KHPC Fabric Team

On this day in 1945, Sub Lieutenant Ian MacFarlane lost his life aged 21, serving on a Motor Torpedo Boat (HMMTB 494) in the North Sea. His name is inscribed on the Naval Memorial in Portsmouth along with many others. It is also inscribed on the Hillhead Church War Memorial which forms the Chancel today. Having worked so hard to keep the roof over our heads, our attention was often drawn to the various names inscribed on the walls. Names which perhaps don't mean the same personally to those of us left , but nevertheless, names which help to tell the story of our own Community. War is different now, men and nowadays women too, don't march off to other countries in quite the same numbers as they did in the past. But the effect on those left behind is surely still the same? Perhaps too, the advances of modern science and medicine mean that more of those who come back need our help and support even more. With the contraction of the Armed Forces in our present economic climate, i...

photo courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission MONTECCHIO PRECALCINO COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Montecchio Precalcino is a town in the Province of Vicenza, 4 kilometres north of Dueville and 16.8 kilometres north of the town of Vicenza. This beautiful place honours: Second Lieutenant HENRY BIORN HOMAN of the 66th Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps, who died aged 19 years on the 4th April 1918 Remember!

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...