Church Newletters
At the beginning of the twentieth century there are several newsletters of 1907 and 1909, which give a huge amount of information of the church and its life in Carsphairn.
Extracts from them are quoted elsewhere in this exhibition but this is just a selection from the 1990s.
1993
The election of a new minister was in progress and prior to his nomination, the Interim Moderator wrote in the Church newsletter saying that by the end of summer, they hoped to put forward a name.
Rev R Hamill (Interim Moderator) wrote his newsletter early, as he and his wife were due to take a holiday in California and they would be away for most of October.
Rev Malcolm Henry from Kelton and Dr Ron Paterson from Ringford, assistant Rector at Kirkcudbright Academy will be taking services during his absence.
Thanks were offered to several organists who travelled to play for us, including Mrs Lilian Thomson, Mrs Jeannie O’Conner (Parton), Mrs Doreen Prentice, Miss Rhoda Campbell, Mr Hugh McPherson, Mr Peter Gladstone and Mr R Brian Hamill.
Communion is on November 7th and the Remembrance Service on14th November.
The Service of Ordination to the Eldership was held on 19th September when Mrs Anna Campbell, Mrs Margaret Richmond and Mr Colin Burnie were ordained in front of the congregation.
In conversation with an old friend in Castle Douglas Mr Hamill discovered that a 9 hole golf course existed in Carsphairn before the Second World War. Miss Jessie Dougan who taught in the school for 6½ years, living in the school house, spoke of the golf course lying behind the school and the kirk grounds.
1994
In November, Dr David Bartholomew was selected to be our Minister and in this newsletter, he told us how he and his wife Heidi were heartened and encouraged by the welcome extended to them by the congregation. They were apprehensively awaiting the arrival of their first child. It was an exciting but stressful time for them and Dr Bartholomew wondered if there could be a part in the Sunday School Nativity play for him/her?
Rev Robert Hamill will continue to conduct worship at Carsphairn on the Sundays that Rev Bartholomew is engaged at the other two churches in the parish.
November 13th at 10.30am The Remembrance Day service was conducted by Rev R Hamill.
November 20th at 10.15am Holy Communion service was conducted by Rev Bartholomew.
1995
Church member Mrs Helga Gottschalk has created a wonderful stable Nativity scene, making and painting all the
Characters herself. Robert Cumming made the actual stable. Thanks were offered to Robert and Mrs Gottschalk.
The Children’s and Young People’s Christmas service and party are to be held on Friday 22nd December.
The Watch night Service was held in our Church on 24th December at 11.30pm.
1996
An Easter Sunday dawn service is planned for Carsphairn on 7th April at 7am. It is planned to be held (if fine) on a grassy rise on the west side of the road a few hundred yards south of the village, a site where we can admire the beautiful hills all around. After the service, we will proceed to the Lagwyne Hall for a simple breakfast including tea, coffee and bacon rolls.
The Good Friday Communion service will be held in Balmaclellan Church at 7.30pm.
On August 11th, we held a special service with the Gideon Bible Society.
The Harvest Supper will be held on Friday 11th October.
From Monday 12th to Friday 16th August, a Holiday Club will be run in the park in New Galloway, (weather permitting) otherwise in the Scout Hall.
1997
The dawn service on Easter Sunday morning was held at 7am outside Dalry Church.
The Church AGM was held on 6th March in the Lagwyne Hall at 7.30pm. Before the brief business started, an amusing short play was performed by some members of the congregation.
1998
Watch night Service on Sunday 24th December at 11.30pm Carsphairn Church.
A successful Harvest Supper followed a few days after the Harvest Thanksgiving Service conducted by Rev Robert Hamill. The Supper hosted 70 – 80 people. After a delicious meal, Mrs Frances Wright and Mr Douglas McClure, both from Stranraer, entertained the company with songs, duets and recitations. Mr McClure played some pleasant and humorous little ditties which they sang together. Thanks were given to all who helped with the supper.
The usual Community Carol Service and party took place a few days before Christmas in Church and later at Lagwyne Hall.