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Winter 2002
The Manse, Monikie
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
I would like to thank those of you who contributed to the presentation of gifts to me recently at the Thanksgiving Service and also the flowers for my wife. It was a very happy occasion. A 25th anniversary of ordination is not only a milestone but also a stepping-stone to the future, a future that is becoming increasingly difficult for the church in our land today. Hopefully, as at the end of winter, there is a season of new growth ahead after a time of dieback and pruning. According to St. John, Jesus said to the disciples, “ I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
My best wishes for the year’s end.
Yours sincerely,
Gordon Mackenzie
SERVICES
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
22nd December 2002
We hope that some of the local children will take part in the Christmas Family Service, which will be held in Monikie Kirk on Sunday 22nd December at 10.30am. There will be no need for rehearsals for what is planned. If you know any children of school age who would like to be involved, please let me know as soon as possible.
R. Gray Phone 01382 370504
The occasion of Mr Mackenzie’s 25 Years in the Ministry was celebrated with a Flower Festival in Monikie Kirk on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and at our special Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday 27th October. Organised by Mrs Ritchie and her team of helpers, the church was a hive of activity during the preceding week. The theme of the Festival was Colours & Harvest. The church looked glorious and the displays were enjoyed by the many people who visited.
At the Thanksgiving Service certificates of long service were presented to 3 Elders, Stewart Anton, Rob Millar and Angus Nicoll. This service was also Harvest Thanksgiving. There was a retiring collection and in due course a donation of over £100 will be made to a local charity.
Many thanks to Mrs Ritchie and all others who helped to make the occasion such a success.
“I was quite overwhelmed by the beauty of the church and the perfume of all the flowers.
Beauty and Joy can be so close at hand.”
M. Riddick
Though it is with sadness that we note the death on Friday 1st November of our former Minister Douglas Chisholm, we cannot but recall with gratitude his work in and around the Parish from the early ‘60s’ to 1983.
He served as Minister, initially of Monikie Kirk from May 1961 and later of the linked charge with Monifieth North and Newbigging from 1967 to 1983.
During his ministry he strove both in his preaching and his work in the Parish to keep the Church at the core of community life and we recall for instance his interest and involvement in the local youth organisations.
At the time of his retiral we particularly noted our enjoyment of the succession of Harvest Thanksgiving Services, each with a special theme, where the South Angus Young Farmers Club would speak, play and sing as appropriate to the theme.
He strove to enliven our interest in the historical heritage of the area and its people and one recalls with great pleasure our summer evening walks - ‘The Parish Trails’ - led by Douglas Chisholm where he shared his wide knowledge of past events and conditions.
He left with us the culmination of his researches in the historical valuable publication ‘The Monikie Story’
He and Dorothy, his wife left us in 1986 to settle in Chinnor near Oxford where he continued to assist as needed in local Churches whether Methodist, Congregational or Anglican until earlier this year.
Dorothy, increasingly suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and associated illnesses, died in January 2000.
Douglas both served and instructed us faithfully and with dedication. We can but extend our sympathies to his daughters Isobel and Elaine and their families.
Sandy McKay
Tribute from Australia
I am truly sad to learn of the passing of the Reverend Chisholm. Regrettably I never did get to meet him in person - I'd always had it in the back of my mind that on one of my future visits the opportunity would present itself -now never to be, and that makes it doubly sad for me. But I feel that in fact in one way I came to know quite something of him through his writings which as you well know I have read and re-read many times over - studied in depth indeed with map and often with dictionary in hand. It was so amply clear from his penmanship that he had a deep passion for Monikie/Newbigging and the surrounding areas, and most particularly for the people of these places - all the people, those of his era and those who came before them - who they were, what they were and how they lived their day to day lives in the ordinary way of things. His writings reflect richly of his own personality, indeed his spirit and his love for the all peoples of his parishes - my own forebears amongst them. For me his writings brought to vivid life just how life was for my Monikie and Newbigging forebears, and for such talented insight one can only express much gratitude. I am sure I will not be alone in feeling this way - there will be many around the world who have and will in future come to feel this way - his writings are a lasting memorial to him.
Would you be kind enough, as you have the opportunity, to add my sympathies to the many which will be extended to Mr. Chisholm's family, and express my respect and admiration for what has clearly been a life of wonderful contribution to all the peoples of his parishes and those like myself who derived from them.
With best wishes
Laurie
This email was sent to Colin.
Lawrence Wilson’s great-great-great grandfather John Wilson lived at the Laws Farm and was a mason who, with others, built Newbigging Church. His son William emigrated to Australia. (Further information on the building of Newbigging Church to be found in the book 'A COMPILATION' containing texts by Mr. Chisholm, including ‘Precious Stones’ - copies available at £4.00 each by contacting Church Session members or a Hall Committee member.)
