Church of Scotland nominates first prison chaplain as Moderator of General Assembly

The Church of Scotland has nominated its first prison chaplain to serve as Moderator of its General Assembly, the first such nomination in the Church’s 466-year history. The Rev Jill Clancy, 56, currently serves at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow and is expected to take up the position in May 2027. If appointed, she would be only the seventh woman to hold the role.

Clancy has spent the past nine years working at Scotland’s largest prison. She will succeed the current Moderator, the Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy. As Moderator, she will chair the Church’s annual General Assembly, where representatives deliberate on matters affecting its governance, ministry and future direction. She will also spend a year representing the Church of Scotland across the country and internationally, engaging with ecumenical partners, faith leaders and local communities, and visiting presbyteries and church projects.

Clancy said she initially questioned whether she was suited to such a prominent position. “I have the same questions now about becoming Moderator as I did at the time of my calling to ministry; I’m too young, not intellectual enough, I’ve got a strong Ayrshire accent,” she said. She also said she was confident her nomination was part of God’s calling, while acknowledging that her approach might not appeal to everyone. “I know I will not be to everyone’s taste, but I am who I am, and God has a reason and a purpose for me to be called into this role at this particular juncture in the life of the Church,” she said.

Originally from Kilwinning in North Ayrshire, Clancy previously served as a parish minister in Gourock, Glasgow and Ayrshire before moving into prison chaplaincy. At HMP Barlinnie, where she is the only full-time Facilitating Chaplain, her ministry includes spiritual and pastoral support for prisoners and staff, a practical form of care for those in need (Matthew 25:35). During the first COVID-19 lockdown, she helped maintain a sense of connection within the prison by running its Barbed Wireless radio station under the nickname “DJ Jolly Jilly.”

Her nomination comes during a period of significant change for both the Church of Scotland and HMP Barlinnie, which is scheduled to close in 2028 following the planned opening of a new prison nearby. Clancy said she had never previously considered becoming Moderator and was surprised when two colleagues independently approached her about putting her name forward. She recalled receiving their messages while on holiday in Benidorm. One colleague suggested that her experience navigating changes within the prison system would equip her to lead during a period of transition in the Church. Another, a former student, believed she could bring a fresh perspective to the role.

Although initially reluctant, Clancy eventually agreed to pursue the nomination after several weeks of reflection. Looking ahead, she said her time as Moderator would be centred on the Christian commandment to love God and one’s neighbour, a principle that has also shaped her ministry among prisoners.

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