THE MAGAZINE OF BOTHWELL PARISH CHURCH ‘SCOTLAND’S OLDEST COLLEGIATE CHURCH’

Registered Scottish Charity No: SC0 9819

IN THIS EDITION

November, December &

January

2013/2014

From the Minister P1& P2.

Church Register P2.

Holy Communion P2.

Restoration Update P2.

Remembrance Sunday P3.

Quire Restoration Appeal P4&P5.

Statement of Purpose P5.

Strictly Ceilidh P6.

Guild P6.

Advent & Christmas Page P7.

Sunday Clubs P7.

Allovus P7.

Becoming A Member P8.

Church of Scotland News P8.

Summer Family BBQ P9.

Car Treasure Hunt p10.

People You Should Know P10.

A new way to receive your magazine P10.

A Short History of Bothwell P11.

Voluntary Action P11.

Rota Page P12.

Minister: The Revd. J. M. Gibson, TD.

The Manse of Bothwell, 4 Manse Avenue, Bothwell, G71 8PQ

Tel: 01698 853189. Email: jamesmgibson@msn.com Church Office Tel: 01698 854903 (Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm)

Email: bothwellparishoffice@btconnect.com

Church Website: www.bothwellparishchurch.org.uk

Church Centre: 854987 Chapterhouse Café: 858566

1

FROM THE MINISTER … As a minister I try to be apolitical in

opinion and allegiance. As a private

citizen, I have my views and opinions

like most others. It’s not an easy

position to hold. But it is essential, for

the integrity of such a position enables

me to preach, without prejudice, on the

great political themes of the Christian

Gospel that fundamentally affect our

daily life and living.

While I appreciate that our Coalition

Government has had to face gargantuan

financial difficulties both in our own

country and abroad, one measure that

has recently been introduced has been a

source of concern and anguish. I have

long thought that radical change needs

to be brought to the system of benefits

the nation pays individuals particularly

those unemployed or otherwise

disadvantaged. Equally, the need for

more social housing is, surely, an

obvious and urgent requirement across

the country.

Ian Duncan Smith, the Secretary of

State for Work and Pensions since

2010, is someone for whom I have

come to develop a measured

admiration. It would seem that a

genuine personal social conscience is

his motive in striving to simplify and

make more effective a presently

convoluted and wide-ranging system of

financial support. Something that was

profoundly influenced by an early

official visit to Scotland and, in

particular, the people of Glasgow’s

Easterhouse district.

Taxing Bedrooms

I am not convinced, however, that

what has become known as the

Bedroom Tax is the answer. Especially

when Raquel Rolnik, the United

Nations special investigator on

housing, when visiting Glasgow’s

Govanhill said: “I was very shocked to

hear how people really feel abused in

their human rights by this policy and

why – being so vulnerable – they

should pay for the cost of the

economic downturn brought about by

the financial crisis caused by the

mismanagement of financial

institutions”

The need for adequate social housing

is indisputable. Many people

presently live in such housing with

bedrooms which remain unused.

While there is logic in suggesting that

these people could move into smaller

accommodation releasing their larger

houses for families desperately in need

of extra room, I am not sure where all

the smaller houses are to be found; nor

if such a policy actually infringes

human rights. In legal terms, the

whole idea of social rights – the right

to adequate healthcare, education, a

decent standard of living etc – is

accorded different status in different

countries. In South Africa for

instance, post-apartheid, social rights

were incorporated into the

constitution. Whereas in Britain, the

legal basis of social rights comes from

an international treaty dating back to

1976. The fact that this is

international apparently means that

our country’s most vulnerable people

actually have little or no access to

domestic courts to redress any

grievance they may have in this

matter.

Is this right ? I think not. Yet, I am

aware that people within Hamilton

District are, indeed, making such a

housing move into smaller

accommodation thereby freeing up

their larger home for other families.

My dilemma is simply that I do not

believe Christian faith accepts that ‘the

end justifies the means’. Out of this

greyness of thought action must surely

be taken whereby human dignity and

integrity is maintained and

Government policy seen to be fair to

all.