BAPTISM (Acts 2:39)
AUGUST
AUGUST
OCTOBER
AUGUST
OCTOBER
IN MEMORIAM
George Fyvie
George was a person who was at home in the depths of nature with a great love of wood and trees. Until his recent illness he played the violin. George was an independent man with a clear mind to the end of his life.
Marjorie Reid
Marjorie was a country person who worked on the farm at Downiemill. Mrs. Reid loved to go out visiting people. During her lengthy time of illness Mrs Reid never complained. She will be greatly missed
The Hall will be open for donations for the stalls on Friday 6th December from 2 - 4pm and 6 - 8pm
STALLS
An Old Fashioned Christmas
Just thought I would write a little about Christmas which is fast approaching with us continually being told there are only ‘so’ many shopping days left.
Christmas is a happy time with news from friends old and new and all the hustle and bustle of seeing that everything goes to plan. I enjoy the religious part too with all the carol singing etc. I remember a Christmas party at school many years ago. We were to be doing a nativity play and believe it or not I was cast as an angel, I don’t think I was dainty enough to be one. I doubt somebody somewhere had got their wires around. It all went alright on the night which was all that mattered. We each received a ‘poky’ and there was a big urn of tea. There were the usual games and then all too soon it was time to go home with an apple and an orange in our pockets. We had two miles to walk and our only illumination was the moon, which was shining brightly to show us the way through the snow, which almost came up to the tops of our wellies! Having previously left a note for Santa on the well polished cheek of the old fashioned black grate, we awaited results - usually a new penny carefully wrapped in tissue paper, a stick of long rock or a bar of ‘coo’ toffee, a book, a trinket of some sort and an apple and orange and we were over the moon. Happy Days!
Annie Todd
There have several events recently to mark the 75th Anniversary of the opening of the Hall on 2nd October 1927. This month on Remembrance Sunday a short service was again be held in the Memorial Hall. On the Monikie Website one can read a copy of the article Mr. Chisholm wrote for the 50th Anniversary in 1977. This article gives an insight into the history and use of the hall over the years. Also on the website there can be found information and links to other sites about the people whose names appear on the Memorials in both churches at www.monikie.org.uk/momemhal.htm . As already mentioned in the May newsletter Colin is always keen to receive further information relevant to the people commemorated on these memorials. He can be contacted at 01382 370329.
The Hearse House at Monikie Kirk
Following the last newsletter’s article on our newspaper collection I was sent information about the origins of similar buildings.
The Resurrectionists: mortsafes and watch-houses
With the growth of medical teaching in the 18th century, universities required
ever-greater numbers of cadavers for study, often purchased illegally from
resurrectionists. Across Scotland, parishes used mort-safes and watch-houses to
protect new graves from the body-snatchers.
Watch-houses can often be found at the edges of old churchyards across Scotland,
and today are often used as storage or now stand in disrepair. However in the
18th and early 19th century, members of the parish were required to take turns
in the watch-house. Watch-houses are usually small structures, and most had a
small grate inside so the watchers could at least keep warm during the long
wintry nights, though few parishioners can have relished this particular duty.
However, in larger towns and cities it is not uncommon to find much grander
buildings guarding the churchyards and burial grounds. In 1820, a circular
watch-tower was built at Old Calton burial ground.
In Bo'ness, it is recorded that the more enterprising in the parish made a
profession of watching, at the rate of a shilling per night. Often the watchers
were supplied with food and drink for their supper, and it was not uncommon for
those about early in the morning to find the watchers suffering from
over-indulgence the previous evening.
Continuing the series of prayers from Glasgow Churches Together
Prayer for November
God of All Heaven and Earth,
praying, in oneness,
with all our Christian sisters and brothers in this area,
we rejoice with the fellowship we share
with the faithful departed.
And in particular we thank you
for all those whom we have known and loved.
Let this prayer echo throughout our day.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer for December
God of the Incarnation,
praying, in oneness,
with all our Christian sisters and brothers in this area,
I/we rejoice that
you share our humanity.
Help us to incarnate you
in the world as it is today
- bringing peace and reconciliation.
Let this prayer echo throughout our day.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer for January (Composed for the beginning of 2002, The Year of the
Child,
by an ecumenical group of children from Glasgow City Centre.)
God, who became a Child,
praying, in oneness,
with all other Christian boys and girls in this area,
I/we thank you that you care for all the children of the world.
Help us to care for boys and girls who suffer
and teach us to understand
what they are feeling.
May we share your friendship with them
and not forget them.
In Jesus' name
- and all God's children say -
Amen.
Articles for the next edition of Two in One should be given to the editor by 2nd February 2003.
D.B., Editor.
(This webpage is subject to some minor alterations for publishing purposes by the Webmaster.)
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