Shaw Paterson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shaw Paterson | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
_(cropped).jpg) Paterson in 2024 | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| In office | May 2024–May 2025 |
| Predecessor | Sally Foster-Fulton |
| Successor | Rosemary Frew |
| Other post | Minister of Strathaven: Trinity |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1991 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shaw James Paterson September 1964 (age 61) |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Residence | Strathaven |
| Spouse | Christine |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Glasgow |
Shaw James Paterson (born September 1964) is a minister of the Church of Scotland, serving as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 18 May 2024 – May 2025[1] and succeeding Sally Foster-Fulton.
Originally from Holytown, Paterson is a graduate of the University of Glasgow. He has served as minister of Strathaven Trinity Parish Church in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, since 1991.[2]
Shaw was born in September 1964, the youngest of three boys born to Jim and Anne Paterson. He was born and brought up in Holytown in North Lanarkshire.
From an early age, church was a regular part of his life. A forebear of his, a master stonemason, was part of the team which constructed the Church of Scotland Parish Church in Holytown. In the church he was brought up in, his father served as an elder and a leader within the Boys' Brigade company.[3]
During his schooling days, Shaw was not encouraged to attend university - partially as a result of his accent - despite a passion for science.[4] Instead, he was expected to become a bricklayer.[5] However, after some encouragement from his dad, Shaw became a science student at Glasgow University, graduating with the first of four degrees he would complete - including a later doctorate.[1] His degree was in biology, namely in plant physiology. Through university, he supported his income through taking on a number of different jobs, including as a tiler.[3]
.jpg)