Continued on Page 2 …...

Baptisms: “By water and the Holy Spirit”

October Joshua Fraser Cormack, infant son of

Mr & Mrs Scott Cormack, 163 St.Bride’s Way, Bothwell

Ryan James Sneddon, 31 Knockburnie Road, Bothwell

Weddings: “Whom God has joined” October 5th Claire Fuller and Billy Nisbet

Funerals: “Confident of Life Everlasting”

The Minister invites the prayers of the congregation for

the family and friends of the following who recently

received Christian funeral:

August Mrs May Clelland, 20 Hamilton Park North, Bothwell

Mr Ian Bannister, 2 Dowanfield Gardens, Bothwell

October Mrs Jean Keir, 9 Hillcrest Terrace, Bothwell

Statement

of Purpose

Bothwell Parish Church is a

congregation of the Church of

Scotland and is part of the

worldwide family of people

belonging to the Christian

Faith, worshipping God

through Jesus Christ.

In response to the love of God

for all, we seek to serve our

community through worship,

friendship, care and

education; and to promote

Christian values of concern

for others, forgiveness,

healing and justice.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2014

ISSUE OF

THE LANTERN Please submit all news, events,

articles, rotas & photos for the next

edition by

Tuesday 7th JANUARY

You can email the office: bothwellparishoffice@btconnect.com

Thank you!!

PLEASE

SAVE

STAMPS

2

SUNDAY

3rd

NOVEMBER

HOLY

COMMUNION

From the Minister

Continued from page 1

A season of greyness

– and hope !

Autumn giving way to winter brings its

own characteristic greyness. ‘The

season of mists and mellow

fruitfulness’ as the poet John Keats

wrote. Beginning with Harvest

Thanksgiving, the season all too quick-

ly brings us to the happy

remembrance of All Hallows or All

saints when we can quietly recall with

deep fondness the love and

friendship of those who have left their

mark on our lives and whose loss still

causes us pangs of painful emptiness;

and also to that more bloody

remembrance of those whose sacrifice

in conflict was bought at such a price.

Thereafter, almost before we know it,

the season of Advent dawns and the

celebration of Christmas offers respite

from the routine and greyness of our

everyday. The waiting for that respite is

important. It’s reality. And the gift of

Christmas is the fulfilment of that

reality.

The realisation that through all our

pain of remembering and anxious

waiting, the hope of a new and

different life can be ours. A life not

based on inequality or injustice but on

harmony, dignity and love. Let’s hope

and pray such a star may shine more

brightly for all people come the new

year.

Jim Gibson

Minister of Bothwell

Interim Moderator at Gilmour and

Whitehill Parish Church, Hamilton

SOMEONE IS

MISSING FROM

OUR CHURCH CHOIR …

COULD IT BE... YOU?

New members always

welcome, please speak to

Phil Hotham.

3

I went to see the soldiers by

Kenny Martin

I went to see the soldiers, row on row on row,

And wondered about each so still, their badges all on show.

What brought them here, what life before

Was like for each of them?

What made them angry, laugh, or cry,

These soldiers, boys and men.

Some so young, some older still, a bond more close than brothers

These men have earned and shared a love, that's not like any others

They trained as one, they fought as one

They shared their last together

That bond endures, that love is true

And will be, now and ever.

I could not know, how could I guess,

what choices each had made,

Of how they came to soldiering,

what part each one had played?

But here they are and here they'll stay,

Each one silent and in place,

Their headstones line up row on row

They guard this hallowed place.

REMEMBRANCE

SUNDAY

10th November 2013

Church Service

begins at

10.45am

followed by an

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

And laying of wreaths at the

War Memorial

on

Main Street

Memorials are important. I have stood

beside the war memorial in the place where I

live each Remembrance Sunday and watched

year after year the same people return to view

the names etched in granite.

The stone holds the names secure, but we

humans hold the pain of the generations in

our hearts.

