Wellington Church Glasgow

Rev Richard Baxter

Transition Minister (Minister of Word and Sacrament)

Richard’s background is that he was born and brought up in Bangor, Co. Down, and still has family there. He studied history in Edinburgh and then in Oxford before starting work as a tax inspector in Edinburgh. After five years he left that role and worked as a tax consultant for Arthur Andersen for a couple of years.

Feeling a strong call to ministry he went back to study theology at New College in Edinburgh. His training was carried out in the Kingdom of Fife, and his first post was as minister of Kennoway, Windygates and Balgonie: St Kenneth’s. He spent nineteen happy years there, before moving to Fort William to be minister of what started as the linked charge of Fort William Duncansburgh MacIntosh and Kilmonivaig, and finished as Fort William Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig. He has spent 6 years in Lochaber and has great memories of his time there and the people he has worked alongside. Almost all of his ministry has involved working in teams.

Richard is married to Sheryl who is a recently retired teacher. They have two adult children, both living in Glasgow, and they became grandparents for the first time last autumn, much to their delight.

His wider church involvement has had a financial focus (inevitable for former tax inspector!) but also interests in the areas of World Mission and Faith Impact, many of which overlap with priorities he sees in the life of Wellington.

So what is a Transition Minister? Richard is as new to that as you are, but he sees his role first of all to be a faithful minister, preaching the gospel, providing pastoral care, offering support to the congregation’s work and at the same time to guide the congregation through a period of significant change. It will take him some time to get to know Wellington, its ways and its people, and he’ll rely on your help, support and tolerance. Richard is looking forward to the challenge, and trusts that together we can serve God and serve our neighbours in positive, lively and creative ways.

Rev Dr Roger Sturrock

Assisting Minister (OLM)

In both pastoral care and taking services, Roger Sturrock gives the impression of a lifelong minister, so it comes as a surprise to many that he was ordained in 2014.

Born in Dundee, Scotland, Roger moved to Australia at the age of 3 before moving to Wales when he was 7. He was educated in both Wales and England, eventually attending the University of London to study medicine. Even while studying, Roger remained active in church life, and met his wife, Helen, through the Christian Union.

After working in Northern Nigeria for 2 years, Roger became a Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Glasgow. Roger also trained as a Reader in the Church of Scotland, a role he greatly enjoyed.

While most people would take a well-earned break upon retirement, Roger wasn’t about to let the time go to waste. He obtained a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of Glasgow, transferred to Ordained Local Ministries, and was ordained in June of 2014. His work for Wellington Church is voluntary, and the congregation is thankful for the time and talent he gives with such an open heart.

Roger and Helen have three daughters and eight grandchildren, and enjoy curling and gentle hillwalking. Roger is a ballet buff and keen fan of science fiction, self-identifying as a Trekkie.

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