The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) is pleased to announce that Rev. Andrew R. Allan, Partick, Glasgow, is the Moderator-Designate of the 2024 General Assembly. Mr. Allan was born in Dingwall and raised in the Seaboard village of Balintore in Easter Ross. Along with his two brothers and two sisters, he regularly attended Balintore United Free Church, where both his parents were members, and his father served as the congregational precentor for over 35 years.

Early schooling was in the local Hilton Primary School followed by Tain Royal Academy. On finishing school in 1978 Mr. Allan worked part-time in Balintore Sub Post Office while also developing his freelance photography business. In 1980 he left the Post Office and worked full-time as a photographer, mainly undertaking photography for the local newspapers, who at that time did not have their own staff photographers. For the next twenty-five years photography was his full-time occupation.

Rev Andrew R Allan, Free Church (Continuing) Moderator-Designate

In 1985 he married Debbie and they set up home in Alness, where they raised a family of three boys and two girls. Some three years later their lives were to change dramatically when, following the sudden death of a young person from the village of Balintore, Andrew came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, becoming a member, and later an office bearer in Alness Baptist Church.

Mr Allan left the Baptist Church in June 2003 and joined the Free Church (Continuing). Opportunities to preach in Kiltearn Free Church (Continuing) and a growing sense of call to the ministry led to his entering the Free Church Seminary in September 2004 just days after his father’s death.

Upon completing his course in the Seminary he accepted a call to the Poolewe & Aultbea congregation and was ordained and inducted on 31st October 2008. He remained in Wester Ross until he was called to Partick, Glasgow in 2014.

In 2012 he was appointed a trustee on the board of Covenant College, Zambia. As a result, he visited and lectured in the college on four occasions. In 2013 a new avenue of missionary interest opened up when he became one of the founding trustees of Hudson Taylor Ministries (UK) which he currently serves as General Secretary.

Mr Allan is very active in the wider denomination, serving as Clerk to both the Training of the Ministry & Admissions Committee and the Psalmody Committee. He is also the very efficient Secretary to the popular Free Church School in Theology held annually in Larbert.

Congregational life and opportunities to bring the Gospel to the populous area of Partick keep him very busy. But, when possible, he likes to spend time with the family, which now includes nine grandchildren, and to take up the camera.

Mr Allan craves the prayers of the Lord’s people as he prepares for the duties of his Moderatorial year.