When we think of the Season of

Remembrance, do we not find ourselves, in a

strange sort of way, remembering the family

members we have lost? We bring them to life

as part of our own identities. In doing so, are

we not connecting ourselves to the fact that

bad things happen in the world and

acknowledging that none of us are exempt,

yet recognising that we live to do good.

Remembering invites me to consider how I

should respond when I think of those who

have lost their lives seeking to keep the

peace: we must all then be under a human

obligation to live our lives well.

If a fellow

human being has lost

out on the joy of

family life, of

friendship, of being

alive, of being free to

breathe, to laugh, to

cry and to love. If a

fellow human

being has lost out on

the joy of family life, of friendship, of being

alive, of being free to breathe, to laugh, to cry

and to love.

Why would I or anyone else, waste life? Why

would I or anyone else, waste life, or

foolishly squander energies on things that

have little purpose or meaning? To do so is to

abuse the gift we have been given.

We who claim to be Christians, we are

further obligated to live in such a way that

we become peacemakers and reconcilers. We

are called to live at peace so that others can

live in peace.

As a Christian, Remembrance Sunday

reminds me that I must live life as one who is

always in debt, debt to God for all I have

received at his hands including that peace

which passes all understanding.

Furthermore, I am in debt to those who gave

their tomorrows so that I might live my

today.

Everyone who possibly can should not only

wear a poppy but also make a point of

attending an Act of Remembrance, even if in

doing so we are inconvenienced. Surely, it is

the least we can do as an act of

gratitude to those who laid their lives so that

others could live.

Very Reverend Albert Bogle Reproduced from Church of Scotland Website

HISTORY

Bothwell Parish Church is the oldest Collegiate Church in Scotland in which worship is still held. Locally, it is referred to as The Cathedral of Lanarkshire. The building is the principal Grade ‘A’

Listed Building in central and Southwest Scotland.

The Quire is the oldest part of the current building. With 12th century foundations, the present Quire was rebuilt in the 14th century and consecrated in 1398. Though the building of the church has changed dramatically over the centuries, the Quire has been in continuous use

unchanged.

Throughout its long life, the Quire has witnessed the changing liturgies of Christian Worship in Scotland from Roman Catholicism, through Episcopalianism to Presbyterianism. It has been a place for royal weddings and has housed military forces engaged in battle. Today, it contains a Sacristy of outstanding architectural importance, memorials of major significance for Scottish history and superb stained-glass by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and more contemporary tapestries as well as the Bothwell Embroideries. A place of great beauty, prayer and peace, it is much visited by tourists and

worshippers alike.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Violent storms during the winter of 2011 brought substantial downfall of masonry from the ceiling of our 14th century Quire. Investigation was immediately carried out by our architect and officials from South Lanarkshire Council. The Quire was deemed unsafe for public use, emptied of contents and vacated. Since last Easter, it has been separated from the Crossing and Nave of the church by a protective wall. And so, sadly, it remains.

WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM ?

Investigation by engineers has discovered that the foundations of the Quire are 800 years old and are constructed on clay. During the last 80 years, the foundations along the south wall of the Quire have slipped. This has caused the wall to move outwards by some 11 inches and the massively heavy 600 year old stone roof-slabs to become displaced. The result is serious damage to the structure of the Quire building, the priceless Burne-Jones stained-glass windows and the internal stone ornamentation of the Quire ceiling.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

The foundations need to be secured, the walls of the

Quire building stabilised and the Quire roof stripped of its

stone covering, and a solid structure inserted upon which

the ancient stone roof-slabs can be replaced. Thereafter,

stone indentation is required, the stained-glass windows

removed, restored and replaced and the memorials

refurbished.

4

WHY MUST THIS WORK BE DONE?

Very simply because, unless this restorative work is carried out as soon as possible, the building of the Quire will degenerate

until it becomes a ruin. Scotland, as a nation, would then lose for ever a place of unique historical,

architectural and social significance. The important necessity of this project for the ongoing witness of the Christian Church in

Scotland is clearly demonstrated by the willing support of:

our Royal Patron

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal

and our Patrons

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow

The Episcopal Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway

The Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland (Church of Scotland).

