|
|
|
Church
History
|
Ministers
of Renfrew North
|
|
|
Rev
Dr. D. MacFarlan
|
|
1843
- 1853
|
|
Rev.
D. Neilson
|
|
1853
- 1890
|
|
Rev.
Dr. R. Hill
|
|
1890
- 1931
|
|
Rev.
D. Swanson
|
|
1931
- 1954
|
|
Rev.
P. McCardel
|
|
1955
- 1962
|
|
Rev.
A. Jack
|
|
1963
- 1966
|
|
Rev.
A. McLachlan
|
|
1967
- 1972
|
|
Rev.
A.P. Barrie
|
|
1973
- 1979
|
|
Rev.
E. Lorna Hood
|
|
1979
- -----
|
|
|
|
A
Pictorial History (1943 -
1988)
Adapted
for this website from a collation
of items by Stewart
Moir
|
|
|
Foreword
(by Rev. E. Lorna
Hood)
A
history of our church could have
been written by any one of the
hundreds of people who have been
its members during the last one
hundred and forty-five years.
None of the histories would have
been alike. Each one of us has a
unique possession in our faith
and unique also is our
relationship to our church and
its meaning to us.
It
is our hope however that what has
been selected from the facts and
events of our past will stimulate
your own precious memories and
that it will help to recall to
the older members and reveal to
the younger ones the ways in
which we have been guided through
the years. We give thanks to
Almighty God for our heritage and
all that He has enabled us to in
the years that have gone. We pray
that increasingly, He will show
us the things, both as
individuals and as a congregation
of his people, we have left
undone and likewise strengthen
and enable us thus to carry out
our task.
The
Psamist said, "I was glad when
they said to me, let us go into
the house of the Lord." May we
re-echo these
thoughts.
My
thanks to Stewart Moir who did
the research, writing and
compiling of this history of
Renfrew North and in all who
shared their memories.
Yours
in Christ's Service
E.
Lorna Hood.
|
|
|
The
original North Church built in 3 months in
1843 for £843, perhaps the first
United Free Church in
Scotland.
|
|
Renfrew
North Parish Church has its
origin in the Disruption of
1843.
After
10 years of debate and
disagreement one third of the
ministers of the Church of
Scotland decided to leave their
charges over the right of a
congregation freely to choose its
Minister and not be compelled to
take the choice of a
patron.
The
then minister of Renfrew Parish
Church, Rev. Dr. Duncan
MacFarlan, together with about
three hundred members, left the
Established Church and formed a
congregation of the Free
Church.
A
church building and manse,
therefore, had to be constructed
in the shortest possible time.
Dr. MacFarlan was allowed to stay
in his manse until it was
required and the congregation
worshipped in the town hall until
new premises could be completed
in Renfield Street.
Such
was the expediency shown that the
foundation stone of the new
church was laid on July 19th
1843. The building was opened for
public worship on October 22nd
1843, having cost £843. It
is thought that Renfrew Free
Church was the first to be
completed in the Presbitery of
Paisley and probably the first
finished in the whole of
Scotland.
In
1881 the decision was taken to
construct a larger building. The
foundation stone was laid on
November 25th 1882 and the formal
opening took place on 20th
December 1883.
The
year 1900 saw Renfrew Free
becoming part of the United Free
Church, being known thereafter as
Renfrew North United Free Church.
The Union of 1929 resulted in its
becoming part of the Church of
Scotland.
|
|
|
An
artists impression of the new church for
which "a deputation of young ladies
stepped into the manse and carried away
the heart of the minister".
Rev.
David Neilson
|
|
Our
second minister, the Rev. David
Neilson was a remarkable man,
indeed J.M. Scott of Arbroath
wrote an impressive account of
him in his book "Memorials of the
Rev. David Neilson".
He
wrote."Mr. Neilson was a man of
genius, a fine preacher, a good
pastor and the most genial and
generous of
companions."
"His
piety was not characterised by a
gloomy intensity, but rather by a
quiet strength and genial
brightness"
The
struggle for a new church in 1882
was immense and the mood,
inspiration and final triumph was
perfectly expressed by J.M.
