Printed on 19 June 2025
4 minutes learn
When Rev John Purves arrived at his first cost, Drumchapel St Andrew’s in Glasgow, some years in the past, he admits it was a shock to the system.
“I’ve by no means been standard and there have been individuals there who simply did not like me and did not wish to change,” he reveals on this month’s common Speaking Ministry characteristic.
“What stored me there have been the opposite individuals who cared for me and sorted me after I struggled,” he defined.
“However we moved from there and grew collectively as a church household and by the tip of my ministry there, Drumchapel St Andrew’s was the church I had dreamt of after I went there first.”
“That dream was of a church the place everybody felt included and a part of the identical loving church household.
“The guts of a church is individuals, so for me, it was about being a household the place everyone seems to be welcomed, cared for and affirmed and will be the very best model of themselves.
“They need not fear about what different individuals count on them to do and might do their very own journey realizing that there are individuals there who will take care of them and share that journey with them.
“That is why we had ‘belonging’ as an alternative of ‘membership’, so individuals would really feel they have been part of the church as a result of they belonged, not as a result of it was as if that they had signed up for a membership.”
Mr Purves’ perfect church can also be one that’s on the coronary heart of its neighborhood, and he added that he was very lucky to have the assist of a congregation that didn’t make calls for to the exclusion of what he did within the wider neighborhood.
Whether or not it was serving to native charity 3D Drumchapel develop from a fledging organisation with a gaggle of mums assembly repeatedly and simply £5,000 within the financial institution to a well-established native assist with a £500,000 turnover, or working with asylum seekers making a brand new residence in Scotland’s largest metropolis.
Supporting households and people from around the globe could possibly be harrowing, but additionally rewarding.
Mr Purves mentioned: “There was a lot about it that was unhappy and tragic, listening to about issues that I by no means thought I must hear, nevertheless it was additionally uplifting, seeing the resilience that introduced individuals by way of these horrendous experiences.
“That was one other unimaginable chapter in my life.”
The excitement of laughter
One indication of Mr Purves’ unconventionality – other than the altering hair color – is his uncommon side-line for a presbyterian minister: stand-up comedy.
“I like reside comedy and occurred to see an commercial for a comedy course at Strathclyde College in Glasgow,” he defined.
“I believed the course could be enjoyable, I might do the showcase on the finish, and that will be it, however the showcase went very properly and it felt very pure to maintain going.”
Maintaining quiet about his day job with the Church of Scotland as he didn’t wish to be seen as a novelty act, Mr Purves mixed ministry with comedy for nearly a decade, enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe seven years a row and performing for audiences starting from packed out theatres to an viewers of 1 on the Fringe.
“They have been a wonderful viewers as a result of they laughed during,” he mused.
“It’s the most unimaginable buzz, making individuals snort. I do not suppose there may be something prefer it.
“Comedy communication and church communication should not that dissimilar and I do suppose that loads of it’s about connection.
“In the event you join with individuals, they’ll get your humour.
“A whole lot of my comedy is observational.
“I’ll see issues that different individuals see day-after-day, however they do not discover the humour in it till you flick that swap.
“I believe it is the identical with religion – loads of what I say to individuals on a Sunday is about opening individuals as much as seeing issues another way.”
One other manner by which Mr Purves defied conference was in the one time he spoke on the Basic Meeting when he challenged centuries of dogma to name for the popularity of similar intercourse marriage.
“That’s in all probability some of the necessary issues I’ve accomplished,” he mentioned.
“That was about together with all people, and that was an enormous a part of who we have been as a church household.
“We welcomed all people and all people was vital and valued and cared for and that was on the coronary heart of what we did.
“I’ve at all times believed I may change the world.
“Generally that may be irritating, however typically you recognise that you could make a distinction.
“Generally you may change the world.”
Learn the complete interview on our Speaking Ministry web page.
Printed on 19 June 2025
4 minutes learn
When Rev John Purves arrived at his first cost, Drumchapel St Andrew’s in Glasgow, some years in the past, he admits it was a shock to the system.
“I’ve by no means been standard and there have been individuals there who simply did not like me and did not wish to change,” he reveals on this month’s common Speaking Ministry characteristic.
“What stored me there have been the opposite individuals who cared for me and sorted me after I struggled,” he defined.
“However we moved from there and grew collectively as a church household and by the tip of my ministry there, Drumchapel St Andrew’s was the church I had dreamt of after I went there first.”
“That dream was of a church the place everybody felt included and a part of the identical loving church household.
“The guts of a church is individuals, so for me, it was about being a household the place everyone seems to be welcomed, cared for and affirmed and will be the very best model of themselves.
“They need not fear about what different individuals count on them to do and might do their very own journey realizing that there are individuals there who will take care of them and share that journey with them.
“That is why we had ‘belonging’ as an alternative of ‘membership’, so individuals would really feel they have been part of the church as a result of they belonged, not as a result of it was as if that they had signed up for a membership.”
Mr Purves’ perfect church can also be one that’s on the coronary heart of its neighborhood, and he added that he was very lucky to have the assist of a congregation that didn’t make calls for to the exclusion of what he did within the wider neighborhood.