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

The total project cost, from start to finish, is £2million.

HOW IS THIS MONEY BEING RAISED?

Already just over £1million has been secured !

Funding has been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund,

Historic Scotland and Patersons Quarries of Greenoakhill (Landfill Trust).

Other monies have come from congregational donations.

A congregational Appeal has been launched.

An Appeal has also been launched nationally and internationally in Canada and

the United States of America (where we have obtained charity status).

Numerous applications have been made to UK wide Grant funding agencies.

With the support of South Lanarkshire Council, our special

Appeal Video can be viewed on YouTube.

1. CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER—Please make payable to: “Bothwell

Parish Church Quire Restoration Fund” and send to: Bothwell Parish Church

Office, 48 Main Street, Bothwell, G71 8EX

2. VIA PAYPAL—Visit this link on our website:

http://bothwellparishchurch.org.uk/gifts-remembrances/

and follow the instructions. Please state your donation is for

the ‘Quire Restoration Appeal’.

3. CASH—You are very welcome to call into the church

office during opening hours: Tuesdays, Thursday & Fridays—

9am-2pm.

5

Where A River Bends

by

Jack Gallacher

The church office

still has a few

copies of ‘Where a

River Bends’ which

local author Jack

Gallacher very

kindly donated in

aid of the

Quire Restoration.

If you are interested in obtaining a

copy—and helping a most needy

and worthwhile case—please call

into the church office.

Church Quire

Repair & Restoration

Update

Response from members of the

congregation and friends of the church

to the appeal in support of the church

Quire Repair and Restoration project has

been more then encouraging. Donations,

whether substantial or more modest, are

warmly welcomed, recorded and

acknowledged.

At time of publication, we are only

£800,000 short of our target. Contacts

and negotiations are ongoing with possi-

ble benefactors and it is our hope that

this funding gap will be

considerably closed by the end of this

year.

Good news is that essential repair work

to the Quire foundations will start at the

beginning of November. The area

around the Quire will be fenced off and

public parking will not be possible with-

in the church grounds. Drill holes will

be bored around the building outside the

Priest’s Door, East Window and Sacristy

Window; and deep excavation made

parallel to the south wall of the Quire.

Depending on weather conditions, this

phase of work is scheduled to last up to

three months.

No donation is too small to be

appreciated by us. Please, if you have

not yet made donation to the appeal, do

consider doing so. You will be helping

save one of the most historic and

architecturally significant buildings in

Scotland. What better legacy can you

help to leave to future generations ?

For details on the current activities being held within the

Church Centre please see the noticeboard or look up:

http://bothwellparishchurch.org.uk/2010/12/23/things-to-do/

If you know of anyone requiring

a home visit from the Minister,

or if you have a change of details,

please complete the ‘Welcome

Card’ placed on each pew and hand

it in to the Church Office, or

to Revd.Gibson direct.

Thank you.

THE GUILD

Please help us

support the

Restoration Appeal.

We are collecting

old, broken,

unwanted gold and

silver jewellery.

Please pass any donations of this

nature to a member of the Guild

committee or to the church office.

Thank

you.

6

The Aim of the Guild

is to invite and encourage

men and women to commit their lives

to Jesus Christ

and enable them to express their faith

in worship, prayer and action.

IN AID OF THE

QUIRE RESTORATION

SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 7.30pm in the Church Centre

Tickets £15 *includes Fish & Chips *Bring your own bottle

Many thanks again to those

who returned filled envelopes

following Harvest Sunday.

RED SEA & NOAH’S ARK

SUNDAY CLUBS

7

In the past two years our Christmas Singalong has been enjoyed by both

the children and those who came along to share in our celebration of

Christmas.

This year, however, we decided to have a go at a simple Nativity Play,

with the emphasis on new songs. We have already started preparing and

hope to have our performance on Sunday 22nd December, in the hall, after

morning service. There will be a collection for our young friends in the

Place of Restoration in South Africa.

