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Parish News Round-up

Thursday June 25

Our regular round-up of news received from churches.

Please send items of parish news to magazine@lifeandwork.org or Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN. Digital photographs should not be reduced. Please check the quality of your pictures: images which are blurry or too dark cannot be used. If there are children in any pictures please confirm that their parents or guardians have given permission for publication.


 

A Drumhead Service was held in Hamilton West Parish Church on Sunday June 14 to commemorate 39 members of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) who died 100 years ago in the Second Action of Givenchy, during the First World War.

The service also saw the laying up in the Church of two books, The Fallen of Hamilton, Scotland in the Great War 1914-1918 and The Fallen of Hamilton West Parish Church in the Two World Wars. Both books were researched and produced by teams of volunteers led by Lindsay Freeland, who also organised the service.

The joint service with Gilmour and Whitehill Church was conducted by the Rev John Thomson, formerly a Chaplain in the Royal Naval Reserve and to the Territorial Army.

The Drums of the Cameronians with Colours were the centrepiece for the service and former members of the Cameronians and of the Royal British Legion were in attendance. Poppies for the fallen were laid by young people from the churches.

Ian Forsyth MBE, President of the Royal British Legion Hamilton Branch and Second World War veteran, addressed the congregation and read a poem written by Private Braidwood, who fought in the Second Action of Givenchy.

Others attending the service included the Provost of South Lanarkshire; the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, relatives of those who died and members of the teams who wrote the books or helped in their production.

The Second Action of Givenchy (June 15-16 1915) was an attack mounted by British and Canadian forces as part of the Second Battle of Artois.


 

Bishopton Parish Church, near Glasgow, celebrated 200 years of worship in their building during May.

The earliest reference to a church in the area comes from the 12th century, but the current building was constructed around 1813-14 after its 18th-century predecessor fell into disrepair. Known at the time as Erskine Parish Church, it was designed by one of Scotland’s most prominent and prolific architects, David Hamilton, and is one of the earliest examples in Britain of the neo-gothic style of architecture.

To mark the 200 years, the church’s Bicentenary Committee decided to produce a new history of the church, which was completed earlier this year. Entitled ‘A Renfrewshire Parish’, the book runs to 100 pages and can be ordered from the church office at The Cornerstone, 3 Greenock Road, Bishopton PA7 5JW, 01505 862583, office@bishoptonkirk.org.uk

Celebration events included the return of past ministers, the Rev Douglas Alexander and the Rev Gayle Taylor, to share in services during 2015; the dedication of a new organ and a new hymn written by choirmistress Mary Inglis.

On May 17 a special celebratory service was held in the church followed by a civic reception in the Glynhill Hotel, Renfrew attended by dignitaries, previous ministers, invited guests and members of the congregation.

Right: The Rev Douglas Alexander cuts the celebration cake.


 

Sunday School prize-giving was not just for the children this year in Beith, North Ayrshire.

The Rev Roddy Macdonald of Beith Parish Church also presented long service certificates for 30 years to four elders, and certificates to many other members of the congregation who had taken various courses through the church.

Nine people received certificates from St Andrews First Aid for Emergency First Aid at Work, 31 for the Public Access Defibrillator Course, three for a Food Handling Health and Hygiene Course, and one received a Safeguarding Certificate.


 


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