Scott, thus;
"The
last decade of Mr. Neilson's life
was particularly memorable. A new
church was built and opened free
of debt. For many years the
congregation had been
dissatisfied with the old squat,
low-roofed structure, after the
ugly Tanfield site; and at last
in 1881 a deputation of young
ladies stepped into the Manse and
enthusiastically propounded a
plan for erecting a handsome
church. They fairly stormed the
citadel and carried away the
heart of the minister. Forthwith
all necessary arrangements were
made by the office-bearers for
building a fine Gothic church on
the old site. The project
prospered well, beyong the
expectations of the most
sanguine. Money flowed in from
the most unexpected quarters.
High and low, rich and poor,
readily responded to Mr.
Neilson's irresistable appeals.
The representatives of all
denominations contributed
heartily to the building fund.
Soon Mr. Neilson had three
thousand pounds in hand and
sixteen hundred pounds more were
raised by means of a bazaar held
in Paisley during Christmas week,
1883.
On
the 20th Day of December 1883,
the church was opened for public
worship by the Rev. Dr. Adam of
Glasgow. In 1884 John Filshill (a
Renfrew man) happily opened the
spacious halls adjoining the new
church; and the whole
ecclesiastical buildings, costing
£5010, were declared free of
debt on the first day of May
1888. Gratitude and joy possessed
the hearts of pastor and people.
Their mouths were filled laughter
and their tongues with singing.
They felt that the Lord had done
great things for them and they
were glad".
Here
we find a great parallel to
today's situation but I am sure
we shall triumph over our present
adversity and gratitude and joy
will also possess our hearts when
our work is done.
|
|
|
|
|
This
picture was taken in late 19th
centuary around 1890. The cottage
to the left of the church was
demolished in 1898 to make way
for Seaforth Terrace which is the
tenement building still in
existance today.
|
|
Rev.
Robert Hill
|
|
Rev.
Robert Hill was another strong
character and his biographer and
friend George Adam Smith wrote,
"There was none of our class of
whose high character, devotion to
the service of Christ and power
of hard, honest work we were more
sure." "Mr. Hill has preserved
the simplicity and freshness of
his youth better than any of his
contemporaries".
|
|
|
|
View
of the Church showing the new
Seaforth Terrace to the left of
the Church, which was built in
1898
|
|
|
|
A
younger Robert Hill - frock coat
and hat - talking to a parishoner
at the old Renfrew Cross around
1892. Manse Street is in the
background and these buildings in
the foreground were demolished in
1896.
|
|
|
|
Revd.
Robert Hill is honoured by
Provost Mr. Gregor and Senior
Elder, Dr. Hill on his Jubilee in
the ministry.
|
|
|
|
|
This
view clearly shows the manse
attached to the Church. The manse
was demolished in 1937 and after
a great financial struggle, the
New Hall was built and opened in
1952
|
|
Rev.
Donald Swanson
|
|
Rev.
Donald Swanson was a very popular
figure, no less devoted to his
parishioners than his
predecessors but with perhaps a
uniquely gentle approach. It was
his dream to have a new hall
built on the site of the old
manse to cater for the youth
organisations like the Scouts,
Boy's Brigade and Guides not
forgetting the Cubs, Lifeboys and
Brownies all of which were
increasing in numbers. The effort
of fulfilling his dream affected
his health and shortly after its
opening he collapsed and died.
His dream became his
epitaph.
|
|
|
|
|
Taken
in 1938, this is the first
picture taken of the Church
without the manse attached. You
can just see in the extreme
bottom right that the manse wall
has been replaced by a modern
sandstone low wall.
|
|
|
|
Although
taken this year (1988), this
photograh shows clearly the "New"
Hall built by the inspiration of
Donald Swanson and which has been
enjoyed by countless numbers of
people in its 35 years of
existence.
|
|
|
|
In
memory of Donald Swanson, this
stained glass window was
commissioned, but perhaps the
most pertinent memorial of this
minister is the existence of our
New Hall, still so-called to this
day.
|
|
Rev.
Philip McCardel
|
|
A
"Son of the Manse", Rev. Philip
McCardel took charge of his first
congregation in 1954. He
immediately recognised the
potential in our ever-growing
youth organisations and the need
for strong leadership and it is
no coincidence that during his
ministry the numbers of young
people taking part in the Boy's
Brigade, Scouts and Guide
movements hit their
peak.
|
|
|
|
In
this photograph of the Boy's
Brigade with Rev. Philip McCardel
is one Alastair MacLachlan who
was then Session Clerk and went
on to become the Rev. Alastair
MacLachlan.
|
|
Rev.