Our party is on Sunday 8th December from 2.30 – 5.00pm, with Futurestars

providing the entertainment.

Anne Sharp

December 1st 10.30am First Sunday in Advent—Holy Communion

December 8th Sunday Clubs Christmas Party 2.30—5pm

December 15th 10.30 am Gift Service (Lodging House Mission, Glasgow)

December 22nd 10.30am Morning service is followed by Children’s Nativity

in the Church Centre

December 24th 11.15pm Carols

11.30pm Christmas Eve Service

December 25th 10.30am Family Christmas Holy Communion Service

December 29th 10.30am Lessons and Carols at Christmastide

2014

January 5th 10.30am Worship for Epiphany

5.30pm Childrens’ Christingle Service

Worship for Advent & Christmas at

Bothwell Parish Church

Allovus

Christmas Luncheon takes place

this year on

Thursday 5th December.

The festivities continue on

Thursday 19th December

prior to a short break.

The committee will be ready to

welcome you all back on

Thursday 6th of February.

8

Moderator

joins

The Boys

Brigade on

their 130th

year

celebration

The Moderator of the General

Assembly of the Church of

Scotland has recently

congratulated The Boys

Brigade on their 130th

anniversary.

The Right Reverend Lorna

Hood joined the world's oldest

youth organisation for a

celebratory gathering in

Glasgow recently and was given

the opportunity to meet many of

the young members and leaders

who have made the organisation

a long standing success.

The Boys' Brigade was founded

on the 4th October 1883 by Sir

William Alexander Smith. Their

main role is to care for and

challenge young people through

a programme of informal

education in an enjoyable way.

Each week around 20,000 young

people, aged 5 to 18, take part in

one of their 450 groups across

the country. The organisation

has survived two world wars, 44

prime ministers of the United

Kingdom and six monarchs

since it began 130 years ago.

BECOMING A MEMBER

Why Should I Join

Bothwell Parish Church?

“Joining” is not part of our culture nowadays,

especially for younger people. We see

ourselves more as users, consumers, dipping into any organisation or activity where

it offers something helpful to us but not committing ourselves wholesale to the

thing itself. We’re too busy anyway. We don’t have the time to do so. So why

should we join a church?

But are there maybe reasons for doing so that we might consider?

It might be that you’re already involved in some part of the Church’s life,

already giving something worthwhile and feeling you belong here, and it’s

about that belonging being affirmed in a way that enables you to say “this is

my home”.

It’s about sharing the beliefs and values you find expressed in the church,

and saying, “this is who I am, this is what I hold too”.

It’s about taking responsibility, knowing that we have received so much

from others and now it’s our turn to give something back, because you

cannot keep drawing from the reservoir unless you also do something to

replenish it.

It’s about helping to build community, making this place where we live

more like the caring community it needs to be, because it’s not the

politicians or the police who can do that—but only us.

It’s because there are issues our there about peace, justice, fairness and the

plight of the world’s needy, and we can’t live in such a troubled world

without doing something about these things.

And these are just a few reasons!

But be sure that joining the church is NOT about joining an institution. It never

was. There is no sense in which you are asked to sign on the dotted line promising

allegiance to all that the church says and does. We hope you have already heard

enough in the Church to know that questions, doubts and unconventional thinking

are actually important ingredients of believing. Faith is not about the beliefs we

hold in our heads, but about what we’re willing to gibe our hearts to. So belonging

to the church is more a matter of continuing a life-long journey in the company of

others for the sake of who we might become together.

If you have never been a member of any church before (i.e. you have never been

confirmed), a course of meetings for preparation and reflection is usually held

before taking this step. In the Church we have said that the first block of Living the

Questions course can serve this purpose. Details of sessions will always be included

in this magazine, when arranged.

If you have been a member of the Church of Scotland in another parish, a

“certificate of transference” can be obtained from your previous congregation and

simply handed in to us. For those who may have lost contact with their earlier

congregations, or who have been members of other denominations of the Christian

Church, there is also a very simply procedure for membership to be transferred in

such circumstances by a resolution of the Kirk Session.

