Kelvinside Hillhead History

We will remember them

[In addition to our own service at 10.45am this morning, Rev Pat Lang will lead a Service of Remembrance at the war memorial in Oran Mor, the former Kelvinside Church, today starting at 12.45pm]

I think it would be true to say that all churches in Scotland over 120 years old, from the largest in town to the smallest country church, will have within its walls or in its grounds a memorial to the dead of the 1914-18 war, with a smaller addition of those lost in the last world war.

The three large churches adjoining Byres Road were no exception. At the union of Belmont and Hillhead the Belmont memorial was moved to Hillhead Church and is situated round the Vestry door in that building.

The Kelvinside Memorial was not so adaptable. It could not be moved as it was part of the structure of the back wall. It was in a prime position. As you entered the church there it was facing you. It is still there but is now covered by a mural.

In addition, the peal of eight bells was installed in the Kelvinside tower as a memorial to the young men of Glasgow Academy and the Church lost in the 1st World War.

Why these memorials? No church escaped the loss of young men of their congregation. The Muster Roll of the then Kelvinside United Free Church records that 237 men and 22 women served with the fighting forces. Of these 31 laid down their lives. In addition many gave service as Volunteer Reserves.

In many cases there were more than one from a family. One, still with connection to Kelvinside Hillhead, had three boys and one girl serving – one of the boys being killed on the Somme aged 24yrs and buried in the war cemetery in Rouen. A full roll of honour can be found in the Memorial Books in the stand in the left alcove in the Kelvinside Hillhead building.

The memorial to those of Hilhead Church is on the wall of the chancel and there is of course the Teacher Window in memory of their son who was killed.

It is important that the names are on these memorials to remind us that those listed were people, young men and boys. They were sons, husbands, brothers and friends whose lives were cut short and did not have the joy of growing up.

‘They gave their tomorrow for our today’

– Rev Pat Lang

(This article was originally published in the Autumn 2016 issue of the Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church Magazine)

 

Kelvinside Hillhead Children & Families, Getting Together

Celebrating Harvest

We had loads of fun at Messy Church baking soda bread and making butter along with lots of other harvest crafts. The rest of the congregation were able to sample our efforts on Sunday at the Welcome Lunch after our Harvest Thanksgiving Service.

If you want to have a go at making soda bread, this is the recipe we used (makes 12 rolls):

Preheat your oven to 200C (fan 180C, gas mk 6)

  • 300g wholemeal flour
  • 300g plain white flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 200ml buttermilk
  • 225ml milk
  • 2 tsps honey

Tip for buttermilk: it can sometimes be tricky to find, but large supermarkets often have it in the Polish foods section (maslanka). If you can’t get buttermilk, natural yoghurt works too.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix to form a sticky dough (you may find you need a little extra milk).

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 12 equally sized rolls. Place on a floured baking tray and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until risen and golden brown.

If you want to make butter to eat with it, put some double cream into a large jar. Make sure the lid is on properly (!) and then shake, shake, shake until the butter separates out into a lump. Rinse and squish the butter under a cold tap to get as much of the remaining liquid as you can and then eat with warm soda bread rolls.

 

Kelvinside Hillhead Getting Together, What's On

Diary dates: October 2018

Coming soon….

Shoebox Night, Wednesday 10th October, 8pm
The Guides and Ranger Guides invite you to join them for an evening launching our shoebox collection for this year.

A Matter of Opinion, Friday 12th October, 7.30pm
For this month’s MOO, Susie Reid will Skype in from Brazil to tell us about her work with ‘street children’ there. (She will be supported in the room here by Maureen Reid.) Definitely one not to be missed!

Coffee ‘n’ Cards, Saturday 20th October, 10.30am
Our annual sale of charity Christmas Cards and a wider than usual range of Fairtrade goods along with refreshments, home baking and good conversation.

Kelvinside Hillhead Children & Families, Getting Together, What's On

Messy Church Saturday 29th September – harvest fun!

mcsep18

Join us from 10.30am – 12.30pm where we’ll be making bread and butter (and maybe some jam to have with it..), planting bulbs (and making mini scarecrows to keep them safe!), crafting harvest wreaths and lots more fun!

If you can let us know you’re coming via our Facebook event page then that will help us plan for food and materials, but feel free to drop in on the day.

Kelvinside Hillhead Children & Families, What's On

West End Weans

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West End Weans is a parent and toddler group for children aged 0-5 years.

Join us in the church hall (enter from down the steps on Observatory Road or step-free access via the car park) on Fridays from 10am to 12 noon.

Only £1.50 per family.

Come along with your toddlers and babies to play, make, sing, eat healthy snacks and meet other local familes.

All parents, grandparents and carers welcome! A chance to pause, have a cuppa and a chat.

Find us on Facebook at WestEndWeans or email us on familyworker@kelvinside-hillhead.org.uk

Kelvinside Hillhead Getting Together, Music & Art, What's On

Ceilidh! Friday 21st September, 7.30pm

ceilidh

Get on your dancing shoes for our ceilidh to welcome back old friends at the start of the new academic year, and say hello to new ones.

Everyone is welcome, whether you’re an old hand at Stripping the Willow, or don’t know your Dashing White Sergeant from your St Bernard’s Waltz.

The Reel Stramash Band will be providing the music and there will be a charity raffle for the Interfaith Glasgow Weekend Club.

Doors open at 7.30pm.

Tickets £10/£7 concessions are available from tickets.kelvinsidehillhead@gmail.com or on the door.