Rare Tiffany window installed in Abbey

A RARE Tiff any window, commissioned by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie has been installed in the Abbey Church of Dunfermline – more than 100 years after it was created.

The Victorian millionaire who famously gave away the fortune he made when he and his family emigrated to the USA, commissioned the window in 1912 in memory of his late mother and father who had lived in a cottage near the historic Abbey Church. He had hoped the window could be installed in the historic nave of the Abbey.

A decision was taken at that time by H M Commission for Ancient Monuments that the stained glass window was unsuitable for the nave because of its pastoral design. The window was left in storage for many years and subsequently installed within the town’s Carnegie Hall – a theatre purpose built for the Fife town with funding from Carnegie’s legacy.

Following some deterioration, the window was then restored and in 2008 placed in Andrew Carnegie House, the purpose-built new headquarters of the three Carnegie Trusts based in Scotland. However after a decade it was discovered that further restoration work was needed as a result of an overheated environment. With the centenary of Carnegie’s death in 2019, a decision was taken to fulfil Carnegie’s original wishes and install the window in a suitable location. The General Trustees of the Church of Scotland granted permission in early July for the stained glass window to be installed in a purpose-built frame with backlighting on the south side of the church.

The window was dedicated at a special service on August 12 and attended by representatives of the congregation, Carnegie family descendants, local and US communities, international Carnegie institutions and those who have provided funding for restoration and installation work, including the Dunard Fund and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The service took place the day after the centenary of the death of Carnegie when a wreath-laying service took place at his statue in Pittencrieff Park, which he gifted to the people of Dunfermline, to be held in trust by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust.

Nora Rundell, the chief executive of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, former custodians of the window, explained: “Finding the right location for this very special window and unique example of Tiff any glass design has been a challenge over the years. When the Trustees of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust looked at the possibility of restoring this beautiful work of art to the place where it was intended to be, in the historic Abbey church, they were delighted that the General Trustees were thinking the same way.

“The window is a direct link to the family roots of this worldwide philanthropist who contributed so much to the life of Dunfermline.

“We are grateful to the congregation of the Abbey Church and the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland for their support and understanding in realising the dream of Andrew Carnegie himself.”

Minister at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, the Rev MaryAnn Rennie said:

“The congregation is delighted to welcome the window to the Abbey, more than a century after it was gifted thanks to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie.

“We are delighted that its beauty will grace the building for many visitors and future generations to enjoy and glad that it is finally where Carnegie wanted it to be.”

The Tiff any window was designed by the company founded artist Louis Comfort Tiff any, son of Charles Lewis Tiff any, founder of the world-famous jewellery store Tiff any & Co. The artist initially chose to pursue his own direction and developed a reputation for design, which included stained glass windows and lamps. ¤

FRENCH RETREAT OPENED

A new centre for Christian retreat in France, created by a Church of Scotland minister, was opened earlier this year.

The blessing of Colomba le Roc, in the Lot region of south-west France, and the dedication of their chapel to St Hild of Whitby, took place on June 9 – the feast day of St Columba and this year the Sunday of Pentecost.

Colomba le Roc is the work of the Rev Joanne Evans-Boiten, a minister who hails from the Netherlands but who is ordained in the Church of Scotland and a member of the International Presbytery.

The blessing was carried out by the Rev Irene Bom, Moderator of the International Presbytery, and the ecumenical service of dedication was led by the Vicar General of Cahors, Père Florent Millet. Also involved in the service were representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, Eglise Protestante Unie de France, the Anglican Diocese of Midi Pyrenees-Aude, and the French Evangelical Church.

HEARTEDGE CONFERENCE

A prominent American priest will join church leaders from Scotland and England and other speakers for a two-day conference of ideas and theology in Edinburgh in October.

The HeartEdge Annual Conference, ‘On earth as it is in heaven’, is headlined by Winnie Varghese, Priest and Director of Community Outreach at Trinity Episcopal Church Wall Street in New York, and a popular blogger and author.

HeartEdge, initiated by St Martin-in-the- Fields Church in London, is an ecumenical network helping churches to develop in the ‘four ‘c’s’ of commerce, culture, congregation and compassion. The conference will include workshops on all four of these areas, as well as off ering time to make connections.

