is possible from Walls and Aith and both routes pass through Bixter. In Aith there is a modern Leisure centre, with swimming pool, games hall, squash court, and fitness suite. Each small district has a public hall which caters for social events and entertainment. These halls are very much the hub of the community and also cater for local weddings and family events. They are very well used. Lerwick is a busy market town with a good range of shops, two major supermarkets, a small theatre and a range of other entertainment facilities. Many quite large exhibitions take place in the Clickimin Leisure Centre at Lerwick, and some quite large Festivals take place here each Year. Namely:- The Shetland Folk Festival, The Accordion and Fiddle Festival, Up Helly-Aa, and sailing and sports events. Lerwick has three dental practices and there is one also located in the village of Brae. The island’s Hospital, “The Gilbert Bain Hospital”, is also located in Lerwick, and many surgical routines are performed here. The only firm of undertakers is John Goudie & sons, who are also located in Lerwick. Funeral notices are posted in local shop windows, and these are handled by the undertakers.

The Shetland Islands Council’s Welfare Trust has built five Care Centres for the elderly in various parts of Shetland, each fitted out to a very high standard. The Wastview Care Centre is situated in Walls, and accommodates 15 long term and 10 day care residents. Weekly services are conducted in Wastview alternating between the ministers of the Church of Scotland and the Methodist Church. The residents of Wastview are very appreciative of these services, pastoral visits and visits from church choirs.

Apart from the Church of Scotland there are Methodist churches at Tresta, Gruting, Walls, Wester Skeld, Sandness, and Culswick. The Methodist minister’s Manse is situated at Walls. There is a Baptist Church at Sand and a Congregational church at Reawick, however the ministers of these two churches live in Lerwick. There is also a small Brethren chapel in Selivoe. There is a great deal of friendship between the churches, and at joint songs of praise services, at Harvest and at Christmas congregations frequently support each other. Elders and church members strive to maintain this unifying feature, which is essential to remote rural life.

The West Mainland Churches

Aith Parish Church

Aith Church is built of mass concrete and is in good condition. The building has been well maintained externally and internally. With some enthusiastic fund-raising by the church elders, judicious use of the Church Fabric Fund, and Grant Aid the members were able to replace the deteriorating wooden windows with fresh new UPC double glazed units at a cost of £14,000. The roof has been recently re-covered in traditional tiles and the outside of the building re-harled with rough cast. Internally the building was totally painted out by Offenders under Community Service orders and re-carpeted with church funds. The church seats about 200 people and congregations vary in size between 25 and 50. There is a very active Sunday School with a membership of around 20, which meets every week in the autumn and summer terms. It has been the practice for children to worship briefly at the beginning of the fortnightly morning services. The children are also tutored to perform children’s hymns and sketches for special services such as Easter, Harvest and Christmas. Occasionally, evening services have taken the form of Praise Services and are sometimes accompanied by the Westside Gospel Choir.

Aith Parish Church stands at the head of Aith Voe.

Aith Church stands across the road from the Aith cemetery. The cemetery has an adjacent car park, which is convenient for parking at Sunday services, weddings and funeral services. Within the car Park area a small Community Garden with a seating area has been created to improve the scenic quality of this area, and provide a corner for resting or quiet reflection near to the graveyard. It is also intended to create a garden area on a waste piece of ground at the back of the church where children and members could congregate in the summer for events or open-air Sunday School when the weather permits. Grant Aid and volunteer help will be sought for this project.
The Church Hymnary: Fourth Edition is used in Aith Church. The Moody and Sankey Hymnbook continues to enjoy popularity here as in other congregations and is occasionally used at Praise Services. To cater for these preferences new Moody and Sankey Hymnbooks were recently purchased for the use of the Congregation at Praise Services.

View of Aith from above Michaelswood.

St. Paul's

St Paul’s Church situated in Walls, is the largest church in the charge, and can accommodate up to 300 people. A few years ago the church was given a major interior face-lift. A kitchen and a toilet were installed, and a small worship room which is friendlier and more easily kept heated, was constructed. The church building has full disability access, and during the Spring of 2003 UPC windows were fitted at a cost of £17,500.

St. Paul's Church creates an imposing sight over the village of Walls.

There is a small but loyal Sunday School of about 12 children, who attend from August to Christmas and during the summer term. The children usually take part in the services at Harvest, Christmas and Easter.

The Fourth Edition of the Church Hymnary is the preferred hymnbook at St Paul’s.

Walls, a large spread out community largely involved in agriculture.

Sand Parish Church

This church which is the smallest in the charge, can accommodate about 80 people. There is a small but committed congregation of about 10. The church has undergone redecoration recently and new windows were installed at a cost of £6,500, which was raised entirely locally. There is a great deal of affection for this little building which has served the spiritual needs of the community well throughout the years. Many new houses have been built recently in the community, and there is good prospects of some growth in the size of the congregation and the possible re-establishment of a regular Sunday School. At present some children from this community attend the Sunday School at Aith, and there is one run in Reawick by the Congregational Church. The members consider that the re-establishment of Sunday School and the involvement of children and young people in the church is a top priority for this church.

