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. Might not be much for 2020 due to the Covid19 virus restrictions but hopefully 2021 will make up for this. We do hope you enjoy!
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
Spring Fair
Our Spring Garden Fair will be on Saturay 4 May.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 4 April at 10.30am in the creche hall. Help is needed to make our fair a success - more details to follow!
Kilsyth Old Library
A fundraiser in aid of the Old Library is being held on Saturday 16 March in the Church Hall. Tickets are £5 and can be obtained from Anne Russell (01236 821758). There will be entertainment by "Harmony". Lunch (Soup, tea/coffee and goodies) will be served. The time is 12.30 for 1.00pm
A packed hall and the entertainers - Harmony
Christmas Tree Festival Weekend, 1 & 2 Dec 2023
It has been four years since our last Christmas Tree Festival so this year our "infamous" Burns & Old Tree Festival will take on a slightly different format.
The Church Sanctuary will be full of individually themed decorated Christmas trees and will be open to the public only on Friday 1st December from 2.00pm-8.00pm. Admission will be - adults £3, children £1; this will include tea/coffee and Christmas Fayre.
In the large hall the stalls will be: craft, jewellery and Christmas themed. Donations of Christmas pies, shortbread, and fruit bun will be greatly appreciated.
On Saturday 2 December, the Stepps Songsters Choir, led by our very own James Greechan, will be holding a Christmas concert in the Church Sanctuary at 2.00pm. Tickets for this are now on sale. The cost is £5 which will again include tea/coffee and Christmas fayre. Don't miss out, make sure you get them today as there are a limited number and less than two weeks to go!
We are looking forward to this happy weekend and are looking for volunteers to steward the Church on the Friday and to help with the tea bar. If you would be interested in helping please contact Margaret Wren on 01236 826238.
100th ANNIVERSARY OF KILSYTH WAR MEMORIAL
Here are some photpgraphs of Kilsyth War Memorial taken on 26 August. It is now 100 years since our War Memorial was unveiled.
100 years ago on 25 August 1923, Kilsyth War Memorial was unveiled. Represemtatives from schools, churches, uniformed organisations, armed forces amd elected members attended a service to commemorate the occasion with many members of the community with family connections to the memorial. Many laid floral tributes. The service was led by Rev Bob Johnston with music from representatives of Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band and Croy Silver Band. Provost Kenneth Duffy also attended.
A big thank you to George M MacDonald (who has written a history of the War Memorial), Carol Devlin from Croy Silver Band (Carol sounded reveille) and local schools who were all represented. The service was well attended. A big thank you also to Kilsyth Old Library Committee for the welcome cup of tea afterwards.
Veteran and local Historian George M MacDonald has written a history of the war memorial and laid a commemorative wreath. This can be made available. The following is an extract from this:
"At long last, and after many of the inhabitants had almost given up hope of seeing a public war memorial in their midst, Saturday saw the unveiling of the monument an accomplished fact. The monument is in the form of a Celtic cross of Aberdeen granite, standing 18ft high. The work was executed by Messrs Scott & Rae, Glasgow at a cost of £500. 1,171 men from Kilsyth enlisted in His Majesty's Forces and there were 227 who did not return. Rev Duncan Cameron, Parish Church, dedicated this memorial for ever to their memories and might God grant unto us that the memory of these heroic men might ever be fresh and beautiful in our souls."
KILSYTH BURNS & OLD
BOYS BRIGADE ANCHOR BOYS
Our BB Anchor Boys require another person to register as a Leader. The age requirement is 17 years or older. This is necessary for the company to continue to function. They meet on a Tuesday evening from 6.15pm - 7.15pm. If you are interested, please contact John Comrie, 07943 522180 who will pass on your details.
COMMUNION TALE BIBLE - June 2023
The Communion Table Bible was presented to Rev Henry M Smith by the Connor family in 1957.
Rev Smith subsequently gifted the Bible to the Church and it sat on our Communion Table for decades.
Sadly time took it's toll on the Bible leaving it fragile and falling apart. In 2022 the Mission Group proposed having the Bible rebound.
The beautifully rebound Bible, still with it's original inscription from the Connor family, was re-dedicated on Sunday 25th June 2023 and sits proudly once more on it's stand on the Communion Table.
All are welcome to view the wonderful restoration of our Communion Table Bible.
NEW PIANIST
We're delighted to welcome Rhionna Inwood, who is a final year student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as our permanent pianist.
We hope she enjoys playing the piano for us as much as we enjoy listening to her.
KILSYTH ANDERSON PARISH CHURCH
There will be a dinner for over-70's on Sunday 30 September. Names are being taken and there will be a list in both churches. Further details to follow.
Church Fayre
Here are a few photos from the recent Church Fayre.
The sum of approximately £2,300 was realised and everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
CHURCH FAYRE
IT'S BACK!
Yes, the Church Fayre is back but on a different date. This year our Church Spring Fayre is on Saturday 13 May from 2.00pm until 4.00pm.
Our stalls are:
Books, CDs, DVDs, Jigsaws, Candles, Unwanted Gifts, Christmas Ornaments and Decorations, Plants, Home Baking, Teas, Coffee and Baking.
