Castlemilk West Parish Church

The Next Ten Years

(Information and photos taken from the church magazine, the “Castlemilk Crusader”)

1966 (Part 1)

In January, the Woman's Guild celebrated its tenth anniversary by inviting as a guest, Mrs Macleod, the wife of the previous minister, who was a past president. There were visitors from various guilds in the area and Mrs Knight recalled highlights from the ten years.

Mr Sydney Powell was now the Church Officer.

Because of pressure of work, Mr William Dewar, who had been Treasurer for three years resigned, and Mr Robert Campbell took over. Mr Campbell had been an active member of Castlemilk West since 1955. He was ordained as an elder in Fairbairn Church in 1949, and was one of the first three elders inducted in Castlemilk West in 1957. He was the first Clerk to the Board and had served continuously on the Board and Kirk Session. He was a past president of the Men's Association.

An extensive revision of the Congregational Roll took place and anyone who had not attended church for three years received a letter and was visited by elders “with a view to encouraging them back into the life of the church”. If no interest was shown their names were deleted from the roll of members.

Devorgilla House in Dumfries was opened as the 32nd Church of Scotland Eventide Home, a hotel in Pitlochry was purchased for conversion to an Eventide Home, and in Glasgow a block of flatlets for 12 elderly women was in preparation. The women would be able to live independently while enjoying certain communal facilities, including one main meal served in a common dining room.

The Woman's World Day of Prayer was held in Castlemilk West.

A Prayer Meeting was held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

Henry Grant of Croftfoot Road, William Hamilton of Simshill Road and Alexander Kincaid of Ardmaleish Road were ordained and admitted to the eldership. William Hurst of Orcades Drive, already ordained, was admitted as a ruling elder. He was also Halls Convener.

Samuel Hunter of the Glasgow Herald announced in an article that Elizabeth Thomson, the librarian at Castlemilk Library was delighted to say that not a single window had been broken and hardly a page had been torn in the last financial year. She said, “Look at the condition (of the library) after five years. I've a very great admiration for the people of Castlemilk. It's the few who give it a bad name.”

The Christian Action Group, made up of members from each of the local churches, met with Cathcart M.P. Mr Edward Taylor and the three local councillors to discuss a number of problems in the area. These were the poor condition of footpaths and roadways, the long delays by the Factor's department in carrying out repairs, the need for bins to be emptied more often, the congestion in St Enoch's Square at the 5 and 14 bus stops, the installation of some type of warning system for old folks and invalids in the high flats, the treatment of unco-operative tenants and the need for more policemen to combat vandalism. Arrangements had already been made to start a Lunch Club for pensioners. A Playgrounds Committee was set up to get suggestions regarding proposed play spaces. The aim of the Christian Action Group was to give Castlemilk a new label, “The scheme without problems”.

It was calculated that if the church obtained an average giving of 2s 6d per week from each member (less than the price of ten cigarettes) it could have an annual income of approximately £8500 and all the debt would be wiped out within a year.

Bob and Martha McDill, along with their two children, Helen Marie (almost four) and Janna Ruth (almost two) sent greetings from America to their friends in Castlemilk West.

A link was set up between the Woman's Guilds in the Presbytery of Lochaber and the deaconess, Miss Grigor. She would keep them informed about the life of Castlemilk West and they would pray for the work of the church and send gifts of food, clothing, toys and books to be distributed to needy families.

Ministers on the move -

Rev. John Sutherland who was an assistant minister in Castlemilk West was the sole nominee for the charge of Killean and Kilkenzie, near Campbeltown.
Rev. Wm. Mackay was inducted to Priesthill Parish Church.
Rev. Peter Douglas, who was in Castlemilk West for two months in 1962 and was later Assistant at Cathcart Old and Glasgow Cathedral, became minister of the linked charge of Boarhills and Dunino, near St Andrews.
Rev. Alistair Kelly, who left in 1961 to go to Drumry St Mary's, Drumchapel, became minister of South Morningside Church, Edinburgh.


At the Garden Fête, held on 28th May in the church grounds, the queen, Doreen Woods of Birgidale Road, was crowned by Edward Taylor M.P. for Cathcart. The attendants were Elaine Smart of Glenacre Drive and May Murray of Castlemilk Drive.
The dresses were designed and made by Miss Rose Grant of Raithburn Road. The admission to the fête was 6d for adults and 3d for children. The amount raised was a record total of almost £400. Mr Barker, “whose tremendous work and enthusiasm in the planning of the fête, was an inspiration to the Committee”.