Please do speak to Revd.Gibson if you would like to discuss things further.

Bothwell Parish Church would be delighted to welcome you.

Summer Family BBQ—August 2013

Photographs used with kind permission by Norrie McPherson.

9

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Minister Revd J M Gibson 853189

4 Manse Avenue

Session Clerk John Crichton Esq. 854421

37 Wordsworth Way

Ch. Protection Mrs E Terrace 852001

19 Coleridge Avenue

Treasurer Alastair Scott Esq. 813285

3 New Edinburgh Road

Uddingston

Gift Aid Donald Lee Esq. 854220

3 Carnoustie Court

Roll Keeper Mrs Lesley Daye 854903

Secretary, Church Office

Property Ken Hamilton Esq 853835

6 Coleridge Avenue

Organist & Phil Hotham

Dir. of Music (Please consult at church)

Presbytery Elder Miss Margaret Hutchison

2 Clyde Avenue 853533

Crèche Mrs Nan Carson 850459

88 Shelley Drive

Sunday Clubs Mrs Anne Sharp 852076

(Pre-school 12 Shelley Drive

& Primary)

ACTs (Teens) Mrs Hazel Scott 813285

3 New Edinburgh Road

Uddingston

Boys Brigade Robin McLean 304775

Hamilton

Allovus Mrs Anne McMillan 852712

54 Baillie Drive

Church Cleaner Mrs Ann Dodds (contact office)

Have Your Details Changed ? If you have moved house recently or know of any

forthcoming changes, please let the church office

know either by

telephoning 854903 or sending an email to

bothwellparishoffice@btconnect.com so that the Church Roll can be kept up to date.

Thank you.

A New Way to Receive Your Magazine? In these days of laptops, Kindles, tablets and i-phones, have

you ever considered reading The Lantern electronically?

Did you know that the magazine can be found on our

Church website?

http://bothwellparishchurch.org.uk/category/magazine

By reading your magazine on-line, and not receiving a

paper copy, you would be helping the Church to continue to

develop as an eco-congregation. In addition you would also

be helping us to save money in printing costs.

I would ask you to consider whether you would be happy

not to receive a paper copy of our magazine. If you decide

this is an option for you, please send an e-mail to the office

bothwellparishoffice@btconnect.com detailing your name

and address, to allow us to make adjustments to the number

of copies printed.

John Crichton

Session Clerk

Car Treasure Hunt

On Sunday 8 September 10 cars left the

church centre car park, filled with

members of the congregation and their

friends and families, to take part in this

year’s car treasure hunt.

In a closely contested battle the Scott

family once again triumphed and carried off the newly minted

winner’s trophy. The route led the competitors to the House

for an Art Lover at Bellahouston Park, where much counting

of panes of glass and park benches took place, and then back

to the church centre via Pollokshields, Rutherglen and the

indoor Go-Kart track at Cambuslang!

The sum of £60 was raised for church funds.

Thanks to all who took part.

John and Sara Crichton

10

'Fall, leaves, fall'

by Emily Bronte

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night's decay

Ushers in a drearier day.

A Short History of Bothwell

Continuing the instalments of the notes prepared by the late Rev. S. J. Hamilton, B.A., on the history of the parish.

11

Part 1 of 2

The first minister of Bothwell after the

Reformation was John Hamilton

(1560—1594).

As we have mentioned in a previous

issue, he had been Roman Catholic

provost of the collegiate church, but

conforming to the new faith remained

in charge as the first Protestant minister

of the parish.

It can well be understood that the times

through which he lived were of a

stirring and transitional nature. Before,

therefore, we consider such details of

his ministry as we possess, it will be

necessary to visualise the national

background of the church and state.

This can best be done by noting some

of the more important acts passed by

parliament and General Assembly.