Angus Jack
|
|
When
Philip McCardel was called to his
present (at the time) charge at
St. Columba's Parish Church in
Stewarton, the Vacancy Committee
took a unique course of action.
They saw and heard many
candidates but eventually decided
that the most likely successor
would be Rev. Angus Jack from
British Columbia, Canada whose
sermons they had only heard on a
tape recorder.
The
technological age had arrived at
Renfrew North.
|
|
|
|
After
three years of ministry at
Renfrew North, Angus Jack, his
wife and family returned to their
beloved Canada where he is (at
the time) ministering to his
people in British
Columbia.
He
and his wife however returned to
Scotland in 1985 for a nostalgic
holiday and we were delighted to
welcome them back to Renfrew
North. Rev. Jack took part in one
of our services and we were
amazed by his quick recollection
of names and also how little he
had changed since his days at
Renfrew North.
|
|
Rev.
Sandy McLachlan
|
|
Ayrshire
has bred many talented people
down the years and Sandy
McLachlan from Saltcoats
certainly was no exception. The
football-loving energetic young
man in his first charge was
quickly taken to the hearts of
the congregation.
|
|
Rev.
Sandy McLachlan
|
|
This
picture was taken just before
Rev. Sandy McLachlan left with
his family for Dallas, Texas
where he is still
minister
|
|
Rev.
Arthur & Margaret
Miller
|
|
We
were perhaps building up a
reputation for giving young
ministers their first charge so
it was no surprise when Rev.
Arthur Barrie arrived with his
wife Elsie and immediately
settled in, his likeable,
easy-going personality pleasing
the congregation.
At
this time we had (and still have)
a Missionary Partner and here
Rev. Arthur Barrie is pictured
with Margaret Miller in a visit
she made to Renfrew in
1976.
|
|
Rev.
Arthur Barrie
|
|
Rev.
Barrie left us in 1978 for his
present charge at Cadzow Parish
Church Hamilton.
|
|
Rev.
Lorna with Husband Peter
and
Baby Laura
|
|
Lorna
Mitchell was a student assistant
at Corstorphine, Edinburgh when
our Vacancy Committee visited and
left more than a little impressed
by the style and dedication of
the girl from
Kilmarnock.
She
was unanimously elected to to her
first charge and became not only
the first woman minister of
Renfrew North, but also in the
presbytery of Paisley.
Shortly
after her arrival she married
Peter Hood and both settled in
the manse to begin their married
life.
Now
they have a lovely daughter,
Laura and at the time of
printing, are expecting an
addition to the
family.
|
|
|
|
|
In
1993, Long Service Certificates
were awarded to several of our
elders.
|
|
|
|
Also
honoured was George Moffat who
"celebrated" 40 years as our
Church Officer
|
|
|
|
This
photograph was taken in 1985 and
shows the church substantially as
it is today.
|
|
|
The
church thanks Stewart Moir for his time
and effort spent in compiling this history
and it seems appropriate to end this
webpage with his words :-
Word
of Thanks
"My
sincere thanks to the Renfrew Historical
Society, especially the late Daniel
Hillcoat, who inspired me to collate the
material in the first place. I am saddened
that he died before seeing the completed
work.
Many
thanks also go to those in the
congregation who supplied photographs and
special thanks to Colin Cameron for taking
the up-to-date pictures and for
re-photographing other
material.
This
is my way also of saying thanks you to the
congregation which has seen me grow from
baptism to eldership. My memories of
Renfrew North are fond and deep and I wish
everyone connected with the Church every
success in the future.
When
I was researching this history I was
struck by a recurring theme throughout our
church's existence - that of courage. The
courage of Duncan McFarlan and his
followers to leave the established Church
and build the first United Free Church in
Scotland.; the courage of David Neilson
and his "deputation of young ladies" to
rebuild the original church in 1882 and to
have it opened (despite the critics) "free
of debt".; the courage of Donald Swanson
who despite failing health gave his all in
building the New Hall complex in 1952 and
the courage of the present Minister Rev.
Lorna Hood and her Congregational Board to
have essential and extensive repairs
carried out to the older parts of our
Church.
We
have been given a legacy by our
predecessors, it is our duty to uphold
that legacy and to pass it on intact to
our successors in the years to
come"
Stewart
Moir
January
1988
|
|
