Plenary,
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
I welcome members back to the chamber, where it is business as usual. As on every Wednesday, our first item of business is time for reflection, which will be led by Father Matt McManus of St Peter's in Ardrossan.
Father Matt McManus (St Peter's, Ardrossan):
Presiding Officer, I know that I am not allowed to deviate from my script, but it was good of you to reopen the chamber for my visit.
In July 2004, a fire in the priest's house in Ardrossan killed the priest and destroyed the building. St Peter's is a listed building, so there followed many tortuous discussions with Historic Scotland and others about rebuilding the house. The parishioners were very saddened by the death of their priest. Appointments to parishes take time, but as one of those who had been agitating for the appointment I could not say no when I was asked to move to Ardrossan.
I was very happy in Kilwinning, where I was based for 18 years. I was on good terms with everyone. I was so often a visitor to the mother lodge that people thought I had my own seat. However, I moved—to a splendid little house in a back street of council houses in Ardrossan.
I am not sure now that I am ready to move to the rebuilt priest's house beside St Peter's. The issue is not the moving but the loss of a whole set of experiences that have been thoroughly good for me. Most priests and ministers in Scotland live above the shop, in a sort of Bute House for the poor. That is what I did. The house was imposing enough to deter all but the most persistent—usually those seeking their fare to Stranraer or the price of a bottle of Buckie. The latter usually got help on the grounds of honesty, but the others often did not. It was hard work making the house a welcoming place for God's people, because it was too impressive a building.
Suddenly I found myself living four in a block, with strange noises to the right and left of me. I thought that every passer-by was coming to see me. The ice cream van parked at my door. Remembering on which day the bin lorry came was a nightmare for me. I had to remember to recycle. Outside my window on wet mornings, children would play and dawdle on their way to school. There were a hundred things to remind me of what I was missing and was in danger of forgetting just by living above the shop.
Priests do not queue for buffets. Priests get umbrellas provided at funerals. Priests get reserved car parking—except at the Parliament—when they attend functions. That is all because we are special in the minds of the people it is our privilege to serve. I am sure that members will be familiar with the picture. Does the not queuing for the buffet, the reserved parking and the honoured-guest status ring a bell? Is there a danger of forgetting where we come from and the people we serve?
My new house—courtesy of an insurance company and Historic Scotland—is now ready. The roof looks strong and the building has come in on time and on budget, but that means that I will be back above the shop.
I simply say this to members present: try to keep in mind the noble aspirations that brought you to this place and never forget the hopes that all of us have invested in you.