Scot who was told accent would hamper him named as Moderator of Church of Scotland

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man who was discouraged from going to university and was expected to become a bricklayer has been named as the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.Rev Dr Shaw James Paterson will take over the role from the Right Rev Sally Foster-Fulton next year.

The father-of-three, who has served as minister at Strathaven Trinity Parish Church in South Lanarkshire, will begin his new role on Saturday May 18.Dr Paterson was expected to become a bricklayer like other family members before him, but he took a different path and went on to complete four degrees at the University of Glasgow, including a doctorate in practical theology.When he was younger he was told his Lanarkshire accent would hamper his life prospects and at school teachers said there was no point continuing his studies, but he was encouraged to do so at home.He said: "My father recognised something in me and I got in to study biology at Glasgow University.

He pushed me in a gentle and encouraging way."That moment when they shout Moderator – it will be for my dad." During his time at university, Dr Paterson supported himself by working various jobs, including as a tiler.He still does some tiling for people, and describes himself as “hands on with property in my church”.

After finishing his undergraduate degree, Dr Paterson married his wife Christine at the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel.She is now a senior member of the community nursing team.