You never know who you are going to meet at the Hoy Kirk. Last week the great grandson of the minister of the kirk came by.

Christopher Duncan Anderson and his wife Rachel were over from Australia touring around in their campervan. Christopher’s great grandfather is James Duncan Anderson born 1860, died 1937 and buried in the churchyard at the Bu.

Christopher and Rachel were amazed to meet Cathy Clark from the Hoy Post Office who remembers James Duncan Anderson and even has a teapot that belonged to him. She recalled that the minister used to give her a doll at Christmas.

This is from the ‘Annals of the Church of Scotland in Orkney’ by J. Smith 1907

‘1895 – One the recommendation of the Committee, the congregation elected and called the Rev. J.D. Anderson, missionary at Russnesss in Sanday, to be successor to Mr Paterson in the Parishes. In due course he was ordained and installed into the church and parishes of Hoy and Graemsay.’

Rev James Duncan Anderson lived at the Manse, now Burra House. He married Janet Hall. Their son Eric (Christopher’s grandfather) emigrated to Australia around 1920.

‘The Manse, Hoy’  image from the Talbot’s postcard collection