Parish News Round-up

Thursday June 7 2018

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. Please check the quality of your pictures: images which are too small, blurry or too dark cannot be used. If there are children in any picture please confirm that their parents or guardians have given permission for publication.

Whithorn, Scotland’s ‘Cradle of Christianity’, has in recent years seen a growth in the number of visitors coming to the town, many of whom are drawn to this part of southwest Scotland by an interest in pilgrimage.

St Ninian is reputed to have brought Christianity to Scotland around about 397AD. It was at Whithorn that he built Candida Casa - the Shining White House which became a base for the spread of the gospel throughout the country.

St Ninian’s Priory Church has for many years the church has been a welcoming space for pilgrims - open throughout the year for quiet contemplation or worship.

This year, the church has created a new picnic area in part of the Glebe field, allowing visitors the opportunity to spend some time in peaceful countryside surroundings.

With the support of the Guild Initiative Fund and funding from the local church itself, much hard work saw the field being cleared of ivy and weeds, a new gate put in place and a ‘secret garden’ type door renewed. Fencing was difficult due to archeological restrictions on what could go into the ground, but crowd control fencing means that the ground is not disturbed (although small lambs can make a great game of passing to and fro through it!) Sturdy picnic benches provide the finishing touch.

Picnic@thePriory was launched on Pentecost Sunday with the whole congregation processing out to it before a blessing took place.

If any individuals or groups wish to come to Whithorn, St Ninian’s Priory is happy to provide light refreshments and information on where to go in the area. Please phone the minister, the Rev Alex Currie on 01988 500267 for further details.

The Rev Bryan Kerr of Lanark Greyfriars Church conducted the May 13 dedication of a new memorial stone for a local soldier whose burial place had been unmarked for over 100 years.

Private William Campbell died in Lanark in March 1916, having been hospitalised with TB en route to the Dardanelles.

A group of local historians, researching Lanark’s war memorial, had discovered that Pte Campbell was entitled to a war grave, and worked with the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and Legion Scotland to make it a reality.

The Provost of South Lanarkshire Council, Ian McAllan attended and laid a wreath on behalf of the council (which is the successor to the Lanark Town Council of the day) and the community.

Mr Kerr said: “I was privileged to be asked to undertake such a service to as a remembrance of the sacrifice many from our community made when they enlisted during WW1.”

The Rev Markus Auffermann of Woodside Parish Church and the Rev Elsie Fortune of St Mary’s Parish Church, both Aberdeen, are pictured cutting the Pentecost Happy Birthday Church cake at the ecumenical service and BBQ of the interdenominational Donside Christian Partnership.

Three elders from Rosyth Parish Church received long service certificates for 50 years’ service. Pictured from right: Norman Thompson, Tommy Harrower and George Murray, with locum minister the Rev Victor Laidlaw.

Two hundred years’ service to St Mary's Greyfriars Church, Dumfries were recognised when Locum minister the Rev Douglas Irving presented long service awards to eight elders with either 20 or 30 years’ service.

Pictured: Mr Irving presenting a 30 year certificate to Mae Lorimer, watched by (from left) Anne Mackie, session clerk, Douglas Edgar, Margaret Williamson, Alasdair Miller, Marie Derby, Rosemary Chambers, Billy Simpson. Missing from picture: Bob MacNeil.

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