KHPC Fabric Team

Tonight Cathures gave a wonderful concert of Choral Music by Nordic Composers , Grieg and Sibelius amongst them. This Concert,  --  'Northern Lights',  was arranged before the realisation that it would happen on the same evening as EarthHour. Kelvinside Hillhead  has taken part from the beginning and switched off the Floodlights for that particular Hour.  So extra efforts were made to enable both events to take place safely. Rehearsals showed just how dark it could get, and the realisation that we would need to have some light for the Choir, after all the words for the latter part of the programme were in Finnish! Rehearsal; How Dark?  We set to with gusto for the Choir were all keen to participate in this unique occasion. So with Torches, Candles and battery powered Site Lights, we were all ready for the Big Switch Off; Oh!  and we'd better tell the Audience too. As it happened we had a really good turnout and the Audience wer...

The Lights go out on Saturday! Could be interesting, as Cathures( our resident Choir) are having their early Spring Concert on Saturday in the Sanctuary. Their Concert 'Northern Lights' starts at 19:30 and EarthHour starts at 20:30. Perhaps this could turn out be one of our most moving Concerts. We know how effective our Candlelight Carol Concert can be. A moving and emotional experience for the many people who attend. Kelvinside Hillhead has always been at the forefront with its support of EarthHour and we have switched of our lights for the designated hour each year.  Glasgow CC and some of the definitive buildings around us are also playing their own small part. Generally it's been a very peaceful and quiet time when coffee and cake by candlelight was available for those sitting in the darkened splendour of the Sanctuary. This year we will have beautiful music. Photograph of the Aurora Borealis over North Berwick, by Chee Seong Foo, courtesy of news.bbcimg.co.uk

Today the sun shone. It most definitely came out from behind its dark cloud. Once more we have been stunned and amazed by the wonderful Community we call KH. At our Daffodil Gift Day they came, and, despite all the recent economic stresses they gave.    Again and again. Whenever a need is felt; we give. Wherever? We give. But for a change, today was for us. So today we sat together and reminisced and chatted, Anna played on the Piano, Mamie supervised and sang along to the songs. We ate good, fairly traded Home baking, drank our Fairtrade teas and coffees and then at the end we counted. Yet again, we have shown that Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church is a place where wonderful things can happen; a place for nurturing and giving of our talents and our time. A place, of worship here in our Community. A place,  where all are welcome. "And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve bask...

Here they are, an array of KH Snowdrops! and some little yellow Primroses from Young Church's Wild Garden.

An On-line Friend made a comment this week about taking steps forward then having to go back again. I commiserated with her, but I didn't think that we would find ourselves in the same position again, no, not quite so soon! Glasgow City Council have decided that we require full Planning Permission to carry out the finishing work to our High Roof.  The application has now gone in together with the plans and drawings which have already been agreed with Historic Scotland. Now we wait; again ; I think it can safely be said that Kelvinside Hillhead, if nothing else, is probably the most patient congregation many will have encountered. Hopefully our neighbours will not be averse to us installing the Roof Anchors. After all, it's for the protection of the Workmen we ask to look after the Roof's maintenance. The very same friend posted a photo of some Snowdrops, and immediately I thought, where are ours? Still slumbering in the cold ground? No;  they're out now but you'll h...

Just a quick note to say how pleased I am, that Alastair of Surface Contracts, was able to clean out all our Ground Drains. How can it be possible that so much water can fall in one short week. At least the winds have shaken most of the remaining leaves from the trees. So the next task is to get the Gutters cleared (again) before the winter weather comes. Off to man 'Open Church' now; always a worthwhile task. I wonder what music I'll play today? Any requests? Let me know and if I don't play it this week, I may be able to fulfil your requests next week

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! It is the season for Weddings: We're all getting very excited, the Church is looking wonderul, full of flowers and gleaming in the sunshine. We've already had a Chinese couple married during the week and tomorrow we will celebrate the wedding of Jen Wilson and Unisa Conteh, and the Weather Forecast is for warm sun and light winds. I must admit that I did have to swallow a large lump in my throat when I saw Jen's Father carrying her dress in its cover into the house yesterday evening. I've known Jen and her family for all of my own married life and they are stalwarts of our own congregation here at KH. Today a bunch of us all had a great time arranging flowers and sorting out all the little last minute things, from making sure that there are enough tables and covers, to ensuring that the 'killer' Berberis at the Vestry Path has been trimmed back. We know that our new Organist, Willie Murray, will be playing at his first wedding for us and we will ...

The holidays are mostly finished, and people are returning from far flung places. We begin the new session refreshed and at KH we have a newly appointed Organist, Mr William Murray. On Sunday 8th. August 2010 he'll be playing for the first time since his appointment. With any luck the 'Father Willis' will behave, but I'm sure that Willie will soon get to grips with its own little foibles and peculiarities. The Wedding season is upon us and although we have held 'Parish' Weddings recently,  next weekend's Wedding will be particularly special as it will be someone who has grown up in our own congregation. More on that to come. With a new Locum Minister and new Organist I'm sure we'll soon settle down to 'normal business'. Some of our congregation are recently returned from Oberammergau and I'm sure we'll all be keen to hear all about that particular trip. (and to see any photos) Tomorrow, (Saturday) I'll be travelling home myself fr...

Who'd have believed it, Here we are halfway through the year. Visitors still come to visit us at all times of the week, and following a busy Open Church on Saturday afternoon, the evening  Guitar Concert  was a success; such that we had to move the audience (and the performer) into the Main Hall!  The original intention had been  to use the New Session Room, but as it filled up and people started looking for extra chairs the decision was made to quickly move and within 5 minutes over 80 people were more comfortably ensconced in the bigger room. Worth while it was too, Spyros gave us a wonderful performance of classical guitar music. I was so busy enjoying the music that I didn't get a chance to take photos, maybe next time. This Summer we don't have the BBC Playgroup in the Halls during the week, but some of  the slack has been taken up by our regular groups and some new ones too. Music and Dance seems to be the recurrent theme. Further littl...

