Minister’s wife goes into labour but stays at sermon to avoid spoiling service

A MINISTER’S wife has told how she went into labour at church, but continued to sit through her husband’s sermon because she “didn’t want to make a fuss”.

Rosalynd Rennie, 34, started having contractions while preacher husband Athole was in the pulpit.

But she waited until the hour-long service at Grace Church Leith had finished and the congregation had left before telling him: “I think the baby’s coming”.

Athole, 34, then whisked her off to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s Simpson maternity unit where she gave birth to a 7lb 6oz daughter – fittingly called Grace.

Mr Rennie said: “Rosalynd had been complaining of a few twinges earlier in the day but we didn’t think it was anything to worry about. I remember glancing over at her throughout the sermon and thinking to myself, ‘She’s concentrating hard today.’ I had no idea she was having contractions.

“She was sitting there sweating and grimacing through her pain while I carried on preaching. It was only after the service that she told me what was going on.

“I took her home for a couple of hours and then everything speeded up. The baby was born within an hour of us arriving at the hospital.”

Grace was born six hours after contractions began and is a sister to Erskine, two.

“I had been preaching about the importance of grace during my sermon when Rosalynd’s contractions started,” said Athole.

“We couldn’t think of a name more fitting for our precious baby girl. She really is a gift from God.

“We had already decided on Grace for a girl’s name. And the circumstances leading up to her birth make her name all the more special.”

Rosalynd, 34, a human resources officer, was still recovering from the birth in hospital.

“We are absolutely delighted. I actually enjoyed feeling the labour pains.

“It felt special knowing Grace was on her way during Athole’s service. I’m glad I didn’t cause a massive drama inside the church.”