Kilmacolm minister is swapping village life for the eternal city of Rome

Reverend Dr Peter McEnhill has been appointed to St Andrew's Church of Scotland in the Italian capital.

The minister gave his final sermon at a farewell service at The Old Kirk on Sunday after 12 years.

Now he is looking forward to his new adventure in Italy.

Peter, 59, said: "They advertised a vacancy asking interested applicants to apply and I was interviewed by Skype and sent a video of me preaching at a service.

"Then I met with the nominating council in Rome."

The minister, who is married to Ardgowan Hospice chief executive Linda McEnhill, says he is looking forward to a new challenge.

He said that in the 19th century the Italian state decreed that it would only allow a protestant church in Rome if it didn't look like a church.

Peter said: "The church is a four storey building in an Italian palazzo style with the church on the ground floor.

"The second and third floors were previously occupied by the Italian military intelligence and the manse is on the top floor with a rooftop terrace.

"From there I have an excellent view across the city and of the Vatican."

He will lead a small international congregation of up to 120.

He said: "There are lots of younger people working there who want to connect with a church experience.

"The UN's headquarters for Food and Agriculture is in Rome, so many people come to Rome to work for the UN, and my congregation tend to be younger, working age people."

Peter is also looking forward to working closely with the Catholic Church and said the ambassador to the Holy See would be attending his induction in Rome on Friday night.

"I have always worked very closely with Roman Catholic colleagues here in Scotland and on ecumenical work with the Church of Scotland at various international conferences.

"The Vatican generates a huge interest in ecumenical activity.

"There is exciting work being done to help the number of growing refugees and asylum seekers, offering homes and jobs."

The downside is he is leaving his wife of nearly 40 years at home.

Linda will commute to Rome every second weekend and will return when it gets too hot in Rome in July.

The couple have a son, Peter Ewen and daughter Jennifer Anne.

Peter said: "We spent the first five years here in Kilmacolm with Linda commuting from London.

"We've done it three times before, so we're used to it.

"Linda is very excited, she thinks it's a wonderful opportunity to do something different.

"We had always thought we would like to do something like that but we thought we'd missed the opportunity, so when this came up we thought 'let's make it happen.'"

Peter says he will miss his congregation in Kilmacolm.

He added: "It's very sad and painful to leave the people here, both in the congregation and in the village, as they are both lovely.

"I've had elderly ladies coming up to me to say 'you're not going to be here to bury me' but they'll get another minister who they will get to know."