Also among the contributors are asset-based community worker and author Cormac Russell, minister for the deaf the Rev Rosie Addis, Scottish Christian artist I D Campbell, David Bradwell, co-ordinator of Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees, Jonny Kinross, CEO of Grassmarket Community Project and present and former Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Coinciding with the conference are the last three of this year’s series of Chalmers lectures, to be delivered by the Rev Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Dr Wells, whose title for the lectures is ‘A Future That’s Bigger Than the Past, said: “It feels like in the evenings we’ll be proposing the theory and during the days we’ll be exploring the practice.”

The conference takes place over October 2-3 in St Cuthbert’s and St John’s churches in the centre of Edinburgh, and the Chalmers Lectures will be held at Greyfriars Kirk. For more information and to register visit tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/ODYyLTEz/t

STORNOWAY CHURCH BUILDS ON REVIVAL CONFERENCE

Martin’s Memorial Church in Stornoway is to follow up June’s successful Hebrides Revival conference with a similar event next year. It is also hosting another conference this September.

The conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Hebrides Revival was a sell-out, attracting 400 people from throughout Scotland and further afield to the Isle of Lewis. The Rev Tommy MacNeil, minister of Martin’s Memorial, described it as ‘a remarkable weekend… where God did far above and beyond what we had hoped for or could have imagined’.

Next year’s event will take place from June 5-7, with the theme of ‘vision’. Before then, this autumn’s conference will take place from September 20-21 and will focus on prophetic ministry. The speakers will be Mr MacNeil and Ben Armstrong, Prophetic Ministries Director at Bethel Church, Redding, California.

You can book for the September conference at www.hebridesrevivalconference.com

AVOID NO_DEAL BREXIT, NEW PM URGED

Representatives of seven Christian denominations have urged the new Prime Minister not to leave the EU without a deal.

In an open letter to Boris Johnson, the church leaders warn that a no-deal Brexit would hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. They write: “The impacts of a no-deal Brexit are at best highly uncertain, and at worst deeply worrying. Our view that it would put at risk the welfare and safety of the poorest communities in the UK is formed on the basis of the best available evidence, including our presence in local communities in every part of the UK. It is notable that assurances about our ability to cope with a no-deal Brexit, while frequent, are yet to be supported by substantial evidence.”

The letter is signed by the Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Church and Society Council, along with representatives of the Scottish Episcopal, Baptist, United Reformed and Methodist Churches, the Salvation Army and Quakers in Britain.

ROYAL APPOINTMENT

The former Principal of Edinburgh’s New College has been appointed by the Queen as the next Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.

The Rev Professor David Fergusson will convene the 10 Royal Chaplains who are based in Scotland, and also take part in the annual ceremony of the Order of the Thistle, which is held at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

He said: “I am very pleased to be succeeding Professor Iain Torrance as Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Order of the Thistle, both of which are distinguished Scottish institutions.

“It is an honour to serve the Queen and her family in this capacity, and I look forward to the time ahead.”

PLAYLIST FOR LIFE LOTTERY AWARD

The music and dementia charity Playlist for Life has been awarded £1.6m in National Lottery funding to expand its services across the UK.

Playlist for Life teaches families and care staff how to create a unique personal playlist of the soundtrack to a person’s life. Personal playlists have the potential to revolutionise dementia care – homes trained by Playlist for Life consistently report a reduction in medication for residents with dementia, by up to 60 per cent.

The Lottery award will be used to raise awareness of the power of playlists and delivers half the funding required to grow the existing grassroots network of Playlist for Life community Help Points to 1,500 across the UK.

Playlist for Life Help Points are hosted by existing organisations such as churches, faith groups, libraries and carers’ centres.

The first Help Point was hosted at St Andrew’s Parish Church in Carluke, Lanarkshire. The minister there, the Rev Helen Jamieson, said: “The training we received opened our eyes to the power of music to reach people with dementia. Personal music is now a regular part of the way our church supports people living with the condition and their families. We have incorporated playlists into church services, pastoral visits and even funerals.”

BUTTON SALE

Collectors, sewers, knitters and crafters are invited to a sale of buttons in an Edinburgh church this month.

On the Button at St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church will feature vintage and collectable buttons, and buttons for crafts and costumes. There will also be vintage lace and trims on sale.

