Welcome to
Greyfriars Stratherrick Free Church of Scotland
The Greyfriars Stratherrick partnership is a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland serving communities in Inverness south, Strathnairn and Stratherrick. We are committed to God's Word, prayer and fellowship, witness and service. We meet at Balloan Road, Inverness, in the heart of expanding urban housing developments. We also meet in Stratherrick, in the Church of Scotland church at Boleskine, Bailebeag, in the heart of a rural community about 20 miles south-west of the city centre. We warmly welcome you to join us in our regular meetings and activities.

What we believe. Many people are confused about Christianity, yet the message at its heart is really quiet simple: simple enough to be explained briefly. Discover the choice we all face.

For a fuller statement of our beliefs click here.

For a brief moving description of the influence of Jesus click here

John and Elizabeth Return from India

The Rosses arrived back in Inverness on April 1, after a two weeks moderatorial visit to work supported by the Free Church of Scotland.
 
Flying to Delhi, they travelled to Jabulpur by overnight train. Thier busy intinerary included the city of Jabulpur and parts the Seoni dictrict of Madhya Pradesh, made famous by Rudyard Kipling as the location of The Jungle Book.

As well as visiting two congregations at Premnagar and Vijaynagar in Jabalpur, they visited the hospital, church and school at Lakhnadon, and the health centre, school and church at Chhapara.

They were warmly welcomed by the Presbyterian Free Church of Central India and stayed in the homes of churchleaders and members, experiencing at first hand something of their life and work as well as enjoying the wonderful food so central to Indian culture and life.

Arriving in Jabulpur on Good Friday, John was asked to speak on the Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross during a well attended three hour long service at Premnagar. The following day was the important and colourful Hindu festival of Holi, a feature of which is the spraying of friends and passers-by with coloured powder and water. Devotees make a special drink called thandi sometimes laced with bhang (canabis). With only a limited supply of clothes and for other obvious reasons John and Elizabeth stayed off the streets and enjoyed a quiet day. Sunday was enjoyed by joining the Premnagar and Vijaynagar congregations in worship.On Monday a trip was organsied to visit Marble Rocks on the river Narmada, at Bhedaghat, Jabulpur's local beauty spot.

The Medical Work
At Lahknadon the Rosses met the staff, led by Dr. Adarsh Benn, and were shown around the 33 bed hospital. As well as providing both out and in-patient services, Lahknadon runs free medical camps in the surrounding villages and free eye and dental checkups. Some health programs are conducted in local schools and a TB Project raises awareness about the disease in the community. A new 63 KVA transformer was recently provided by the Free Church of Scotland Women for Mission.

Under the leadership of Mr Shadrach Khristi, the Chhapara health centre provides medical clinics and a maternity service. The project serves 26 villages, covering a large rural population of 25, 281. Major activities include HIV/AIDS and Malaria awareness, as well as providing reproductive and child health services. Chhapara's focus is on helping poor people through means tested subsidised treatment. In addition, free medical camps, dental and eye checkups are also conducted and an ambulance facility is provided at nominal costs. A team of village health workers, mostly women, but with a few husband and wife teams, deliver important aspects of Chhapara's programme. The men have recently been equiped with bicycles, making movemment around their areas easier.

Though started many years ago by the Free Church of Scotland, both the Lakhnadon hospital and the Chhapara health clinic are now run by the Emanuel Hospitals Association, which aims to provide Christian health care for needy communities.

Education
At both Lahknadon and Chhapara Christian schools provide high quality affordable eduction. At Lahknadon, the pricipal, Mrs Singh, heads the staff team, whilst at Chhapara the principal is Mr Michael Kummar. With basic facilities, a wide range of subjects are taught at both schools. Among current needs are improved library facilities, a new toilet block, water purification equipment and electronic equipment, including computers and data projectors. With students absent due to the Holi holiday, both intitutions were abnormally quiet, something appreciated by teachers preparing for the next term.

The Church
The Presbyterian Free Church of Central India, founded by the missionaries of the Free Church of Scotland, is a tiny denomination of only four congregations. It is currently experiencing some growth through outreach work. The work is led by five ministers, Rev David John at Premnagar, Rev. S. K. Lal, Vijaynagar, Rev Shayam Babu and Rev Sumit Mishra serve at Lakhnadon and Rev. Emmauel Ekka takes care of Chhapara.

Both Mr John (right) and Mr Lal are near or have passed retirement age. Mr Mishra is the newest addition to the ranks of the Presbytery. Church Sessions are active in assiting the ministers and some have approved signficant strategies that promise the numerical growth and spiritual development of the congregations.

To some extent the work is currently inhibited by an amendment passed in 2006 by the BJP state government that makes it compulsory for people who wish to become Christians to gain prior approval from the local district administration. Likewise, a minister conducting the baptism of believers must inform the district magistrate a month before, and provide details of the venue and time of the service, as well as the names and addresses of those being baptised. According to sources in the state government, Attorney General Milon Banerjee, the central government’s chief legal advisor, has given his opinion that the amendment, which has been criticised by Church leaders and other civil liberties activists, is anti-Constitutional. The Governor of Madhya Pradesh is yet to grant his assent to the amendment.