Benefactors
The Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney would like to thank the following benefactors for their generous and continuing support.
William Ross Laurie Fund
The Ministry and Mission of the Buchan area of the Diocese has been greatly supported by the William Ross Laurie Fund. The Fund was established by Mr William Ross Laurie of Florida, U.S.A., in 2019. Mr Laurie, a successful educator and philanthropist, is a descendent of Revd William Laurie who was rector of St John’s Church, New Pitsligo in the mid-19th century. Mr Laurie’s generosity has enabled significant improvements to be made to St John’s Church building and the Fund will support mission and ministry in central Buchan well into the future.
Dr John Anderson’s Trust
Dr John Anderson died in 1740 leaving money in his Will to establish a Trust to support the poor and to establish free schools in certain parishes in Aberdeenshire and to support the Episcopal Church primarily in the Diocese of Aberdeen. Over the years the Trust has helped fund stipend in Charges otherwise unable to afford a Priest, provide building maintenance grants and financial support to a variety of other initiatives. This support has been invaluable to the Diocese. May Dr Anderson rest in peace and rise in glory.
Benefact Trust
The Benefact Trust is a large UK charity established in 1972 and headquartered in Gloucester. The trust owns a large group of specialist financial services companies through the Benefact Group. The profits of the group companies are used to fund the charitable activities of the trust. The Benefact Trust provides essential support to protect and enhance churches and Christian charity buildings. It also supports Christian initiatives which provide help for all kinds of people in need.
Legacies
Over the years many people have made considerations in their Will, providing funds to the diocese to further support the work of the Scottish Episcopal Church. These legacies vary greatly in value, but all contributions are invaluable to assisting our work and are gratefully received. Some have been received for a specific purpose whilst other legacies are for general use.
When planning your legacy, your estate may benefit from the reduced rate of inheritance tax (currently 36% rather than 40%) if you leave to charity at least 10% of your net estate (the amount after deducting exemptions i.e. the ‘nil rated band’) and therefore making a consideration to a charity like the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney may benefit your estate.
People Stories – The Diocese oF Aberdeen and Orkney
Revd John Comper
John Comper (1823-1903) was born in Sussex, but ordained in Brechin diocese in 1850. He served there and in Elgin until 1861 when he was made incumbent of St. John’s, Aberdeen. The following year he established St. Margaret’s Convent, bringing sisters from East Grinstead to form the basis of the new community. He served as its chaplain from 1864 to 1902. In 1867 he began mission work in the Gallowgate, and resigned from St. John’s in 1870 to focus there, taking charge of St. Margaret’s Church. He began another mission at the quayside in 1886 and was priest in charge of St. Clement’s, a charge now moved to Mastrick. He died in Duthie Park in 1903, while handing out strawberries to poor children.
His son, the architect Sir Ninian Comper, thereafter included a strawberry in the stained glass of his churches in commemoration – some examples can be seen today in St. Magnus, Lerwick, and both St. Margaret’s and St. Andrew’s in Aberdeen.