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Looking Back: Memorial Project for DP Thomson

From October 1974


An appeal has been launched to ensure that there is a suitable evangelical and practical commemoration of the work of D.P. Thomson, the evangelist and founding father of the St Ninian’s Centre, Crieff.  A memorial and thanksgiving fund has been opened and is to be devoted to the renovation of Beechknowe, the St Ninian’s annexe which accommodates 35 young people.

The aim is to make it ‘even more than in the past a centre of evangelism for young people’. The main front room of the modernised Beechknowe is to be a study room housing many of the books from Dr Thomson’s famous library.

The appeal has been spearheaded by a personal letter – sent to more than 3,000 of those who have shared in the benefits of St Ninian’s – from Home Board convenor the Rev Dr Ian Boyle; the board’s secretary, the Rev Dr Horace Walker; and the present warden, the Rev Peter Bisset. The sponsors also expect to reach many others at home and abroad who have good cause to remember ‘D.P’ with gratitude and affection.

They say that the work needed to tackle damp, redecorate outside and inside, work on the basement, put in new bathrooms, and implement fire regulations will cost around £15,000.

Dr Doyle and his colleagues say of ‘D.P’ and Mrs Thomson that they not only kept evangelism in the forefront of the Church’s thinking and action ‘but in a marvellous way influenced numbers of young people to commit their lives to Christ’. They see the renovation of Beechknowe as an act of thanks to God for the Thomsons’ life and work.

Donations to the appeal should be sent to the Secretary of the Home Board, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, marked “D.P Thomson Memorial Fund.”


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