KHPC Fabric Team

What with Oran Mor erecting a huge amount of metalwork around the tower, and us as well; it seems that at least the Scaffolding Industry in Scotland is flourishing! No, I don't know what the old Kelvinside Botanics Church is doing, perhaps someone does and can tell us. I do know what we're doing. The Fleche will lose its, rather fetching green, debris net fairly soon All the while lots is going on inside the roof space. Thankfully the Contractors were on hand to deal with the deluge of water which fell on us on Monday night. The last of the old plastic downpipes will now be finally replaced, the one that was left had completely choked and the resultant waterfall into the Church and Hall was swiftly dealt with. Fortunately the heating engineers arrived on Wednesday to start installing the new heaters in the Hall. Efficient and working! Wonders will never cease! By yesterday morning the difference in the Hall was amazing ------ (also note the previous colour schemes!) All I can ...

Sometimes it can be quite amusing to look back and see exactly what was going on at the same time last year. I posted a blog on this Sunday last year, commenting on the gales and heavy rain which had hit the West of Scotland. This year surprisingly the same thing has happened, thankfully I was less worried about the roof and leaking gutters. The first time for a very long time. Today after morning worship Young Church hosted a Barbecue! (Typical British type-- Food eaten and served indoors) Many stayed to enjoy and especially (for me anyway) the Ice Cream Cones with Chocolate sprinkles. We were all in a happy relaxed mood and the Treasurers reported to the Congregation that the sum of £15,000 had been collected during Gift Day! Once again the Congregation has shown its dedication towards staying and working in this place. Thank you all! The photograph is an illustration of the hardworking back-room staff on Gift Day! Thank you John and Peter!

Committed? -- Yes! We are! Dedicated? --- Yes! We are! Breaking News! Exciting News! Will tell the official figure of the total collected yesterday at the Gift Day, after Morning Worship. It is only fair that the Congregation gets to hear first!

It was a pretty early start this morning; I had been asked by the contractors if I could leave my van beside the Church in order to save a space for the Scaffold lorry which was due in first thing. So my Friday morning was spent ensuring that we were able to offload yet more scaffolding. Yesterday (Thursday) the Church boiler had been fired up and everything seemed to be working fine., except the men said that it might be too warm for them working up in the roof space----some people are never happy! However, all I can say is 'Thank-you' because the carved Oak pelmet which has been removed temporarily from the front of the Church has been cleaned up and has been placed safely under cover within the Church. It really is a beautiful piece of wood with a craftsmanship which is not really seen nowadays. As for all that extra scaffold? ------ Well an extra squad of scaffolders are due to arrive on Monday to start erecting scaffold around the Fleche. So all of the neighbours will be a...

As I was admiring the (fairly) new Organ installation in St Michael's Cathedral in Brussels, My mobile phone vibrated, demanding a response. So I left and sat on the steps outside, when it rang again it was the specialist metal conservator in Edinburgh enquiring about our Chandelier (the one we dropped nearly 2 years ago!) We had a little chat with regard to costs and progress on the winding mechanisms. Then I told him that I was in Brussels and would respond further later when I got back to Scotland. Hopefully next year we can have 6 chandeliers again. Nice ceiling isn't it? Plastered and about the same height as ours but narrower. and of course there are 3 aisles like this, this is the centre aisle.

Harvest was early in KH this year, too early for the produce from the Allotment, however this Saturday (24th October) we are looking towards a different kind of Harvest. KH has held a Gift Day over the last few years where we look to Gifts from within and without. This is our opportunity for donations to be made specifically towards the upkeep of our building and its purpose within the West End. It always seems best that we should make it a social occasion as well We are having various stalls of Charity Christmas Cards and of course our very own Fairtrade Stall (Thank You Pat!). There will be Home Baking, Coffee and Tea etc, All musically accompanied by Anna on the Piano, (playing favourite requests if we're lucky) Also a Play area for the young ones. This year the time is from 10:30 until 13:00Hrs. A most pleasant way to spend a Saturday Morning. Then------- In the evening starting at 19:30hrs, we welcome Cathures : " a link between the past and the present of Glasgow and a ...

Don't do it! It does seem a little strange, but I think this is the second photo of this very hardworking person "up close and personal" with a window. Although the last time we managed to have the window brought down from on high for her close inspection. Whatever, the gist of all this is; that this particular property owned by the Congregation is now ready for a new tenant. As explained during the 'At-Home Sessions' this will be an extra source of income for the Congregation. A lot of work by a lot of people has gone into achieving this, and cleaning the windows on a glorious Autumn afternoon has been just part of it.

Another Site Progress Meeting over, and we are still on schedule. Meanwhile; The Manse is occupied by a family again and the other Church Property is ready for let. An incredible amount has been accomplished in a very short space of time. My heartfelt thanks to all involved with the re-furbishments of the two properties. ----- Builders, Electricians, Joiners, Plumbers, Gas fitters, Painters, Carpet Fitters and the lovely delivery men from Comet, (I can still see the young lad's face when I said "yes, it is the top floor") I am beginning to feel that 'My Notebook' with all the names and telephone numbers has become quite a valuable document.

Perhaps not quite the repair works on the High Roof, but still an essential part of the Fabric Teams' business. The overhanging branch on the path from the Car park has been cut. One of those silly little jobs which has been on the list for quite some time. So it's done and just in time before the really rainy season---Nothing worse than getting smacked in the face by a wet branch when your arms are full of stuff ---and you're talking at the same time! Not that I'm describing me of course!!!!!

I'm writing this as I wait for the start of the final 'At Home' The afternoon session went very well, with a very appreciative audience. (Thank You All!) The one thing that strikes me, is how important it is, to keep people informed and also on-side. As this past week has progressed, conversations with various people, contractors, visitors and the rest have proved how useful a tool the Internet has become. Those who are far away from the Parish have found it so useful for information gathering and communication (and thanks for the e-mails telling me to keep up to date) Well, the work is still on Schedule and now I am really looking forward to Advent! Once we've decided what we're doing with the curtains and the Cross!