Born in Port Dundas he attended
Keppochhill School, Springburn.
He was a self-made man who came
from a humble background. On
serving his time as an apprentice
blacksmith in Springburn, he
obtained his first job as a
journeyman with the North British
Locomotive Company, Springburn.
His next move was to A & J Inglis,
Glasgow where during his midday
dinner break he taught himself
Greek and Latin. He applied to the
University of Glasgow and was
accepted, going on to successfully
study for an M.A.
Not content with this he also studied divinity and was ordained at
Blantyre Congregational Church in 1904. In 1915 he moved to
Ardrossan Congregational Church and in the same year was
admitted as a minister of the United Free Church and received a
call from Kenmure United Free Church, Bishopbriggs, after three
previous applicants had withdrawn, where he served until 1925.
When he spoke at the Jubilee in 1927 he said that he had
researched the early days of the church but many documents had
been lost. Because he was brought up in Springburn he was known
in Bishopbriggs and was sorry to say that some people were more
snobbish than he realised but he felt that he had eventually won
their respect.
In May 1916, he was presented with a bicycle by the congregation
and friends in the district as a 'token of esteem' although he had
only been in office for nine months. In May 1917 he was presented
with his pulpit robes the ceremony being carried out by Miss
McEachran, Boghead Villa, Lenzie, sister of the Session Clerk. She
said, "We hope that you may have much comfort in wearing them
and that the blessing of the Lord may be with them and pray you
may be long spared to preach the Gospel".
In 1919, the Church at last bought a manse, Ashwell, High Possil -
in a row of cottages at the far end of Milton - which he moved into
in 1920. In 1925 he was appointed as Supervisor to the Education
Board of Cadder and visited schools in Bishopbriggs, Lochfauld
and Cadder.
A man of principles this often led him into controversial situations.
In 1923 the entire Kirk Session resigned and took their case to the
Presbytery who upheld it. However all that happened was that a
new Session was appointed and life continued.
He was a dedicated evangelist who had preached at street corners
and marched in evangelical parades. He wrote vociferous letters to
the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Corporation of
Glasgow tried to fine unlicensed lay preachers who gave addresses
on Glasgow Green. He preached against the consumption of
alcohol and denounced it at every opportunity. He encouraged the
youth of the church and many attended, sang in the choir, taught
in the Sunday School and were members of the organisations.
A man of strong opinions, a powerful preacher and a staunch
Protestant, he supported the Auchinairn and Bishopbriggs Loyal
Orange Lodge, No. 32 Chapter, which met in Kenmure Hall,
Schoolfield Lane and at the Juvenile Lodge Treat in January 1916
urged the young people to 'keep the protestant flag flying' . . . 'For
on them (the boys) depended the future of good true Orangemen'.
He also had strict ideas about what entertainment was suitable on
church premises. When the Church Choir gave a concert of sacred
songs in the Church in April 1925 the audience had to restrain
themselves from clapping because applause was forbidden in the
Church building.
He did not approve of the church being used for films, whist drives
or dances. In September 1925 he challenged Glasgow U.F.
Presbytery to prevent old church buildings no longer needed from
being turned into dance halls or cinemas which in his words turned
these reverent places 'into buildings in which the flesh and the
Devil were in full dress' but his motion failed. His support for
young people was manifest. During his ministry the Boys' Brigade
Company was formed, the Young People's Meetings began, the
annual New Year's Children's Treat was established and during the
industrial upheaval of the 1920s Children's Breakfasts were
initiated. As a teetotaller he denounced strong drink and started
the Band of Hope.
In 1923 he was approached to be Principal of a new college in
Glasgow but declined. When, however, a call came from St James
U.F. Church, (closed 1954) Great Hamilton St. (now London Rd),
in 1925, he felt that it was time to move on. His connection with
Kenmure was maintained over the years and he attended the
Jubilee in 1927 and other special occasions.
In 1936, at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland he
supported a motion to ban the setting up of a Scottish Mothers'
Union because he believed that it would always have the shadow of
Episcopalianism behind it. He wrote several pamphlets the most
famous being, Scotland: No Mean Country, which was about Scots
who had influenced the world. He died in 1939.