On 24th August, 1560, the long reign of

Romanism in Scotland came to an end,

as we have already seen, by act of

parliament. However, it was one thing

to throw down, another to build up. It

was not enough to prohibit the mass and

the invocation of saints; something

must be substituted in place of the

ancient worship. So it was that when

the first General Assembly met in

Edinburgh on 20th December, 1560—

consisting of 41 members, only 6 of

who were ministers—it received what is

called the First Book of Discipline, a

document which had been drawn up by

Knox and others, and which outlined

the policy of the church. Its regulations

referred to: (1) the providing of

ministers for the numerous

congregations all over the country; (2)

the order of public worship and

dispensation of the Sacraments; (3) the

provision to be made for the support of

ministers.

Although accepted as a manual of the

church, the First Book of Discipline

was not ratified by parliament. This, of

course, meant nothing to the church so

far as (1) and (2) were concerned, but

the government’s rejection of (3) was a

serious matter. Very soon it became

evident even to the politicians of the

day that something must be done to

keep the Protestant preachers from

starvation. Hitherto they had been

dependent almost entirely upon the

benevolence of their congregations,

and many of them were in abject

poverty. Meanwhile the rich benefices

of the church were still held by the

Romish ecclesiastics or enjoyed by

nobles who had violently seized upon

them. In these circumstances the Privy

Council conceived the idea of

allowing the old Roman Catholic

clergy to retain two-thirds of their

benefices during their life-time , and

of appropriating the remaining third

partly for the Reformed ministry and

partly for the crown. Accordingly, an

act was passed in 1561 requiring all

the beneficed clergy in the kingdom to

produce their rent-rolls, that the value

of the ecclesiastical property might be

ascertained. When the rent-rolls were

produced, it was found that the thirds

of all benefices amounted to £72,491.

(The record of these rentals is known

as the Book of the Assumption of

Thirds of Benefices). The next step

was to modify stipends to the several

ministers. Out of the £72,491 there

was assigned to the Reformed Church

only £24,231, the stipends ranging

from 100 to 300 merks (i.e. £66 13s

4d to £200 Scots) - a somewhat

meagre allowance.

In subsequent Assemblies ministers

complained that their stipends, small

though they were, were irregularly

paid. The result of these repeated

complaints was that on 15th

December, 1567, parliament passed

an important act to the effect that

stipends of the clergy were a first

claim upon the thirds of the realm.

Stipends were to be paid first out of

the thirds, and not till this was done

should the surplus be applied to swell

the royal revenue. The ministers’

claims were thus held to be paramount

to all others.

Part 2 in next issue…

DO YOU HAVE THE DRIVE

TO VOLUNTEER?

We require volunteer drivers who will

use their own cars to provide transport

for older people.

This door-to-door service will help

older people stay connected to their

communities, attending lunch clubs,

church groups, visit friends, go

shopping, attend GP appointments and

more.

Volunteers must have their own

transport, current driving licence and a

caring nature. You

must be available

for a minimum of 2

hours a week. You

will receive

relevant training

and be subject to a

disclosure check

(PVG).

Volunteers will be paid 40p per mile

expenses.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO

PHONE A FRIEND?

This is an exciting home-based

volunteer opportunity available

throughout South Lanarkshire.

Our volunteer telephone befrienders

will phone up their befrendees once a

week for a chat which not only

brightens up their day but also gives

them something to

look forward to

each week.

A simple phone

call can greatly

expand a person’s

social connections

and reduces the

feeling of isolation. It is extremely

flexible as it can fit into the volunteer’s

lifestyle at a time convenient to them.

Before being matched with their

befrendees, the volunteer is trained by

VASLan staff. All volunteer expenses

will be reimbursed.

