As part of a new series, we are asking Presbyteries to nominate someone who they feel has a story of faith and service from which we can all learn. The Presbytery of Perth have nominated Barbara MacFarlane who has combined both her vocation for nursing with her role as an Elder, to develop this extraordinary ministry within Dundee.
Name of Nominee: Barbara MacFarlane
Role in the Church: Elder
Why Barbara?
After a nursing career of more than forty years, which included 23 years spent as a nursing lecturer at the University of Dundee, Barbara used her vast experience to develop a role as a ‘parish nurse’ in 2007. She went on to create a service at The Steeple Church, Dundee and this work was recognised when in 2019 Barbara was awarded the title of Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), for her pioneering work and the exceptional care she has given.
Where did Barbara begin this work?
It was in 2008 that this work first started in The Steeple Church. Barbara began as the sole volunteer, with the support of the Kirk Session and gradually over the years has built up an amazing team of volunteers around her. Some of whom were themselves beneficiaries of the support they gained from the service for their own additions or mental health.
What was different about this role?
Barbara’s strong Christian faith has given her the strength and impetus to practice in a very person-centred holistic way, intentionally integrating spiritual values into care. This is available for people of all faiths and none. Her heartfelt desire was to reach out with a love and kindness alongside the practical service which Parish Nurses can provide.
What does the work involve?
Most of the work involves reaching out to people for whom life has become very complex. When their lives have become chaotic, often involving homelessness, poor mental health, problematic substance use and fractured relationships, the Parish Nurses, led by Barbara, reach out. This is done through street outreach work, drop-in clinic sessions and one-to-one meetings to support folk. This is about walking with people on the often long and lonely road towards recovery of whole-person health and wellbeing, including body, mind and spirit. For seventeen years now, the team of nurses and volunteers has journeyed alongside some of the most vulnerable people in Dundee.
This sounds quite challenging?
Right from the beginning Barbara worked closely with the local NHS Homeless Health Outreach Nursing Team (HHOT), with other Dundee homeless drop-in facilities and with multiple local statutory and voluntary agencies. Through the ‘Building Bridges of Hope’ meetings, Parish Nursing at The Steeple brought multiple services together, building greater respect and recognition of each other’s contribution towards making Dundee a heathier and better place to be.
How was this work funded?
Through Barbara’s tenacity approaching grant making bodies and trusts, and in writing countless grant applications, Parish Nursing at The Steeple Church has been able to employ another Parish Nurse to help with the ever-expanding workload. Through Barbara’s influence and clinical and lecturing background, Parish Nursing at The Steeple Church has also become a placement opportunity for student nurses during their training at the University of Dundee.
What is the next step for Barbara in this work?
Mainly down to Barbara’s expertise and recognition within Parish Nursing UK and worldwide, the first Parish Nursing World Symposium was held in Dundee at the beginning of June 2025.
Barbara has indeed made very significant contributions to our faith community here in Dundee, inspiring others and showing how projects emerge from very small beginnings.