The event is in aid of the Marie Curie cancer charity and organisers are hoping it will be as successful as its predecessor, which raised £4500 in 2017.

On the Button takes place on Friday and Saturday September 6 and 7, from 10am-4pm.

GIGS IN THE KIRK

A Kilmarnock church is hosting a series of free concerts this autumn in an eff ort to get new people through the doors.

Five concerts will take place under the banner of ‘Music for All at New Laigh Kirk’, ranging from young local bands to music from the films, nostalgia and a tribute to Robert Burns.

Friday September 6, 7.30pm: Acoustic Live Lounge

Saturday September 22, 7pm: Let’s All Sing, with the Kirk choir, singers’ group and local children

Friday October 4, 7.30pm: Music at the Moves with Newmilns and Galston Brass Band.

Friday November 8, 7.30pm: Musical Memories, with the Aeolian Choir and Kate Valentine of English National Opera Friday November 22, 7.30pm: Should Auld Acquaintance, with the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra.

All the concerts are free and unticketed. More details are on the church website, www.nlk.church.

BLESSING OF THE FLEET

A maritime service of praise and thanksgiving including Blessing of the Fleet was held in Macduff fish market on Sunday evening (June 30), conducted jointly by Macduff Parish Church, Banff Parish Church and River Church, and led by the Rev Hugh O’Brien.

ORKNEY GARDEN

The Sunday Club at Moncur Memorial Church, on the Island of Stronsay in Orkney, planted a garden in a disused greenhouse during their summer term.

During the project, the young people learned about the parables of the mustard seed and the sower, planted fruit and flowers, and built the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Olives.

The club took the last service before the holidays, explaining what they had learned, and then took the congregation to the greenhouse to show what they had been working on. Then everyone moved to the larger community polytunnel where they enjoyed a variety of biblical snacks, including locusts!

GOING OUT IN STYLE

A Praise Group from the Falkirk area signed off in style, raising over £5600 for Christian Aid with its final concert. The Brightons Parish Church Praise Group, which was calling it a day after more than 20 years, joined the Gargunnock Songsters and Perthshire Brass for a concert in Stirling’s Albert Hall. Jo Dallas of Christian Aid is pictured receiving the proceeds of the concert from representatives of the groups.

COMMUNITY FAIR

With no Gala Day for a number of years and the last Street Fair in Bellshill two years ago, Bellshill West Church formed a partnership with Bellshill Community Council to put together a new venture for the community. This came to fruition on Saturday June 8 in and around the grounds of the Church. The event was opened with bagpipes and a welcome from Community Council members and local MPs, councillors and church minister, the Rev Calum Stark. Despite a grim weather forecast the day was blessed with reasonably good weather and the folk of the town were able to enjoy a range of activities including church and charity stalls, first aid and health information, a smoothie bike and free fruit bags, bouncy castle, games, face-painting, arts and crafts, tearoom, police and fire service vehicles, a mixed martial arts display and football tournament.

PRAYER STATIONS

The kirk session of Kintore Parish Church, in the Presbytery of Gordon, heard, and decided to act on, the call from former Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev Susan Brown for local churches to address the divisions that have appeared in society as a result of Brexit. It was decided that the main focus would be to help people consider ways of discussing politics more respectfully.

The church building, which celebrates its bicentenary this year, is regularly open between 9:30am and 4pm on Wednesdays and Sundays to provide a quiet space for anyone who wishes to spend time with God. As an extension of this, there are now four prayer stations set up in the sanctuary to help focus thoughts on respecting others, particularly those with diff ering opinions. Each station has a diff erent theme: Welcome, Unity and Diversity, Respect and Reconciliation. These have a variety of materials to stimulate thought aimed at helping to promote the notion of agreeable disagreement.

TOILET TWINNED

On Friday June 21, the Rev Ian Wotherspoon presented Cupar’s Lighthouse Café and Christian Resource Centre with a Toilet Twinning certificate, marking the completion of the renovation of the centre’s toilet.

In August last year members of St John’s and Dairsie Church, where Mr Wotherspoon is locum minister, raised over £1200 for Toilet Twinning. The last framed certificate was set aside as a gift for the Lighthouse charity.

Life and Work staff are available for talks to Guilds and other church groups. Please contact us through 0131 225 5722 or magazine@lifeandwork.org