Elizabeth Lorna Hood, OBE, QHC (born 21 April 1953) is a minister of the Church of Scotland. From 1979 to 2016, she was the minister of North Parish Church, Renfrew. From 2013 to 2014, she also served as Moderator of its General Assembly. She is an Extra Chaplain to the King in Scotland, appointed in September 2023.
Lorna Hood | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| Elected | 18 May 2013 |
| In office | 2013 to 2014 |
| Predecessor | Albert Bogle |
| Successor | John Chalmers |
| Other post(s) | Minister of North Parish Church, Renfrew (1979–2016) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1978 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elizabeth Lorna Hood 21 April 1953 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Denomination | Presbyterianism |
| Spouse |
Peter (m. 1979) |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Kilmarnock Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
Early life and education
editHood was born in Irvine, Ayrshire on 21 April 1953.[1] She was educated at Kilmarnock Academy. She studied at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA (Hons)) degree in 1974 and a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1977.[2]
Ordained ministry
editShe was ordained by the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Edinburgh in 1978 whilst serving as Assistant Minister at St Ninian's Church in Corstorphine, Edinburgh. She was inducted to her charge of the North Parish Church in Renfrew in June 1979.[3]
Hood retired from full-time ministry in October 2016. Having led Renfrew North Parish Church for 37 years, she holds the record as the "longest-serving woman parish minister".[2]
In 2008 she was appointed to be one of ten Chaplains to Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland.[4][5] She was appointed an Extra Chaplain to King Charles III in Scotland in September 2023.[6]
Moderator
editOn 30 October 2012, Hood was nominated to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2013/2014; she was duly formally elected as moderator on 18 May 2013 – the first day of the General Assembly's week-long annual session.[7]
Hood was to have been succeeded as moderator by Angus Morrison. On 18 March 2014 the Church of Scotland announced that Morrison had withdrawn his nomination on grounds of ill health.[8] On 2 April it was announced that she was to be succeeded by John Chalmers, the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly.
Personal life
editIn 1979, the then Lorna Mitchell married Peter Hood.[1] They have two grown up children.[2]
Honours
editIn February 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[9]
In 2013 Lorna Hood accepted Honorary Membership of the Irvine Burns Club offered in recognition of her achievements, links with Ayrshire and her interest in the life and legacy of Robert Burns.
In December 2014 she was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Glasgow.
In the 2017 Birthday Honours, Hood was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to the Church of Scotland and charity".[10][11]
Styles
edit- 1978–2013: The Reverend Lorna Hood
- 2013–2014: The Right Reverend Lorna Hood
- 2014–present: The Very Reverend Dr Lorna Hood
References
edit- ^ a b 'HOOD, Very Rev. (Elizabeth) Lorna', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 9 Aug 2017
- ^ a b c "Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood retires from ministry after 37 years at Renfrew North". Church of Scotland. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, Volume XI (page 125), T&T Clark Ltd, Edinburgh, 2000, ISBN 0-567-08750-6
- ^ Appendix to the Court Circular, 29 May 2008
- ^ "Paisley News - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Daily Record". Paisleydailyexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ Appendix to the Court Circular, 22 September 2023
- ^ Queen's Chaplain to be next moderator churchofscotland.org.uk
- ^ Scotland, The Church of. "Moderator-Designate withdraws due to ill health". Churchofscotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ "Woman's Hour - The Power List 2013 - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ "Mundell congratulates Scots recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". GOV.UK. Scotland Office. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2017. p. B12.