Rev Rosemary Frew, a minister from the Scottish Borders, has been selected as the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, set to take on her new role in May 2025.

Known for her enthusiastic support of the Church, Rev Rosemary will succeed Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson as the Kirk’s ambassador both domestically and internationally.

Rev Rosemary has extensive experience in parish ministry across Fife and the Borders, including her role as convener of the Faith Nurture Forum.

In an interview with Premier Christian News she expressed she wants to highlight how Scottish churches are developing community beyond the four walls of parish churches, saying: "I want to use my role to see and to celebrate the good things that are happening all across Scotland".

She also highlighted that her work in parish ministry has given her a good foundation for the role, saying: "I'd been approached several times and it's never been the right time...but this year I didn't have the other commitments that I'd had previously and it did seem like all of that was preparing me for this."

Originally hailing from Clarkston, Glasgow, Rev Rosemary's early church experiences began at Giffnock South Parish Church, where she attended Sunday school.

A pivotal moment in her journey came when she learned about the first married couple licensed for ministry in Scotland, which inspired her call to serve in the Church.

In a statement she said: “That realisation that a woman could be a minister planted a seed in me at the age of 14."

she recalled, noting how this passion was nurtured through various experiences until she pursued formal ministry at age 21.

“We may need to approach things differently moving forward, but I love the hymn ‘Lord, For the Years’ and its message of trust and openness to possibilities," she added.