During this time of Lent we are still waiting for the Gutters to be sorted. Sounds simple ; Doesn't it? However the complexity of the task to be undertaken is such that we require a 'Road Closure' order, so that a crane can be brought in to lift the completed gutter sections up on to the roof. The actual forming of the Gutter will take place down on the ground, so that we don't have 'hot-work' up on the roof. We wait and pray for the weather to be kind to us. Meanwhile along the road we are busy finishing of some extra re-furbishment of the Manse, in readiness for a commercial let, in order to maximise KH's Income stream. Bob and Robert kindly posed for the photographer. Keep up the good work guys!

All of a sudden, it's really winter! Deep and crisp and even!----- At least for a little while! The snow and ice did mean that some of the Nativity Performers were unable to reach us; particularly noticable this year; a shortage of shepherds. However having a baby angel as well as baby Jesus did make up for that. There were over 80 people in Church to see the well-loved story told in tableau form. What is important to note, is that the majority of the people in Church this morning were local enough to have walked there. The snow continued to harden as evening fell, and a new heavy fall of snow greeted those arriving for Candlelight Carols. East Dunbartonshire Concert Band played for all their worth and their interval rendition of Greensleeves was really much appreciated. It seems to be traditional now that the Sound System is always non-evident at this performance, despite being overhauled last week. Problem solved! Someone switched it off! So that was easily fixed once I realised ...

The snow fell today and thankfully the holding repairs on the roof gutters seem to have worked --- so far! Father Christmas slithered down the scaffold and visited the Party downstairs, but due to the inclement weather and his haste to carry on around the globe, he didn't stop to chat for long, nor to bring any goodies from the party. Alas! However he did comment on how much better the Church looked than it did last year! I just need to try and remember to take my toolbox to Church tomorrow, to fix odd bits and pieces.

Daylight and the Chancel is looking good. We ran out of time today, so the Belmont Cross will be hung next week. At least the new drapes are hung in time for the Carols by Candlelight Service and the Nativity and by Christmas we will really be showing off all of our clean and bright Sanctuary. Many thanks once again to all who have helped us over the last few months. More 'posts' tomorrow, it is the Children's Party and we are hopeful of a special visitor; I'm just wondering if he'll use the scaffold ladders to get off the roof as we don't have an open chimney anymore!?

Is that a Light? Is that the Light? --- at the end of the Tunnel? --- or the train coming toward us? Whatever one's viewpoint, there is no denying that yet again there are Blue Skies and many people working very hard above our heads. It hardly seems possible that this week is even busier than last. The car park even fuller of cars and vans. Of course it all makes sense, now that we are on the final countdown to 'Contract Completion'. Then we can start to celebrate Christmas. This year; back in the Sanctuary! But before then there is still an incredible amount of work to do. Re-decoration; Reinstatement of pews, carpets and other floor coverings; Reinstatement of Ceilings and plaster: Re-hanging of the Belmont Cross and other things and general cleaning up. Will we see much for the money spent? Apart from a clean, and refreshed Chancel area, probably the biggest return on the investment is surely within us. The knowledge that the roof over our heads is secure, that despite...

This little 'chanticleer' has been sitting on top of the fleche for a very long time----- so it's quite understandable that he should be on the receiving end of a little TLC. I do think he has a very 'french' appearance about him and certainly when he came down to earth this morning he still had a definite air of 'joie de vivre', Especially as he was being carried down the scaffold! Not that easy a task for those concerned ----He was a very long way up. Certainly, over the years he will have had a different view from his perch.

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!

Abject apologies! Things have been very busy, with all Church Properties-----and the proper job! However, here is the stuff which has been sitting as a draft---- might as well have it---better late than never. 21:49 on 19 September 2009 Well the sun shone (most of the day)- The organ worked! (thank you Iain) and the Violin duets (Wilson & Jane xx) were a joy as well. 207 people came through the doors and all (bar one) were pleased with what they found. A lovely and characterful building with people inside who work very hard to keep it open for all the rest. I do hope our friends in Bellshill tonight have a good music event as well. Malcolm, our architect spoke informatively about the repair work and I know that people will assume that I'll do as well tomorrow. But for tonight--I'm off to bed. Sunday 20th.September ---- Very early before opening, I hoovered up all the leaves; this morning the Church Service was piped through the speaker system and the sun blazed through the ...

The sun was still shining when I visited the Church today; where was the heavy rain that was forecast? Fochabers! that's where, and I hope my friends up there are all Ok. There is some beautiful Burne-Jones Stained Glass in the Gordon Chapel up there. Anyway back to KH; The floors and the cupboard in the hall were being replaced today. No more backrest for the Choir on Sundays. Nor a place for extra notices, however the work upstairs is moving on apace. Today was also the last day at KH for two of the Hunter & Clark workers: Charlie who retires after 30 years with H&C and Paul who has finished his part of the project; setting all the concrete lintels in mortar, and he also proved to be a very useful pair of hands or perhaps more correctly shoulders up in the roof space. I'm not sure exactly what he was doing up there today, but he seemed to to have brought down a goodly amount of soot on his face and clothes. As good a representation of a chimney sweep as I've seen ...

More Rafters, Trusses and Purlins!

Gosh it is very cramped up in the Roof Space! Here we can se one of the new Concrete Lintels waiting to be placed.