NEWS & EVENTS
The 'News & Events' page has been added to provide a page to detail additional news and events connected to our Church.
This will include information on people and places with connections to Kilsyth Burns & Old. We will also use this page to detail upcoming events within our town organised by people and groups other than our Church.
BREAKING NEWS!
We have decided to hold a final Christmas Tree Festival in our Church on Friday 5 December from 2.00pm till 8.00pm and on Saturday 6 December from 10.00am until 4.00pm. Our Brownies and Rainbows will be carol singing on the Friday evening at 6.30pm. We will also have a few surprise piano recitals throughout the weekend and our choir will carol sing on the Saturday morning at 11.00am.
If you feel inspired and can think of a theme to decorate a Christmas tree, feel free to contact Margaret Wren .... we'll supply the tree and lights, you bring the decorations and enthusiasm! For over 30 years it has been a very happy celebration in our Church life and we intend to make this one really special!
Burns & Old Parish Church Memories
With the impending closure of our Church, we are hoping to compile memories from individuals or organisations and if there is sufficient response, then we would like to produce a booklet for distribution among members.
If you would like to share any personal memories which may include photographs, then please e-mail them to kilsythboldchurch2@gmail.com or include them in an envelope and place them in the offering plate on entering the church on a Sunday. They may also be given to any elder. You may give your name or you can remain anonymous and all photographs will be returned in due course.
The closing date is Sunday 16 November 2025.
Kirk Session
LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES
Following the service on Sunday 28 September 2025, the Rev John Campbell presented long service certificates to 8 of our elders:
David Cant, Thomas Chalmers, Sheila Couser, John Duncan, Janette MacFarlane, Archie MacGregor, Anne Simpson and Neil Sneddon.
Certificates were also presented to Evelyn Hay, Jean MacGregor, Grace Ritchie and Marion Torney at a later date.
MARY'S MEALS
COFFEE MORNING
Carrying on the tradition of supporting Mary's Meals at Kilsyth Burns & Old, the Mission Group is pleased to advise that we will hold a Coffee Morning on Saturday 4 October from 10.00am until 12.00 noon in the church hall. Please do come along and enjoy a coffee/tea and chat as well as delicious home baking, whilst supporting this worthy cause. Tickets priced £3.00.
DETERMINATION OF BUILDING SELECTION - KILSYTH CHURCHES
Presbytery determined that the principal place of worship and hall complex for the congregation to be formed as a result of the union between Kilsyth Anderson and Kilsyth Burns & Old shall be the church and hall complex presently used by Kilsyth Anderson.
Presbytery determined that the sanctuary presently used by Kilsyth Burns & Old be sold or otherwise disposed of.
Presbetery invited local interested parties and/or community groups within Kilsyth to explore the possibility of separating the halls and attached flat of Kilsyth Burns & Old from the sanctuary in order that the hall be retained for community use and urged the General Trustees to afford a perod of one year from the date of union of the congregations to permit the development of detailed proposals for presentation to and consideration by the General Trustees for the purchase of the halls and flat.
Presbytery instructed the Kirk Session of Kilsyth Burns & Old to forward to Presbytery within 21 days an exact minute authorising the disposal of the sanctuary and, incorporating the condition in Section 4, the halls and flat.
Extracted 11 September 2025.
Rev Dr Grant Barclay
Presbytery Clerk
Scheme of Delegation: Latest Update
The Scheme of Delegation Team consisting of Andy McIntyre, Ruth Morrison and Ian McVean, visited Kilsyth Anderson Church and Kilsyth Burns & Old on Tuesday 11 March and there was always the intention of a follow-up visit and this took place on Thursday 15 May.
The next step in progressing towards the Union of the two Kilsyth Church of Scotland churches will be the meeting to be held on Sunday 17 August 2025, when Andy will meet with members of both congregations at the neutral venue of Kilsyth Church of God when the doors will be open at 1.30pm for a 2.00pm start and Andy will give verbally the decision made by the Scheme of Delegation Team with regard to which of our two churches in Kilsyth will be the church of the future.
The Church of God will have seating for 200 people and it is important that we are well represented at this meeting. After this meeting, on Monday 18 August, Andy will be advising Glasgow Presbytery of the Team's decision and this will be followed by a Presbytery meeting on Tuesday 9 September when Presbytery will bring this decision to all members present, then a vote will be taken and they will officially acknowledge the decision.
We are not exactly sure what the timescale of events will be after this, but we will keep you as up to date as possible.
However, there is an additional piece of information: Andy McIntyre is coming to Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church on Sunday 22 June to meet with the congregation and this will be as soon as possible after morning worship and will depend on how quickly Andy can get here from his own church in Partick after his own service, but possibly starting around 1.15pm for about an hour.