Whether or not it was serving to native charity 3D Drumchapel develop from a fledging organisation with a gaggle of mums assembly repeatedly and simply £5,000 within the financial institution to a well-established native assist with a £500,000 turnover, or working with asylum seekers making a brand new residence in Scotland’s largest metropolis.
Supporting households and people from around the globe could possibly be harrowing, but additionally rewarding.
Mr Purves mentioned: “There was a lot about it that was unhappy and tragic, listening to about issues that I by no means thought I must hear, nevertheless it was additionally uplifting, seeing the resilience that introduced individuals by way of these horrendous experiences.
“That was one other unimaginable chapter in my life.”
The excitement of laughter
One indication of Mr Purves’ unconventionality – other than the altering hair color – is his uncommon side-line for a presbyterian minister: stand-up comedy.
“I like reside comedy and occurred to see an commercial for a comedy course at Strathclyde College in Glasgow,” he defined.
“I believed the course could be enjoyable, I might do the showcase on the finish, and that will be it, however the showcase went very properly and it felt very pure to maintain going.”
Maintaining quiet about his day job with the Church of Scotland as he didn’t wish to be seen as a novelty act, Mr Purves mixed ministry with comedy for nearly a decade, enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe seven years a row and performing for audiences starting from packed out theatres to an viewers of 1 on the Fringe.
“They have been a wonderful viewers as a result of they laughed during,” he mused.
“It’s the most unimaginable buzz, making individuals snort. I do not suppose there may be something prefer it.
“Comedy communication and church communication should not that dissimilar and I do suppose that loads of it’s about connection.
“In the event you join with individuals, they’ll get your humour.
“A whole lot of my comedy is observational.
“I’ll see issues that different individuals see day-after-day, however they do not discover the humour in it till you flick that swap.
“I believe it is the identical with religion – loads of what I say to individuals on a Sunday is about opening individuals as much as seeing issues another way.”
One other manner by which Mr Purves defied conference was in the one time he spoke on the Basic Meeting when he challenged centuries of dogma to name for the popularity of similar intercourse marriage.
“That’s in all probability some of the necessary issues I’ve accomplished,” he mentioned.
“That was about together with all people, and that was an enormous a part of who we have been as a church household.
“We welcomed all people and all people was vital and valued and cared for and that was on the coronary heart of what we did.
“I’ve at all times believed I may change the world.
“Generally that may be irritating, however typically you recognise that you could make a distinction.
“Generally you may change the world.”
Learn the complete interview on our Speaking Ministry web page.
Printed on 19 June 2025
4 minutes learn
When Rev John Purves arrived at his first cost, Drumchapel St Andrew’s in Glasgow, some years in the past, he admits it was a shock to the system.
“I’ve by no means been standard and there have been individuals there who simply did not like me and did not wish to change,” he reveals on this month’s common Speaking Ministry characteristic.
“What stored me there have been the opposite individuals who cared for me and sorted me after I struggled,” he defined.
“However we moved from there and grew collectively as a church household and by the tip of my ministry there, Drumchapel St Andrew’s was the church I had dreamt of after I went there first.”
“That dream was of a church the place everybody felt included and a part of the identical loving church household.
“The guts of a church is individuals, so for me, it was about being a household the place everyone seems to be welcomed, cared for and affirmed and will be the very best model of themselves.
“They need not fear about what different individuals count on them to do and might do their very own journey realizing that there are individuals there who will take care of them and share that journey with them.
“That is why we had ‘belonging’ as an alternative of ‘membership’, so individuals would really feel they have been part of the church as a result of they belonged, not as a result of it was as if that they had signed up for a membership.”
Mr Purves’ perfect church can also be one that’s on the coronary heart of its neighborhood, and he added that he was very lucky to have the assist of a congregation that didn’t make calls for to the exclusion of what he did within the wider neighborhood.
Whether or not it was serving to native charity 3D Drumchapel develop from a fledging organisation with a gaggle of mums assembly repeatedly and simply £5,000 within the financial institution to a well-established native assist with a £500,000 turnover, or working with asylum seekers making a brand new residence in Scotland’s largest metropolis.
Supporting households and people from around the globe could possibly be harrowing, but additionally rewarding.
Mr Purves mentioned: “There was a lot about it that was unhappy and tragic, listening to about issues that I by no means thought I must hear, nevertheless it was additionally uplifting, seeing the resilience that introduced individuals by way of these horrendous experiences.
“That was one other unimaginable chapter in my life.”
The excitement of laughter
One indication of Mr Purves’ unconventionality – other than the altering hair color – is his uncommon side-line for a presbyterian minister: stand-up comedy.
“I like reside comedy and occurred to see an commercial for a comedy course at Strathclyde College in Glasgow,” he defined.
“I believed the course could be enjoyable, I might do the showcase on the finish, and that will be it, however the showcase went very properly and it felt very pure to maintain going.”
Maintaining quiet about his day job with the Church of Scotland as he didn’t wish to be seen as a novelty act, Mr Purves mixed ministry with comedy for nearly a decade, enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe seven years a row and performing for audiences starting from packed out theatres to an viewers of 1 on the Fringe.