Allan Williamson (1926-1961)
Allan Williamson was born in Greenock
in 1873 and educated at St Andrew's
Square Primary School, Greenock High
School and the University of Glasgow
where in 1916 he graduated MA. He
attended the United Free Theological
College in Glasgow where he gained
distinction in every class. As a
probationer in the Church of Scotland
he served as Assistant Minister at
Hamilton West U.F. Church from 1917-1918. Next came two years as locum
tenens in Queen Street Church, Castle
Douglas. His first call to East Church,
Kilbirnie came in 1920 and he was
ordained on 8th November serving five
years until his translation to Kenmure in
April, 1926.
His brother was also a minister and they were both active in the
Temperance Movement taking part in the 1925 No Licence
Campaign. This was a cause with which he was associated all his
life.
His call to Kenmure came in 1926 and he was inducted on
Thursday, April 1926 by the Rev James Hogg BD. Glasgow
Presbytery was represented by Rev J Watson Kelly, (ex Springfield)
Rev Robert Primrose, Springfield and James Walker, a Springfield
Elder. The East Church, Kilbirnie presented Mr and Mrs
Williamson with a 'handsome drawing room cabinet' and a cake
stand. At the Induction Social the next evening the Rev John
Lindsay presided and addresses were given by Rev W. Biggan,
(Saltcoats), Rev K Cameron Govan (Cadder) and J Watson Kelly
(ex Springfield).
A newspaper report in September, 1926 mentions that on the
occasion of his preaching at Greenock he was a 'forceful preacher',
young, arresting and dealing with subjects in an interesting way.
'There is a bright future before him. Bishopbriggs, to which he has
gone will see him make good until he is discovered by one of the
larger City churches'. Thankfully this prophecy did not come true
and he devoted his life to Kenmure.
One of his first innovations was to start a congregational magazine,
Joyful News, to be issued twice per year. He also began the evening
service preaching on a wide variety of popular and attractive
subjects and these were well attended. Soloists and the choir sang
specially selected items.
He was involved in the wider community and on the 20th May 1926
not long after his induction, he had the sad task of jointly
conducting the funeral service for the victims of the Cadder Pit
Disaster. He was at the gravesides in Cadder Cemetery as they
were laid to rest. He was convenor of Auchinairn School and was
active on the local Youth Panel. He appealed to the County Council
to fence off Kenmure Quarry.
In 1960 he preached the sermon at the opening of the War
Memorial Hall, Balmuildy Road. He was also a practical minister
who repaired floor boards in Kenmure Hall when necessary and
when ashes were accumulated from the boiler to be used to surface
the original car park at the church he started to spread them
himself until one of the quarry managers noticed and sent one of
his men to take over.
David Kerr, Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery, sent congratulations
on Allan Williamson attaining his ministerial jubilee on 4th October
1970. He congratulated him for his service, spiritual pastoring and
for his 'amazing genius' at raising money for good causes, his
attention and comfort to the sick in Stobhill Hospital and to the
mentally ill in Woodilee Asylum.
On 18th April 1951, Allan WilliamsonÕs 25th year as minister, a
social evening took place with songs, readings and addresses by
amongst others The Rev H.H. Aitchison, Belfast, Rev E. Heavenor,
Kilmarnock and the Session Clerk, Duncan Robertson.
Presentations were made to Mr Williamson by Mrs Telford and to
Mrs Williamson by Mrs McAllister. Tickets for the occasion, which
included a light supper, thanks to the ladies of the Women's Guild,
cost 1/3d.
On the 22nd November 1961, after 35 and a half years service to
Kenmure Church, Allan Williamson retired. In his speech, Gordon
Bruce said that there were only 12 members left who were at his
induction. The membership of the church had trebled and
Bishopbriggs had grown and was now seeking burgh status. John
Steven, Kenmure Farm, presented a refrigerator to Mrs
Williamson - his mother robed the minister in 1926.