IF YOU COULD HELP OUT—

PLEASE CALL

01698 300390

OR

EMAIL STAYCONNECTED@VASLAN.ORG.UK

12

Church Flowers

Chancel War Memorial

NOVEMBER 3rd (Communion) Dr Genevra Ritch Mrs Patricia McAulay 10th (Remembrance) Mrs Jan Lee Mrs Elizabeth Somerville 17th Mrs Helen Bryce Mrs Alison Freeland 24th Mrs Ellen Buttery Mrs Doreen Gibson

DECEMBER 1st (Advent) Mrs Dorothy Abercromby Mr John Hart 8th Mrs Jean Hamilton Mrs Veronica Crate 15th Mrs Meg Greenshields Mrs Una McLundie 22nd Mrs Patricia McAulay Miss Marilyn Jack 29th Mrs Ann Hamilton Mrs Shirley Frew JANUARY 2014 5th Mrs Margaret Mitchell Mrs Joan Henry 12th Mrs Nancy Robertson Mrs Anne McMillan 19th Mrs Ann Sharp Mrs Nancy McLenachan 26th Mrs Janet McDougall Mrs Anne McQueen FEBRUARY 2nd Mrs Eleanor Terrace Mrs Eileen Smith 9th Mrs Mary Williamson Mr Bill Ryrie 16th Mrs Nan Carson Mrs Valerie Pringle 23rd Mr & Mrs Ian Wilson Mrs Betty Fairley

Sunday Welcome / Duty Rota Office bearers should please arrive at Church for duty by 10am. Anyone unable to fulfil their duty should please arrange cover.

Please note that only two of the office bearers will be required to assist with counting the collection after the service.

Sunday Coffee Rota As usual, volunteers are asked to please swap any inconvenient dates with each other.

New volunteers are most welcome to join the list and should please contact Marilyn Jack—tel 852138.

Sunday Crèche NOVEMBER 3rd Nan Carson Hazel Gilmour 10th Jean Moyes Jaynie Craig 17th Janette Provan Pat Maxwell 24th Julie Wilson Gillian Ormiston DECEMBER 1st Suzanne Smith Elaine Gibson 8th Aileen Hepburn Eleanor Barr 15th Eleanor Terrace Elizabeth French 22nd Shirley Frew Nan Carson 29th Hazel Gilmour Jean Moyes JANUARY 2014 5th Jaynie Craig Janette Provan 12th Pat Maxwell Julie Wilson 19th Gillian Ormiston Suzanne Smith 26th Elaine Gibson Aileen Helpburn FEBRUARY 2nd Eleanor Barr Eleanor Terrace 9th Elizabeth French Shirley Frew 16th Nan Carson Hazel Gilmour 23rd Jean Moyes Jaynie Craig

NOVEMBER 3 Mrs A Thomson 10 Mrs E Buttery 17 Mrs H Gilmour 24 Mrs E Dempsey

DECEMBER 1 Mrs C Cahill 8 Mrs J Craig 15 Frew & Hepburn Families 22 Mrs S Crichton 29 Bryson Family

NOVEMBER

3 Communion Arrangements 10 J Henry, D Hepburn, L Horn, M Hutchison 17 M Jack, D Lee, G Moore, L McLean 24 H Marsh, J Marsh, C McMurdo, C McQueen

DECEMBER

1 G Ormiston, R Parsons, J Provan, Dr Ritch 8 B Sharp, E Terrace, E Somerville, Dr Thomson 15 A Watt, G Whitton, A Wilson, E Barr 22 E Buttery, J Carson, N Carson, S Cook 29 D Craig, J Crichton, S Crichton, J Cumming

JANUARY 2014

5 J Dalziel, E Dempsey, V Gibson, B Gillespie 12 J Gilmour, T Goodsir, S Greenshields, K Hamilton 19 J Hart, I Henderson, J Henry, D Hepburn 26 L Horn, M Hutchison, M Jack, D Lee

FEBRUARY

2 H Marsh, J Marsh, G Moore, C McMurdo 9 C McQueen, G Ormiston, R Parsons, J Provan 16 Dr Ritch, B Sharp, E Somerville, E Terrace 23 Dr Thomson, A Watt, G Whitton, A Wilson

JANUARY 2014 5 Mrs J Hamilton 12 The Parsons and The Wilsons 19 Mrs N Carson 26 The Ormistons

FEBRUARY 2 Mrs A Thomson 9 Mrs E Buttery 16 Mrs H Gilmour 23 Mrs E Dempsey