“They have been a wonderful viewers as a result of they laughed during,” he mused.
“It’s the most unimaginable buzz, making individuals snort. I do not suppose there may be something prefer it.
“Comedy communication and church communication should not that dissimilar and I do suppose that loads of it’s about connection.
“In the event you join with individuals, they’ll get your humour.
“A whole lot of my comedy is observational.
“I’ll see issues that different individuals see day-after-day, however they do not discover the humour in it till you flick that swap.
“I believe it is the identical with religion – loads of what I say to individuals on a Sunday is about opening individuals as much as seeing issues another way.”
One other manner by which Mr Purves defied conference was in the one time he spoke on the Basic Meeting when he challenged centuries of dogma to name for the popularity of similar intercourse marriage.
“That’s in all probability some of the necessary issues I’ve accomplished,” he mentioned.
“That was about together with all people, and that was an enormous a part of who we have been as a church household.
“We welcomed all people and all people was vital and valued and cared for and that was on the coronary heart of what we did.
“I’ve at all times believed I may change the world.
“Generally that may be irritating, however typically you recognise that you could make a distinction.
“Generally you may change the world.”
Learn the complete interview on our Speaking Ministry web page.
Printed on 19 June 2025
4 minutes learn
When Rev John Purves arrived at his first cost, Drumchapel St Andrew’s in Glasgow, some years in the past, he admits it was a shock to the system.
“I’ve by no means been standard and there have been individuals there who simply did not like me and did not wish to change,” he reveals on this month’s common Speaking Ministry characteristic.
“What stored me there have been the opposite individuals who cared for me and sorted me after I struggled,” he defined.
“However we moved from there and grew collectively as a church household and by the tip of my ministry there, Drumchapel St Andrew’s was the church I had dreamt of after I went there first.”
“That dream was of a church the place everybody felt included and a part of the identical loving church household.
“The guts of a church is individuals, so for me, it was about being a household the place everyone seems to be welcomed, cared for and affirmed and will be the very best model of themselves.
“They need not fear about what different individuals count on them to do and might do their very own journey realizing that there are individuals there who will take care of them and share that journey with them.
“That is why we had ‘belonging’ as an alternative of ‘membership’, so individuals would really feel they have been part of the church as a result of they belonged, not as a result of it was as if that they had signed up for a membership.”
Mr Purves’ perfect church can also be one that’s on the coronary heart of its neighborhood, and he added that he was very lucky to have the assist of a congregation that didn’t make calls for to the exclusion of what he did within the wider neighborhood.
Whether or not it was serving to native charity 3D Drumchapel develop from a fledging organisation with a gaggle of mums assembly repeatedly and simply £5,000 within the financial institution to a well-established native assist with a £500,000 turnover, or working with asylum seekers making a brand new residence in Scotland’s largest metropolis.
Supporting households and people from around the globe could possibly be harrowing, but additionally rewarding.
Mr Purves mentioned: “There was a lot about it that was unhappy and tragic, listening to about issues that I by no means thought I must hear, nevertheless it was additionally uplifting, seeing the resilience that introduced individuals by way of these horrendous experiences.
“That was one other unimaginable chapter in my life.”
The excitement of laughter
One indication of Mr Purves’ unconventionality – other than the altering hair color – is his uncommon side-line for a presbyterian minister: stand-up comedy.
“I like reside comedy and occurred to see an commercial for a comedy course at Strathclyde College in Glasgow,” he defined.
“I believed the course could be enjoyable, I might do the showcase on the finish, and that will be it, however the showcase went very properly and it felt very pure to maintain going.”
Maintaining quiet about his day job with the Church of Scotland as he didn’t wish to be seen as a novelty act, Mr Purves mixed ministry with comedy for nearly a decade, enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe seven years a row and performing for audiences starting from packed out theatres to an viewers of 1 on the Fringe.
“They have been a wonderful viewers as a result of they laughed during,” he mused.
“It’s the most unimaginable buzz, making individuals snort. I do not suppose there may be something prefer it.
“Comedy communication and church communication should not that dissimilar and I do suppose that loads of it’s about connection.
“In the event you join with individuals, they’ll get your humour.
“A whole lot of my comedy is observational.
“I’ll see issues that different individuals see day-after-day, however they do not discover the humour in it till you flick that swap.
“I believe it is the identical with religion – loads of what I say to individuals on a Sunday is about opening individuals as much as seeing issues another way.”
One other manner by which Mr Purves defied conference was in the one time he spoke on the Basic Meeting when he challenged centuries of dogma to name for the popularity of similar intercourse marriage.
“That’s in all probability some of the necessary issues I’ve accomplished,” he mentioned.
“That was about together with all people, and that was an enormous a part of who we have been as a church household.
“We welcomed all people and all people was vital and valued and cared for and that was on the coronary heart of what we did.
“I’ve at all times believed I may change the world.
“Generally that may be irritating, however typically you recognise that you could make a distinction.
“Generally you may change the world.”
Learn the complete interview on our Speaking Ministry web page.