Mrs Williamson was almost blind with very limited sight for many
years. She was a great help to him in his ministry. When he retired
in 1961 he bought a house in Stepps which he named Kenmure.
Unfortunately he suffered bad health just after he retired and for 11
years was nursed by Mrs Williamson. He died in Cleland Hospital,
Motherwell on 4th February 1973 and was survived by Mrs
Williamson and their son Allan, a physicist.
Charles Heriot (1962-1967)
From assistant minister at Greenbank
Church, Clarkston he came to
Kenmure as his first charge. At his
induction on 28th June
1962 he was welcomed by William
Beveridge, who had just become
Session Clerk and robed by Mrs
Telford. Members of the congregation
gave him the right hand of fellowship
and Mrs Irvine made a presentation to
Mrs Audrey Heriot.
A young and fresh minister following one who had served for over
35 years at first it seemed a daunting task but early on he began to
make changes and stamp his own personality on the way that
things were done. He brought the Sunday School into the morning
service on special occasions, revived the evening service, albeit
once a month from October to April to begin with, re-started a
magazine. In his reminiscences in the Centenary Issue of the
magazine in 1979 he recalls that at his first baptism he had an ink
stain on his finger and the baby was handed back with a blue spot
in the middle of his forehead.
Bill Tennant of STV with Mr and Mrs Heriot and Bill
Beveridge at Kenmure Sale of Work 1962
(Picture by Harry Rennie)
In 1967 he and Dr Burnett were commissioners at the General
Assembly when one of the debates was about licensing women as
preachers. He was called to Polmont in 1967 where he still serves
and acted as Senior Chaplain to The Rt Rev Alexander McDonald
on his appointment as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1997.
He was recently back in Bishopbriggs wearing his other hat, that of
expert on the Glasgow Tramways System on which he gives
illustrated talks.
Philip H. Jones (1968-1987)
He was born in Wales but came to
Scotland to work in industry for several
years before deciding, at the age of 40,
to study divinity. He was a widower
with twins, Martyn and Alice when he
met and married Christine, a teacher,
who was a great support to him at
Kenmure. He was a talented artist both
in watercolours and particularly of pen
and ink sketches, many of which
adorned the front covers of the church
magazines.
Kenmure was his first and only charge. At his ordination and
induction on Wednesday, 26th June 1968 the charges were given
by the Rev A.S. Dingwall, of the Sunday School Union and he was
robed by Mrs Telford who also made a presentation to Mrs Jones.
He was particularly encouraging of young people and their
participation in the life of Kenmure. In 1980 he wrote in the
magazine about his pleasure in his chaplaincies and especially at
the Ogilvie Wing of St Mary's where boys who had committed
serious offences were housed.
In 1983 he was proud of the Youth Fellowship's weekend of
outreach in August as Swing Park Evangelists, in Bishopbriggs
Park. He was keen that younger men should aspire to become
elders to ensure the future of Kenmure. He remarked about the
Centenary, in 1979, that it should be seen 'not as a terminus but a
milestone'. He had a wry sense of humour and at the Centenary in
1979 quoted David Livingstone 'Hats off to the past, jackets off to
the future'. When he retired the Jones' went to live in Kirkmuirhill,
South Lanarkshire. He is now in Auchlochan Home, South
Lanarkshire and several members of the congregation keep in
touch.
D. Stuart Crawford (1988-1991)
A young and enthusiastic man he came to
Kenmure from being assistant minister at
Temple Anniesland, Glasgow. He was an
interesting and controversial preacher who
kept the congregation alert. He had the gift
of making people feel that they should do
better and was good at getting them to
volunteer their services. He modernised the
Sunday School and it was renamed Junior
Church.
He felt that their attendance at morning service provided
entertainment for the adults and cut down the amount of time they
had to learn about Jesus. At baptisms he carried the baby up and
down the aisle so that the congregation could see who they were
promising to care about.
At the Week of Christian Unity held in Bishopbriggs Christian
Centre in January 1988 he was the main speaker. He also
introduced the idea of tea and coffee being made available after the
morning service so that members had an opportunity to chat with
and get to know each other. In 1991 under sad personal
circumstances he had to demit his charge.
