On 28th August the Baton travelled from St Ninian’s Old Parish Church in Stirling to the Callander area – by bus! It was first received by St Andrew’s Episcopal Church on the following Sunday and passed among the congregation there, before being walked down the busy Main Street to Callander Kirk. The service in the Kirk was led by the Rev Trevor Jamison and both young and old at the Kirk gave the Baton’s climate justice message their support.
The Baton was then carried for nine miles along the shore of Loch Venacher and Loch Achray by walkers (including Trevor!) and cyclists on a pilgrimage journey to Trossachs Church. On the way we were met by National Park Rangers, who showed an interest in the Baton’s mission and posed for a photo. A short service in the church on the shores of Loch Achray was followed by a picnic tea – some of it indoors due to a heavy shower!
On Wednesday 2nd September Duncan Cullens, Callander Kirk’s Youth Worker and Margaret Warnock, from the Kirk, took the Baton into a Callander Primary School assembly, where it was enthusiastically welcomed by members of the school’s Eco Committee. The Baton was then passed on to Kilmadock Parish Church in Doune to continue its journey through Scotland.