Sand Parish Church.

Sand Church surrounded by sheep farms and symbolically with one foot in the sea.

Sand Church at Harvest.

Sandness Parish Church

Sandness Parish Church can accommodate around 90 people. It is situated in the heart of the Sandness community looking outward into the Atlantic. It’s condition belies its overtly extreme exposure to the elements, and its rugged construction has served the community well for many years. Congregations vary between 15 and 30, and their commitment and loyalty to their little church is unwavering. The windows in the church were replaced recently at a cost of £11,000,; the paintwork internally and externally was repainted; and new carpets were laid. The ravages of the extreme weather means that the external paintwork requires to be done again to freshen up the outside appearance. A new electronic organ has also been installed.

Sandness Parish Church looks outward to the North Atlantic. In St. Magnus Bay fishing boats shelter for a few days respite from stormy seas.

Sandness Church with the local school ideally placed within walking distance. Out to the left of the picture lies the Island of Papa Stour.

Sandness Church Harvest Displays.

West Burrafirth Chapel

For many years this small building remained derelict. A few years ago a group of local people decided to re-open it. The minister at the time was invited to join the Trust which maintained it, and services have been held here three or four times a year ever since. They have been very successful and the church is always filled to capacity. A favourite event for the community is the annual candlelit Christmas service.

The Island Churches

Foula

Foula is a small isolated island which lies about 20 miles west of Shetland mainland. It has a population of around 30 people which includes 7 children. It is a crofting community with additional income generated in a variety of different ways. Foula is Britain’s remotest community. Visitors go to the island in summer for bird watching and walking. There is one Bed & Breakfast business on the island. The island has a post office but no shop. There is a modern primary school. The church belongs to National Mission and is well maintained. Access to the island is either by air (15 minute flight from Tingwall) or by sea (2 hour from Walls).

Foula used to have a resident missionary/teacher. The last one left in 1990 at which point the islanders successfully petitioned the General Assembly for some compensation for their loss. Consequently the Foula Report committed National Mission to pay for six trips to Foula by the minister every year. This was intended to be over a weekend and would include a service and visiting. Around one third of the population attend services when they are held. If student ministers are available they may take up residence on the island over the summer months.


Papa Stour

Papa Stour is another small island off the mainland of Shetland. It is much closer and there is easy access by ferry from West Burrafirth (40 minute sail). The island population is around 25 including 7 children. It too is a crofting community with income supplemented in various ways. The church on the island was built in 1806 but is in a poor state of repair. It is currently closed pending a long term decision about its future. An attempt is being made to hold occasional services in the waiting room at the pier, which is the only available public building. There is a modern primary school on the island. Shetland Islands Council are currently building a roll-on roll-off ferry facility at the pier.

Youthwork

There is a long established Girls Brigade which meets in the Autumn and Winter terms at Aith Junior High School, with about 30 members from all over the Westside. The highlight of their year is their annual display for parents and friends, which entails considerable organisation and preparation by the Brigade’s officers. Considerable grant aid is provided by Shetland Islands Council for transport costs for children attending these activities.

Aith Girl's Brigade celebrate their handiwork at the dedication of the Noah's Ark room project.

The last minister along with his wife each year ran a project which he called the Holiday Club. The club, which was his own initiative, was set up during school holiday periods at Easter and Summer, to give children interesting activities. The Club met in the Bixter hall and was self-financing. It was very successful and the children clearly enjoyed attending.
Each year the children in the church attend a Sunday School Picnic. The picnic takes place each year on a local beach at a carefully planned date in summer, and involves the children in beach games with refreshments and snacks. The event is very well attended and is organised by a dedicated team of Sunday School teachers. This event is eagerly anticipated by the children and is always very much enjoyed.

Fun on the beach and in the sea at the Aith Sunday School summer picnic.

Even when the weather fails on the day Shetland picnickers tough it out and have fun!.

Sunday School Picnic: Sometimes the sun shines and the day sparkles.

Each year the children are encouraged to take part in the Christmas Service in several of the churches with some well prepared children’s hymns and biblical sketches. These activities require considerable preparation by the Sunday School teachers in the weeks preceding.

Sunday School children portray the birth of Jesus.

Girl's Brigade and Sunday School children pose with artists Paul Bloomer and Fiona Bird after completing the Noah's Ark room. Well Satisfied!

The Choir

There are no individual choirs at the churches, but some years ago members of several churches came together to form the Westside Gospel Choir. The choir has about 20 members and they meet regularly throughout the year on Tuesday evenings at Tresta Chapel to hone their choral skills. Under the leadership of a local organist they have become very proficient and are in much demand to perform throughout the islands. They have been invaluable in supporting and enhancing special services throughout the year at both the Church of Scotland and the Methodist Churches both in this area and well beyond.

The Westside Gospel Choir perform at the Lerwick Town Hall.