Iain Laing (1992-present)
The arrival of a son to Bessie and John
Laing, on 21st September 1944, was to
prove extremely significant and
spiritually beneficial to members and
friends of Kenmure Church in
Bishopbriggs, almost 50 years later.
The Rev. Iain Archibald Laing spent his
pre-school years living in Hillington,
before the family moved to Thornliebank.
The normal primary and secondary
education was followed by a couple of gap years, before Iain
accepting God's call, enrolled at Edinburgh University, to study
for the Ministry
A year's probationary spell followed, assistant at St Magnus
Cathedral, in Kirkwall, Orkney, which clearly provided Iain with
a superb insight into the many facets of church life. One fond, if
humorous, memory of his Kirkwall time, he recalled recently. The
church needed to provide an assistantÕs chair and the order was
placed with the local undertaker. In time a beautifully crafted
chair was built and placed in position for the service of
dedication. While he processed to the chair, the organist played
"Who is he in yonder stall?".
Iain received the call to his first charge of St Margaret's in
Tollcross, Glasgow, in November 1971 and thirty months later, in
June 1974, Iain was married to Ruth Ann Cairney, in Cathcart
Baptist Church, Glasgow. The wedding was conducted by a friend
of the Laing's the Rev Eric Alexander.
The young couple's first home was the St Margaret's manse in
Hamilton Road, Mount Vernon, where, despite the interior decor
chosen by Iain when a bachelor was not to Ruth's taste the newly
weds settled down happily to married life, with Ruth becoming
'Lady of the manse' - a name that to this day, does not sit
comfortably with her.
Iain served 12 challenging years at St Margaret's before
accepting his next call to the Island of Bute. In May 1983, he
became minister of the linked charges of the High Kirk of
Rothesay with Kingarth and Kilchattan Bay.
The Laing family consisted of Jennie born in 1976, Alastair born
in 1978 and now they were to be further blessed by the arrival of
second son Andrew with impeccable timing on Christmas Eve
1984. Because had he delayed making his entrance on that day
additional problems might have been experienced as there were
no sailings to the mainland maternity units on Christmas Day.
In June 1992, it was announced that Iain had accepted the
unanimous call, to be minister at Kenmure Church in
Bishopbriggs where he remains at the helm.
Iain is a man of great faith and says of his ministry:
"I simply believe in the power of God to change people. I've
always felt the best witness to Christ is a church where people
learn to agree and disagree, but always under the banner of
Christ's love. Give me people to tell the message of the Gospel and
I am content".
Iain adds with conviction, "The changing world of today presents
new challenges for us all, but cannot be too frightening, when we
face them in faith, with no fears for the future".
In his ministry he is supported by Ruth who says, "Seeing folk
come to Christ, and grow in that faith throughout life's journey to
prove his faithful loving and keeping is my greatest joy". Together
they have been a great asset to Kenmure.
Bert Bell
Ministers from the Congregation
A number of members have felt the call of God to either become
ministers or to devote their life to serve as missionaries.
Robert Dickson (1862-1926) was a house painter and an elder in
Kenmure. In 1896, at the age of 34, he decided to study for the
ministry. He carried out missionary work at Garngad and was
chaplain to the fever hospitals of Ruchill and Belvidere and in 1914
to Barnhill Poor House. A fervent temperance reformer he was a
supporter of the No Licence campaign. On his death in 1926, aged
64, a service was held in Kenmure conducted by Rev John
McMillan, (then of St. James). The church was full and the
vestibule awash with floral tributes. A special carriage was required
to transport them to Sighthill cemetery.
In the 1920s three members became ministers, Robert Watson
who emigrated to Canada, Archibald Kerr who served in New York
and Walter Miller who was ordained in Whitburn, Lanarkshire.
Alexander Rose Rankin (1889-1984) Superintendent of the Young
People's Meeting, was a committee member of the Foundry Boys
Society and active in the Children's Breakfast Scheme at Kenmure
Hall in the 1920s. He carried on business as a slater and plasterer
in Bishopbriggs for many years was ordained as an elder in 1930.
