Kathy Galloway

Kathryn Johnston Galloway (née Orr; 6 August 1952 – 26 August 2025) was an ordained Church of Scotland minister and was, in 2002 the first woman to be elected leader of the Iona Community.

Early life Galloway was born in Dumfries on 6 August 1952, the eldest of four children of the Rev. Jack Orr and Janet Johnson Orr. Her father was also a member of the Iona Community, her mother was a teacher.

She was educated at Boroughmuir Secondary School, Edinburgh, and then she studied at Glasgow University for her BD for ministry.

In 2009, she became Head of Christian Aid in Scotland, a role which she held for seven years. Her position was subsequently filled by another female Church of Scotland minister, Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton.

Throughout her ministry, she acted as a liturgical and theological resource person and consultant for numerous groupings. These included the World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and Action of Churches Together in Scotland.

Along with John Saxbee and Michael Taylor, she was a patron of the Student Christian Movement.

Personal life and death Galloway lived in Glasgow.

Publications Galloway published, either as author or editor, 16 books. The subject of her writing ranged from Christian theology and devotion, to social justice for women and the poor, to collections of her own poetry. Her songs have been widely published in church hymnaries and those published by the Iona Community. Imagining the Gospels (SPCK 1987, 1994) A Woman's Claim of Right in Scotland: Women, Representation and Politics, ed. (Polygon 1991) A Woman's Place: Women and Work, ed. E. Templeton, introductory chapter. (St Andrew Press, 1993) Love Burning Deep: Poems and Lyrics (SPCK 1993) Struggles to Love: the Spirituality of the Beatitudes (SPCK 1994) Getting Personal: Sermons and Meditations (SPCK 1995) Pushing the Boat Out: New Poetry (Wild Goose Publications 1995) The Pattern of Our Days: Liturgies and Resources for Worship (Wild Goose Publications 1996) Talking to the Bones: Poems, Prayers and Meditations (SPCK 1996) Dreaming of Eden: Reflections on Christianity and Sexuality ed. (Wild Goose Publications,1997) 'Put Your Hand in My Side,' chapter in For God's Sake, Unity, ed. Craig, M (Wild Goose Publications, 1998) Starting Where We Are: Liberation Theology in Practice (Wild Goose Publications, 1998) A Story to Live By (SPCK 1999) Praying for the Dawn: a Resource book for the Ministry of Healing, ed. (Wild Goose Publications 2000) Walking in Darkness and Light: Sermons and Reflections (St Andrew Press, 2001) Sharing the Blessing (SPCK 2008)