A baby who is the fourth generation of a family which has been visiting Tiree annually for more than 50 years was baptised in Kirkapol Church of Scotland last month.
Eight-week-old Archie Briggs was baptised in front of the congregation. by the Rev Frank Gibson, the former head of the Kirk’s Social Works Department and a former parish minister on Islay. His mum, April, began coming on holiday to Tiree 32 years ago when she was only one year old. Her own mother, Mrs.Rhona Gilbert, was brought on holiday to the island by her mother in 1959.
April is originally from Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, where her father Charles is a local district councillor. She now lives in Wakefield, near Leeds with her husband Malcolm. They originally met on Tiree when he was wind surfing, and were married two years ago in Kirkapol Church by the Rev Bob Higham. Little Archie’s baptism took place coincidentally on a Sunday when the congregation was holding one of its occasional light lunches in the church after the morning service and the Christening party added to the fellowship.
Pictured from left to right: Charlie Glbert (Grandparent), Rev. Dr. Frank Gibson, Morris Philipson (Godparent), April Biggs (Mother) and Archie, Malcolm Biggs (Father), Rhona Gilbert (Grandparent), Eilidh Gilbert (Godparent)
