1967(Part 1)

Throughout the summer months there was only one morning service, at 10.15, and there was no evening service during July.


New regulations came into force regarding Supplementary Pensions. As many were unwilling to entertain the idea of receiving “assistance”, the new Ministry of Social Security wanted it understood that “incomes throughout the land should not fall below a certain minimum level”. A person living alone required £4 10/- per week, plus rent, and the difference between that and the weekly income was the sum which was to be paid as Supplement to Pension. For married couples the allowance was £7 2/- plus rent. Even if the claimant had something “tucked away for a rainy day”, the amount had to be of sizeable proportions before it affected the supplement payable.

Mr John Lawrence, the Session Clerk since 1962, along with his wife and daughters, Irene and Eleanor, decided to emigrate to Canada. He had been a Sunday School teacher, an active member of the Men's Association and had participated in most of the work schemes: repairing the church roof, painting the railings, helping in the gardens and delivering the Crusaders, among other things. He had been a great force in the Kirk Session and Congregational Board, and he would be missed.



Rev. Donald Macleod, who had been born in Canada, along with Mrs Macleod and the family were sailing for Canada, hoping to settle there. Mr Macleod was hoping to get a charge on their arrival.


A sermon preached by the Rev. James Millar remarked on the criticism, even from people within the Church, which was being levelled at the Church. Books such as “What's wrong with the Church?”, “God's Frozen People” and “The Uncomfortable Pew” did not take into account the influence of the church and the dedication to morality and social work which the church displayed in the world.

The Property Committee under the leadership of Mr Bill Strain undertook a massive amount of work in repairing and renovating in the church buildings and the manse. Some items were small, but also included were the repainting of the entire lower part of the church building, a new fitted carpet for the vestry, new curtains and an electric fire fitted into a wall panel. The outside front wall of the building was refaced. To save money the committee with a few co-opted members (some of whom were not even church members) tackled the work themselves.

The average weekly attendance of the Woman's Guild was 120. The members worked tirelessly towards producing work for the fête, including a weekly Work Party. An outing to Carberry Towers, one to Kirkcudbright and an evening one to the Trossachs and Helensburgh were planned.

Appeals were made for volunteers to paint the church railings, and to deliver the “Castlemilk Crusader”.



The marriage was announced of the Rev. John Sutherland, believed to have been an ”inveterate bachelor”. He was marrying Muriel Bone, the daughter of the minister at Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire. Rev. James Miller, his wife and Miss Grigor were invited to the wedding.

Mr Peter Dane of Dougrie Road became the new President of the Men's Association, Mr John Smith of Simshill, the new Secretary and Mr Logan of Glenacre Terrace remained the Treasurer.



Donations to the Crusader Box for the first four months of the year amounted to £27 4/-, an increase of £6 4s 2d over the same period the previous year.

The main aim of the Garden Fête was to raise money to repay the debt on the church buildings and the manse, and about £420 was raised, which was the most raised at a fête to date. £10,406 of the debt had been repaid leaving £2,768 still to be repaid.


Mr Gardner, Headmaster of Glenwood Secondary School crowned the queen, Mary Wilkie of Croftfoot Road. Her attendants were Violet Kane of Birgidale Road and Elinor Harley of Glenacre Terrace, and the dresses were made by Mrs Thos. MacKay of Arnprior Quadrant. The Pipe Band of Glenwood School were in attendance.


The deaths of Mr William Coffey of Carmunnock Road and Mr William Duncan were announced. Mr Coffey had been a member of the Board for a couple of years and was Property Convener at the time of his sudden death. He also had a long association with the church football team. Mr Duncan who had had a lingering illness had been ordained to the eldership in 1962, having served on the Board for some time.


Arnprior Junior Sunday School changed time from 2.30 in the afternoon to 11.30 in the morning and the Senior Sunday School was absorbed into the Junior Bible Class, meeting at 11.30 in the Church. The age for the Junior Bible Class was 12 years of age, and those in the Junior Sunday School would go into the Junior Bible Class when they reached the age of 12.

New colours for the Girls' Brigade were dedicated and handed over by the Rev. James Millar. They had belonged to the Girls' Brigade of Park Church in the west end of the city, and were given on the uniting of Park Church with Giffnock Orchard Park Church. Mrs Steenson of Downcraig Road altered the name on the flags which were beautifully embroidered and in perfect condition.



Simone Anderson (15) of Glenacre Terrace was chosen by the Glasgow Branch of the Red Cross as Cadet of the Year.


Betty Aitken (now Mrs Matheson), who had been Leader of the 74B Company of the Girls' Brigade for a number of years and a teacher in the Sunday School, sailed in March with her husband, Donald for Australia, to settle in Rockhampton in Queensland.


Jean Cochran, of Crosshill, who had been a keen member of the Youth Fellowship and Youth Club for some years and had been running the Thursday evening Sunday School Club in the Church, set off in July for one year to Kampala in Uganda on Voluntary Service Overseas.


A number of the members of the Youth Fellowship spent their summer holidays on the Church of Scotland Seaside Missions. One group went with Miss Grigor to Leven, while others went to North Berwick and to Nairn.