Mr Hewitt, (57), was born in Kilmarnock and educated at Kilmarnock Academy. He went on to Strathclyde University to study accountancy before answering the call from God to ministry which had been awakened by his minister sometime previously. He transferred to Glasgow University, graduating BD in 1974 and then did a Post Graduate Diploma in pastoral studies, graduating in 1976. He served for two years as Probationer Assistant at Castlehill Church, Ayr where he was ordained in 1977.

In 1978, he was called to Elderslie Kirk, then a new union of Elderslie East and Elderslie West, where he served for 16 years. During his ministry, Elderslie Kirk was seen as the focal point of the well defined community.

He was called to Greenock: St Luke’s, a large town centre church, in 1994. He serves as local primary school and Greenock Academy chaplain, James Watt College chaplain and part time chaplain to Inverclyde Royal Infirmary and to Ardgowan Hospice and previously as part time chaplain to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

In 2000, the five churches in the west end of Greenock agreed to work together towards union. This work continued and, in 2006. St Luke’s and their immediate neighbours, St George’s North, united as Westburn Church of Scotland. During the last two years, Mr Hewitt and his colleague have worked hard to cement the union and believe that through worship, teaching and social events, the two congregations are happily working as one.

In his leisure time, he enjoys golf, is Past President of Johnstone Rotary Club, a member and Past President of Greenock Burns Club and a frequent speaker at Burns events which included a trip to Canada to propose the Immortal Memory. Mr Hewitt is currently Précis of the Innerkip Society – a charitable organisation dating back to 1798.