Another Carrbridge story has to do with the church. Strangely there are two churches in this wee village: one, where Colin's father was minister when he met and married Colin's mother, belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland; the other, operated by the United Free Church of Scotland. The latter is even more puritanical than the former. Only the Psalms are sung, one stands for the endless prayers, and the interminable sermons are full of "fire and brimstone."
One dark Sunday evening, a parishioner took umbrage at the content of the minister's sermon. Following the service, he laid in wait for the minister, hiding behind a tree. When the poor man passed on his way home to the manse, the parishioner jumped on his back and tried to strangle him. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful. His only punishment was that the village policeman spoke sternly with him the next morning. He continued to live in the village, but with a bit of a "black cloud" over his head! |