Stuart Sharp first saw the light of day in Dundee a few days before Christmas 1963 and lived a normal, happy Dundee childhood attending Dens Road Primary School and Morgan Academy.  He enjoyed football and music and was a member of the local Scout Troop. Church played little, if any part of Stuart's boyhood. This changed at the age of fifteen when he met Karen who introduced him to her church, Menzieshill and its minister Rev Stan Brook. Over the next few years their life in the church and their own relationship blossomed with Stuart being ordained as an elder shortly after his 21st birthday and Karen becoming Mrs Sharp shortly before this!  Together they worked within the Church both being particularly interested in working with young people. Their interest in young people came nearer to home with the birth of  Andrew in 1985 followed by Alisdair in 1987, Matthew in 1990 and Callum in 1992.

When Stuart left School at the end of fifth year he worked for a short time in Wm Low supermarket but left to take up a traineeship with Dundee District Council. He remained with the Council until he left in 1994 as the Senior Maintenance Officer in the Housing Department. Life was not all work and family for Stuart, combining his interests in music and football he started and played for Menzieshill United. Initially an informal church club it developed into a team that played in the local Saturday league and Stuart played with them until he left for Falkirk. On the music scene Stuart played guitar in an ad hoc group that performed around the local churches and social events.  

Shortly after the birth of Callum, Stuart started to pay serious attention to the suggestions of friends that he should consider entering the ministry.  At first he did not consider such a step as being compatible with his role as a family man and senior council official with the distinct possibility of a major promotion in the foreseeable future.  However he was becoming aware that he was not obtaining fulfillment in his chosen career.  He discussed this with Karen who gave him every support and even expressed her view that it had taken him so long to reach this point!  Like many people faced with a similar dilemma he set himself a number of "rules".  He would have one attempt at the selection school. When in the Autumn of 1994 Stuart was one of only two candidates that was accepted from the selection school he set himself another barrier.  He would only study for the ministry if he was accepted by St. Mary's College at St. Andrews University.  When he gained a place there he knew that there would not be any more barriers!  After four years of study he gained a 2.1 degree as Master of Theology and was accepted as a probationer at Mains Church in Dundee.  In discussing his time at university Stuart glossed over the difficulties of being a student with a wife and four young children to support but referred to Karen's wonderful support during that time. Everyone at Menzieshill was thrilled that he had opted for the ministry but some of his wider family found his decision difficult to understand.  Leaving a secure well paid job with considerable prospects is a step not easily understood in Dundee.

After completing his probation Stuart answered the call from Camelon St. John's and was appointed as sole nominee in December 2000.  He was inducted on St Valentine's Day 2001 when Rev. Andrew Donald, our Interim Moderator, preached. The following Sunday he was preached in by the man who originally inspired him to join the Church, Rev. Stan Brook who is currently the incumbent at Callander Parish Church.

What of the future?  Following the relatively smooth Union of the two churches and Stuart’s appointment as the minister of the new charge on 30th December 2003 the focus is clearly on the future with three main challenges ahead

• Building a church – the redevelopment of the Glasgow Road building into a single centre complex will allow the church to develop and expand its work and worship while also providing modern facilities for all those who use the building.
• Building a team – the Basis of Union saw the need for a Ministry Team and the search continues for the right person to come and share in the work of Camelon Parish Church and move us to the next level.
• Building a people of God – the work goes on strengthening the congregation through the preaching of the word of God and exploring new ways of worship and involvement which will give people the opportunity to share their gifts with the church and the community. This is a work that never can be really completed and is handed on to each successive ministry as was handed on to the present one.