My church

Fiona Spooner, a Development Worker with the Boys’ Brigade and member of Neilston Parish Church, explains why the church is a vital part of the local community.

HAVING been brought up and baptised in the Church of Scotland, I lost touch with my faith through my teenage years, only coming back to Church again shortly after meeting my husband.

His family had strong connections with their local church in Neilston and, over time, we began to attend together each week.

Through these connections I became one of the volunteer leaders at 1st Neilston Boys’ Brigade in 2010 and eight years later took up the role of Captain.

Being able to be a small part of young peoples’ lives, even for such a short time, is a real honour and privilege. Watching small Anchor Boys grow and develop in confidence and stature, into kind, caring and intelligent young people is such a gift. Neilston Parish Church holds a special place in our family’s hearts, having married and baptised our children there; however, the Church is, of course, far more than a building.

It’s a vital part of our lives and local community, that shares in the happiest of times and supports us through the darkest. Throughout the years the Church has evolved and adapted to support the local needs of the community in which it serves. From traditional Sunday morning services, we now offer more community-based networks of support, such as weekly soup lunches, baby and toddlers’ groups, the Guild and Boys’ Brigade which complement our traditional worship and allow us to display our Christian values within our community.

“ Being able to be a small part of young peoples’ lives, even for such a short time, is a real honour and privilege."

The Covid-19 pandemic brought many challenges to church life as we all know, however taking our services and conducting meetings online have also opened up many possibilities and allowed different people to become involved in way that maybe they could not before.

The pandemic made me reflect on the impact the Church and the BB has on my own personal life.

I was always aware of the support I was providing to the children and young people within my BB Company, what I did not give much thought to was the ways in which the BB brought structure and purpose in my own life.

Being part of the BB also provides me with a real practical opportunity to share my faith, through the many activities and experiences we offer but also the relationships that are built in the process. It allows me to explore and challenge my own personal faith through the conversations and discussions that I have weekly with other leaders and our young people.

I hope I can continue to share my own experiences, learn from others and help to nurture and develop the next generations faith by listening, caring and encouraging. ¤