He was also a member of the Board of Management. He decided in
the 1930s to study divinity and qualified as a pastor in 1935 while
continuing to study as a missionary, his idea being to serve in the
foreign mission field. However the war intervened and in August
1940 he was ordained to his first charge at St Columba's, Govan
United Free Church. He returned to Bishopbriggs after he retired
and in 1982 at the age of 93 was apologising that he could no
longer attend the Bible Class and Prayer Meeting.
T. Crowther Gordon, DFC, BD preached at an evening service in
Kenmure in April 1930. He was described by the Kirkintilloch
Herald as 'a local man who in his new charge of the Union Church,
Clydebank has attracted a large congregation by a series of Sunday
lectures on quite exceptional subjects' but no details are given.
John (Jack) Owen, from the age of 13 to 22, attended Kenmure Church. He was a
member of the BB Company and 'joined the church' when the Rev.
Allan Williamson was minister. He was also a Sunday School
teacher at the same time as Sandy McDonald. At this time he
worked in the distribution department of D.C. Thomson,
publishers.
Following his National Service, in the RAF in 1962, Jack studied
for the Ministry. His first charge, in 1967, was at Bailleston St
Andrews which was formed from the union of two churches and
resulted in a completely new building in 1974. Jack served this
congregation until 1980 when he moved to Lochmaben taking over
the linked charge of Applegarth and Sibbaldbye, Dumfries and
Galloway until he 'retired' in October 2001.
His retirement was short lived as he took over the Church of Scotland in Lisbon,
Portugal in January 2002 for a year.
He subsequently oversaw the vacant linked churches of
Auchincairn & Kelton, Galloway, between 2003 and 2005.
The Rt Rev Alexander (Sandy) McDonald, baptised in
Kenmure in 1937, was a member of the
Sunday School and became a Life Boy in
the 182nd BB in 1945. His first 'career' was
as a managerial trainee with Brownlee's
Saw Mills, Port Dundas. This was
followed by National Service in the RAF
from 1958-1960.
Sandy studied divinity at the University of Glasgow and was Student
Assistant at Merrylee Church before his first charge at St David's,
Bathgate. In 1974 he moved to St Mark's, Paisley and in 1988 took
up the post of General Secretary with the Board of Ministry.
On becoming Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland in 1997, Kenmure, as his 'family church', observed the Church of
Scotland tradition and donated £500 to help with additional expenses.
Sandy returned to preach in his home church on Sunday 19th October 1994 and took the congregation on a 'mini tour' of Kenmure
Personalities and People. Many welcomed him back in the New
Hall after the service and lunch was taken in the manse. Mr and
Mrs Heriot were fellow guests.
His mother, Janette, was also president of the Women's Guild.
Sandy's other 'claim to fame' is as father of the former Dr Who, actor David Tennant.
John Lafferty, a divinity student at University of Glasgow, was a
welcome addition to Kenmure for six months for practical
experience during his final year. At Easter 1996 he left to
concentrate on his exams. A member of Tron St Mary's, he and his
wife Moira and family live in Bishopbriggs. In March, 1997 he was
accepted for licensing and became assistant at New Kilpatrick
Church, Bearsden.
Keith Saunders and his wife, Isobel and family joined Kenmure in 1999 on
his appointment as Whole-Time Chaplain: West Glasgow
Hospitals. He is a native of Berwick-upon-Tweed and worked in
banking with the TSB in Edinburgh. He wrestled with a call to the
ministry for 18 months then applied and was accepted as a
candidate. He studied at Edinburgh University, New College, and
qualified in 1982. He was assistant minister at Dalkeith followed by
ordination to his first charge Calder Parish Church, Coatbridge
where he served for 16 years.
"It was my sole intention to be nothing other than a parish
minister . . . but an invitation came to me to be a part-time Hospital
Chaplain. Further responsibilities from the Presbytery of Hamilton
to manage the Chaplaincy Service between the Church and the
Healthcare Agencies led to an offer as Whole-Time Chaplain to the
West Glasgow Hospitals, a newly created post which is happening
more frequently in the present healthcare scene".