Andy is calling this a "listening exercise" and he will be here to listen to what our members have to say about our church, the feelings about the new church and any concerns they may have, but you should note that this is not a Question and Answer session; it is simply an opportunity for Andy to get an idea of the feelings of our congregation in relation to the way forward.
Spring Garden Fair
Our Spring Garden Fair was held in our church hall on Saturday 3 May and when it certainly "went like a fair"! Our plant stall that ran the length of the large hall which was generously supplied with bedding plants from Caulders and Craigmarloch Nurseries, as well as 100 filled planters and plants from our very own church gardening group. Needless to say the plants disappeared within the first hour. Business at our unused new gift staff and the jigsaw stall was brisk. The children's free craft table was constantly full.....something for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who came along to support our Church Fair. A huge thank you goes to all our volunteers and volunteer bakers. Without you wonderful people, the joyous occasion would not have taken place.
A wonderful total of £2,400 was raised.
THANK YOU!
Morning Worship Sunday 22 June with Rev John Campbell
This service will start at 11.30am followed by tea and coffee and a visit from the Rev Andy McIntyre, convenor of the Scheme of Delegation at 1.15pm. We hope as many of our congregation will be able to attend.
Spring Garden Fair
Our infamous Spring Garden Fair will now be on Saturday 3 May from 2.00-3.00pm
There will be plant stalls, an unused new gift stall, a jigsaw stall and our much loved tea rooms as well as home baking and crafts for children.
Unwanted or unused new gifts (preferably packaged but as long as they are new) -
we will take them!
We are also looking for jigsaws. All can be handed in at church any Sunday or on Friday 2 May when the Church Street hall will be open from 9.30am until 11.00am.
We look forward to seeing you all at our Spring Garden Fair and helping to make the day a joyful and successful one.
Thank you Letters:
Strathcarron Singers
On behalf of everyone at Strathcarron Singers, can I take this opportunity to thank you, the Kirk Session and members of the congregation of Kilsyth Burns & Old for their warm welcome, appreciative audience and superb hospitality, not to mention their generosity towards Strathcarron Hospice, raising a magnificent total of £1,222.23 for Hospice funds. We do nope that you enjoyed the concert as much as we did.
Kind regards, Alison Cooke.
Erskine Home
Dear Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church
You've certainly brightened up the Autumnal days for Veterans with your Remembrance collection donation of £300 - thank you.
You are helping Erskine give hope and support to around 1,000 of our beloved Veterans and their families every year, Your kindness brightens their lives and allows us to enrich the lives of Veterans with activities such as therapies, entertainment and outings.
We offer our most sincere thank you.
Yours sincerely, Alison Sturgeon
Remembrance Tree
This year our Christmas Remembrance Tree donations of £550 are going to the Church of Scotland's Tabeetha School. It is the only mainstream school the Church of Scotland runs anywhere in the world. It is situated in Jaffa, Israel. Grateful thanks to all who contributed.
STRATHCARRON SINGERS
A wonderful afternoon of music, singing and readings took place on Sunday 1 December. The Srathcarron Singers (conductor Matthew Brown) were accompanied by Croy Silver Band (Conductor Kenneth Blackwood). There were also readings from The Edwin Drood Players.
The sum of £1220 was raised for the very worthy cause of Strathcarron Hospice. Many thanks to all who attended and thoroughly enjoyed such beautiful music on the first Sunday of Advent.
SUNDAY TEAS
The Sunday Teas to many people are an integral part of their routine on a Sunday after morning worship. Friendships have been made and strengthened, plans have been forge, Church business executed and the world has been put to rights over that cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit in the large hall. It has always been great to have that time together to contnue and share in the fellowship and friendship of our church.
As has been the case up until the last few years, many church organisations have taken on the role to serve teas for a month at a time keeping the loose change donations that the congregation kindly give in exchange for their cuppa. We are a generous congregation and don't like taking something for nothing. It is amazing how those coins add up over the course of a month.
With fewer organisations we rely on volunteers to run the tea bar. We ask if you can help out one Sunday now and again to help keep the tea bar running, that would be great. It takes 3-4 people to set up, serve and clear up. You won't be on your own, you will be with people who have done it before so you can't go wrong! Gentlemen - you can sign up too. There is a sheet to which you can add your name to on the notice board in the large hall, near the door to the kitchen. PLEASE help us to keep this great instituion going; you're help would be greatly appreciated.
