Overview

The Church services held on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings are open to all persons who wish to attend. Most people you see attending are members of the church (called a congregation) and live in Stonehaven and surrounding area. Other people have moved to the town because of employment change and are seeking a local church where they feel comfortable. Some people have never been to church before and have come along to see what it is like. During the summer months many tourists attend our services as being part of the Church of Scotland we have an open door and will welcome all who come.

Typically people join the church in one of the following ways:
 • As a baby of existing members they are baptised when young and later take a vow of faith at an age of 16 upwards.
 • Transfer from another Church of Scotland congregation
 • Undertake a faith training course such as Alpha which is held about 3 times a year
 • From another Presbyterian faith

In Fetteresso Church we run the Alpha course and also have a Saturday event a few times a year to learn more about the committees and groups in the church. When you are ready to join us look at the notice boards for details, visit the church office or speak to the minister.

More Details

The usual pattern within the Church of Scotland is that infant children of Church members are received into the Church through Baptism. In time it is hoped that the child will come to make his or her own public profession of faith.

This public profession of faith is sometimes referred to as confirmation. It occurs, from around the age of 16, and, admits the individual to all the rights and privileges of Church membership. The person's name is then added to the congregation's communion roll and they become eligible to vote in Church meetings and be elected to offices such as the eldership. Traditionally, confirmation has involved admission to Holy Communion for the first time, which explains why the ceremony is sometimes known as Admission to the Lord's Supper.

However, since 1992 the Church has allowed children to receive communion as part of their Christian nurture. Prior to confirmation or admission to the Lord's Supper a course of instruction is given to the candidates. Normally, this is given by the minister through a weekly class over a period of six to eight weeks. These are usually referred to as communicants' classes.

When Church members move from one congregation to another they take with them a Certificate of Transference, commonly known as 'lines'.

Members of other denominations can also transfer to the Church of Scotland. There is no standard procedure and, in these circumstances, an approach should be made to the minister of the congregation it is desired to join, and he or she will advise.

While infant baptism is the norm, the Church of Scotland also baptises many who were not baptised as infants. Someone seeking such believer's baptism (also referred to as adult baptism) should approach their local parish minister who will either give specific instruction or invite them to join in the communicants' class. They would then be baptised and confirmed in the same service and have their names added to the communion roll of the congregation.

Alpha

Alpha is an introductory course to the Christian faith. The course lasts 10 weeks and we run courses both during the day and in the evening. It is lead by a team of people under the leadership of Brenda Robertson. Format is usually a meal together followed by a video and discussion about the video. Attendees, numbering between four and twelve, have a range of knowledge about Jesus There is also a weekend away for the members of the group attending. See the Alpha link for further details http://uk.alpha.org/