He has now embarked on a part-time MSc in Palliative Care with
Marie Curie, accredited by Napier University.
Missionaries
Ernest Burnett was a missionary in the Livingstone Mission in
Africa in 1943. Eric Owen, brother of Rev. Jack Owen, was also in
the 182nd BB Company and became a church member of Kenmure.
He spent two years as a missionary in Nigeria working for the Sudan
Interior Mission. Moira Gentles served in Kalimpong in the
1960s and Alice Jones, daughter of the minister, went as a
missionary to Livingstonia, Malawi in 1978 to teach the children in
the primary and secondary school there run by the Church of
Central Africa Presbyterian, the HQ of the Presbyterian Church in
northern Malawi. She kept in touch with Kenmure under the
Missionary Partner Scheme and her letters appear in several
magazines. She is now back in Scotland with her three sons and lives in
Kirkmuirhill near her father, Rev Philip Jones.
Gail McNab was prayer secretary of Kenmure in
1989. On the 5th of July 1991 she joined the MV
Anastatsia, owned by Mercy Ships, a Christian
group who reach out to help people both physically
and spiritually. The crew are all volunteers and
have to raise their own finances. In 1992, although
a trained midwife, she served on the Ivory Coast as
operating room nurse involved in facial and eye
surgery. Every morning before beginning their long
day the crew met to pray.
Not missionaries in the accepted sense but
nonetheless spreading the Gospel are David and Sheena
Warrilow who in 1999 moved to live in Bracknell, Berkshire,
where they are helping to establish a new church on their housing
estate.
Lay Readers
In 1983 Tom Callender, a lecturer in engineering at University of
Strathclyde, joined the congregation for three months as part of his
training as a Church of Scotland lay reader. He helped with the
Youth Fellowship and the Bible Class and preached on several
occasions. He was a member of Tron St Mary's, Springburn and
was set apart as a Lay Reader on 24th November 1980 at a service
in St John's Renfield Church. James Lockhart, a senior prison
officer at Barlinnie Prison, spent six months with Kenmure in 1986.
He was a member of Springfield Cambridge.
Jack Campbell
In 1992 I joined the congregation at Kenmure Church after being
Session Clerk at Trinity Possil and Henry Drummond Church in
Parkhouse. Dr Andrew McGowan, who was minister there at the
time encouraged me to become a Reader, although I had been a
Lay Preacher since 1960. Fortunately I was not required to do
any additional training as I had a BD from London University. I
was 'Set Apart' for the Readership in 1989 when Rev. David
Easton was Moderator of Glasgow. Shortly after this event he
kindly asked me to preach in his church at Burnside.
On average,
I had preached about ten times a year, until the summer of
1998 when Rev. Hugh Wallace asked me to be Locum at his
church, Mount Florida, while he was on Study Leave for four
months. I did some of the preaching, took four funerals and
visited sixty homes during my time there.
In 2004 I was Locum in
High Carntyne for three months. In 2005 Hugh
Wallace invited me back to Mount Florida for a
second stint there as Locum. As I was finishing this
I had a phone call from Rev. David Lunan,
Presbytery Clerk, asking me to be Locum at Calton
Parkhead. As the minister has since resigned, I am
still there and will be for the foreseeable future.
Jack Campbell
Youth Worker
Alison Wright became leader of the Junior Church when it was set up in
1990. In 1994 she decided to attend the Methodist, Cliff College,
Sheffield, to study for a Diploma in Evangelism. Her success in
gaining first prize for New Testament studies shocked her and she
was delighted to have come so far. In her second year she was sent
out on Missions at weekends, a ten day one and a three week one. She
also went into secondary schools and attended conferences. She
had to knock on doors, take services, preach and attend children's
clubs.
Having passed with merit she worked in Manchester as a part-time
youth worker serving seven churches. She is now Lay Worker for
Pastoral Youth Care at Knutsford Methodist Church and is married
to Neil who she met at Cliff College.
Chapter Three