As mentioned before, the weekly takings from the teas soon add up. It was only ever meant to be a loose coin donation, then and now. As there are fewer organisations on the rota, we find ourselves in a position that we have available funds to support other groups, charities and individuals connected to the church. This year alone, a total of £175 has gone to Leprosy Mission, £150 to Mary's Meals and £100 each to the Rainbows and the Brownies. There has also been £100 to the gardeners not only towards the Peace Garden but also in the preparation of the flower-filled pots which were sold at the church fair this year. Our talented pianist Rhionna, has also benefited by £200 in aiding her to deliver a community lead musical educational programme in collaboration with the African Music School, base in Kampala, Uganda. Working in three different African communities, including a school for the visually impared, Rhionna is inspiring, educating and enhancing opportunities for the people of Uganda through creative musical workshops. We look forward to hearing about this on Rhiona's return, later in November.
On reflection, you can see how much value the Tea Bar brings, not only to the lives of our congregation members who use it on a weekly basis, but also to the people, charities and groups who we can support. Our fellowship and our "loose change" do great things both far and wide.
To the organisations and volunteers, we thank you (from the bottom of our teapot) for continuing to help out at the tea bar and we look forward to (hopefully) welcoming some new faces joining us.
Galations 6:9 "Let us not be wary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Thank you.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER AT 2.30pm
The Strathcarron Singers, Conductor Matthew Brown presenting "Carols from Near & Far" written by David Brown and featuring The Edwin Drood Players and special guests, Croy Silver Band, conducted by Kenneth Blackwood. Admission free, all donations will go to Strathcarron Hospice.
**********
CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA
with "Harmony"
Saturay 7 December at 2.30pm. Tickets £5 on sale
Sunday 17 November from Margaret Wren
END OF AN ERA
At the church service on Sunday 15 September, we said thank you and farewell to our church officer and wife, Robert (affectionately known as Bobby) and Phyllis Campbell who have officially retired.
They have been with us for 13 years and during that time have taken pleasure in helping all our organiations, groups and looking after the church and all the halls. They were presented with a cheque from the congregation, a lovely flower arrangement and a beautiful cake made by Rennies the bakers.
We wish them both a long, healthy and happy retirement in their new home.
KILSYTH REMEMBRANCE PARADE
Kilsyth Churches are making arrangements to mark Armistice Sunday on 10 November. The parade will commence at Kilsyth Primary School marching to the Burngreen for laying the wreaths. The Service of Remembrance will be held in th Church of God, Parkburn Road, Kilsyth.
10.15-10.30 All organisations meet at Kilsyth Primary School playground, Low Craigends.
10.40 - Parade will move off to the Cenotaph headed by Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band.
Once the service is over at the Cenotaph, the parade will make their way via Main Street, Kingston Road and Parkburn Road to the Church of God for the Service of Remembrance.
STEPS SONGSTERS CHOIR
On Saturdaay 12 October, the Stepps Songsters Choir entertained a busy church with an afternoon of superb singing and some fun and frolics as well.
Their leader, Claire, kept the audience laughing with her banter! There was even some tap dancing to one of the tunes.
A thank you goes to all who helped out especially the tea makers, tea servers and to the wonderful bakers.
Here are some photogaphs taken on the day.
BAPTISM
The first adult baptism for quite a while in Burns & Old Parish Church, took place on Sunday 7 July during morning worship when Gillian Buchanan was baptised by the Rev Sandra Farrington.
Gillian, who was born in Stirling, now lives in Iluka, Western Australia with her husband James and their family. Gillian chose to be baptised in Burns & Old as it is the family Church of James' family. It was a very uplifting and emotional service.
Here are a few photos of Gillian with James and Rev Farrington.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
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COMING SOON
Stepps Songsters choir
Accompanist - James Greechan
Saturday 12 October at 2.00pm
Tickets £5 (including tea and coffee)
available from M Wren
from Sunday 15 September
Board, Session & Congregatinal Update, 26 May 2024
On Thursday, 16 May the most recent meeting of the Kilsyth Joint Working Group took place with Kilsyth Anderson, Paul Cathcart, Fiona Crawford and ourselves and it was jointly agreed that the proposed name for the new Church of Scotland church in Kilsyth should be sumitted to Glasgow Presbytery and the General Trustees in Edinburgh for approval. The name submitted is:
KILSYTH AND DISTRICT PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
It was also decided that the Burns and Old Manse should be the manse for the minister of the new church and the Kilsyth Anderson manse (which is currently rented out) should remain as is and the future of the Kilsyth Anderson Manse should be reviewed when the present tenants vacate the property.
The next planned meeting of the group is scheduled for Tuesday 18 June 2024 and we hope to bring further updates to you after that meeting.
Glasgow Presbytery
A few weeks ago, I notified the congregation that I had received information from Glasgow Presbytery that our minister was demitting from the ministry.
On Tuesday 12 March at the Presbytery meeting, it was announced: We recognise with gratitude the ministry of Rev Bob Johnston as Minister of Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church since 2017 and dissolve the tie with effect from 13 March 2024. He will retain his membership of Glasgow Presbytery and his status as a Church of Scotland minister.
John Comrie, Session Clerk