Items for our stalls can be brought to Chuch any Sunday or to the large hall o Friday 12 May from 2.00-3.00pm.
LET'S MAKE THIS FAYRE ONE TO REMEMBER
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The choir is holding a Christmas Concert in the church on Saturday 3 December at 2.00pm.
As well as our choir singing, we will be joined by a few guest soloists, and we will also enjoy listening to our very own talented James Greechan.
There will also be audience participation in the singing of some well known carols. Tea, coffee and Christmas fayre will be served in the hall after the concert.
Tickets priced £3 will be on sale from Sunday 13 November after the morning service in the large hall.
We are all really looking forward to this joyous occasion.
SPECIAL SERVICE OF CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING
Sunday 7 August at 11.00am.
This is a service to acknowledge the losses during the pandemic but also to give thanks and celebrate our church moving forward. (In the sanctuary and on Conferoo.)
There will also be a dedication of the Peace Garden.
KILSYTH ANDERSON PARISH CHURCH
Our Christmas Fayre takes place this Saturday, 26 November from 11.00am until 1.30pm. Please come along and enjoy all the "fun of the fayre". Tea, coffee and all the usual stalls will be there for everyone.
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A new group has been formed at the Anderson Church called "Tea and Tunes". This is for older people who like music, those living with dementia and their carers. Tea, coffee and a biscuit are all provided and is free to attend.
Autumn dates are: 13th and 27th October, 10th and 24th November and finally 15th December.
Summer dates are Thursday 9th and 23rd June, from 1.30-3.00pm. All welcome.Contact Hazel on 07986861834 for further information.
OUR CHOIR ANGELS
On the 1st Sunday of Advent the church was delighted to present Cathy McFarlane and Margaret McKenzie with Long Service Certificates for 60 years and 50 years respectively of being at the heart of the choir.
The minister thanked them and acknowledged the importance of all the many roles within the Church, and the people who fill them joyfully and faithfully. Without true servants like Cathy and Margaret there simply would not be a church.
After the service tea, coffee and a delightful celebration cake was enjoyed by our wonderful 'Choir Angels'.
ENQUIRY FROM QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
A recent post on "Old Kilsyth Facebook" has sparked some interest. A lady from the gold coast in Australia has been researching her family tree and discovered that her 6x great grandfather Patrick Rankine was appointed to receive the collection funds for two new communion cups. This was in June 1731 - 290 years ago!
Here is an extract from her enquiry. "For the last 20+ years, I have been tracing my Scottish Rankin ancestors, who were all natives of Kilsyth for over 400 years. Unfortuntely the parish records have only survived from the year 1619 with many records lost or too damaged to be scanned for public viewing. I was very excited to recently discoveer my 7x great grandfather Walter Ranking and his eldest son Patrick have been an important part of Kilsyth history. During their lifetime, they were mentioned and recorded Kirk Session minutes of Kilsyth, as parish elders and attending to the regular Kirk Session meetings with the Minister and Deacons of Kisyth, attending to treasury responsibiities and attending the Synod meetings in Glasgow. These 17th and 18th century Kirk Sessions recorded the discipline handed out to errant parishioners for offences such as drunkenness, swearing, fornication, breaking the Sabbath, quarrelling, sexual misdemeanors and other notworthy conduct in the parish."
From Andrea Rankin, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
If you look closely at the above photographs, you will be able to see the engraving on the two communion cups. Also shown are two extracts from "Scotlands People" archives.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 2021
The Remembrance Day services started at 11am at the Cenotaph on the Burn Green.
Wreaths were laid by representatives from many organisations including the Royal British Legion and the youth organisations.
There was a wonderful turn out of local people at the Cenotaph.
Our Remembrance Sunday Worship commenced at the later time of 11:30am so people could attend the Cenotaph service.
Our minister Bob presented a wreath to our Remembrance plaque in memory of all those who fought for their country.
Also on the Sanctuary were pictures created by some of the children for Remembrance Sunday.
Our Organist James Greechan - BEd (Music) Hons
How fortunate are we at Kilsyth Burns & Old to have such a talented young pianist, organist and singer.
James has recently obtained his degree - BEd (Music) Hons. Today he donned his robes for the service.
Congratulations James!
Sunday 1 August 2021
Agnes Bingham - 100th Birthday, 12 July 2021
Well, we have another centenarian - Agnes Bingham from Queenzieburn is 100 years old today. An acer tree has been planted in her honour in the peace garden. Agnes is seen here looking lovely and very proudly showing her card from the Queen. Her son Jim sent a letter of thanks to Bob, the kirk session and members for the many cards, gifts and good wishes Agnes received on her special day.
NEW ZEALAND ENQUIRY
An enquiry was received via e-mail recently from a lady by the name of Penny Kidd who lives in New Zealand. She had read our website as she is researching her family story. She wanted to make sure she was in contact with the correct church as a distant relative, the Rev Duncan Cameron, had been a minister at Kilsyth Parish Church. Again, via our website, she had read that there is a dedication plaque for him.
The photograph on the right of this page was taken and sent to Ms Kidd who quickly replied that she was delighted with this. Rev Cameron's eldest son emigrated to the US and her research and photo will be shared with his family there. Isn't modern technology wonderful? (25 November 2020)