Lorna Hood | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| Elected | 18 May 2013 |
| In office | 2013 to 2014 |
| Predecessor | Albert Bogle |
| Successor | John Chalmers |
| Other post(s) | Minister of North Parish Church, Renfrew (1979–2016) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1978 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elizabeth Lorna Hood (1953-04-21)21 April 1953 (age 71) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Denomination | Presbyterianism |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Kilmarnock Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
Elizabeth Lorna Hood,OBE, QHC (born 21 April 1953) is a minister of theChurch of Scotland. From 1979 to 2016, she was the minister of North Parish Church,Renfrew. From 2013 to 2014, she also served asModerator of its General Assembly. She is anExtra Chaplain to the King in Scotland, appointed in September 2023.
Hood was born inIrvine,Ayrshire on 21 April 1953.[1] She was educated atKilmarnock Academy. She studied at theUniversity of Glasgow, graduating with anundergraduate Master of Arts (MA (Hons)) degree in 1974 and aBachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1977.[2]
She was ordained by the Church of Scotland'sPresbytery of Edinburgh in 1978 whilst serving as Assistant Minister at St Ninian's Church inCorstorphine,Edinburgh. She was inducted to her charge of the North Parish Church inRenfrew in June 1979.[3]
Hood retired from full-time ministry in October 2016. Having led Renfrew North Parish Church for 37 years, she holds the record as the "longest-serving woman parish minister".[2]
In 2008 she was appointed to be one of ten Chaplains toQueen Elizabeth II in Scotland.[4][5] She was appointed an Extra Chaplain toKing Charles III in Scotland in September 2023.[6]
On 30 October 2012, Hood was nominated to beModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2013/2014; she was duly formally elected as moderator on 18 May 2013 – the first day of the General Assembly's week-long annual session.[7]
Hood was to have been succeeded as moderator byAngus Morrison. On 18 March 2014 the Church of Scotland announced that Morrison had withdrawn his nomination on grounds of ill health.[8] On 2 April it was announced that she was to be succeeded byJohn Chalmers, the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly.
In 1979, the then Lorna Mitchell married Peter Hood.[1] They have two grown up children.[2]
In February 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom byWoman's Hour onBBC Radio 4.[9]
In 2013 Lorna Hood accepted Honorary Membership of theIrvine Burns Club offered in recognition of her achievements, links with Ayrshire and her interest in the life and legacy ofRobert Burns.
In December 2014 she was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Glasgow.
In the2017 Birthday Honours, Hood was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to the Church of Scotland and charity".[10][11]
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2013–2014 | Succeeded by |