DUMFRIESSHIRE MP David Mundell recently hosted a lunch in London for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Albert Bogle, and his wife Martha.
The lunch came during a St Andrewstide visit to the Palace of Westminster by the couple.
Earlier there had been time for prayer and reflection for the party in the Crypt Chapel of Westminster Hall, which included a lesson read by Baron Wallace of Tankerness.
Better known in Scotland as Jim Wallace, this Annan born politician is currently a life peer in the House of Lords, and the Advocate General for Scotland.
Between the service and the lunch the Moderator and his wife experienced the raucous atmosphere of Prime Minister’s Questions.
Welcoming the Moderator to Dover House for lunch Mr Mundell said he hoped the lunch would be something of an antidote to PMQs and demonstrate that members of different political parties do engage convivially.
The MP also revealed that the Moderator had beaten Pope Benedict in the twitter stakes.
“The Reverend Albert Bogle is the first Moderator to seize the opportunities provided by the digital media with both hands. Not only is he LinkedIn and on Facebook, but his near 500 tweets so far, give the unique perspectives and insights of a husband, father, minister, singer/songwriter and Moderator.
“His followers (279 at 27 Nov) represent a new digital flock and I am pleased to say I am now a follower too.”
Mr Mundell went on: “I have also heard that videos of the Bogle Band have proved a hit on YouTube. However you do have a fair way to go to match the South Korean rapper Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ and its record-breaking 825 million plus YouTube hits.”
Conveying best wishes to the Moderator for his remaining months in post and beyond, Mr Mundell added: “I hope the Scotland Office will continue to work with the Church of Scotland and other faith groups to tackle the challenges we face in Scotland.”