Service of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday 14th October

Diary Dates for October and November

13th Oct. (Sat) Men’s Breakfast Fellowship in the Kirk Loan Hall at 8.30am

14th Oct. (Sun) Service of Harvest Thanksgiving with the Sacrament of Baptism

15th—22nd Oct Church Office closed for October break

21st Oct. (Sun) Service at 10.30am

23rd Oct. (Tues) Last date for November magazine material

28th Oct. (Sun) Service at 10.30am

29th Oct. (Mon) The Seedling Coffee Morning at 10am in the Kirk Loan Hall

4th Nov. (Sun) Service at 10.30am followed by a short service of Holy Communion

7th Nov. (Wed) Kirk Session meets at 7.30pm in the Session Room

10th Nov. (Sat) Men’s Breakfast Fellowship at 8.30am in the Kirk Loan Hall

11th Nov. (Sun) Remembrance Sunday with Services at 10am and 11.30am Members of the congregation are invited to attend either service (N.B. - No 9.40am service today) (N.B.— No tea and coffee today)

14th Nov. (Wed) Fabric Committee meets at 7.30pm in the Session Room

18th Nov. (Sun) Guild Week Service

Our 9.40am service for families with young children takes place every Sunday morning in the High Street Hall, followed by coffee and croissants.

Our Services of Quiet Reflection take place every Wednesday in the Church at 12 noon.

Corstorphine Old Parish Church, KIRK LOAN, EH12 8HD SCOTTISH CHARITY NUMBER: SC016009

Sunday Worship at 10.30am - On the first Sunday of every month there is a short service of Commun- ion at 11.30am except March, June, October and December when there are services of Holy Communion at 8.30am and 10.30am

Church Office - 2A High Street EH12 7ST. Open during school term time: Monday – Thursday 8.45am – 1.15pm and Friday: 8.45am – 12.45pm 334 7864 [email protected]

The Thursday Office Hour - In the Church Office, High Street Hall, on the first two Thursdays of every month 7.00-8.00pm. No appointment necessary. 1 Letter from our Minister Dear Friends,

This month sees us celebrating our Harvest Festival. It is one of six in which I am involved – two at school, two at school nursery, and one at a local nursery too, all of which tells us that in times that people are finding hard, they are still willing to think about other people, and give thanks for what we have.

Last year at Harvest at the Old Parish we raised over £270 by selling bags of Malawian Fairtrade rice, which would allow a Malawian farmer to send one of his children to high school for a year. In fact we were left with a number of bags of rice, because people said they couldn’t carry the bags home, but received the price of the bag of rice anyway, and were able to make more than the farmer needed. This year we have decided to keep up the Fairtrade theme, and support another farmer in Malawi, but if your cupboards are groaning with rice, worry not!

On October 14th, at our Harvest Celebration, we would like everyone to bring a Fairtrade item of food they have bought locally, donate it to our Fairtrade stall which will be in the church, and buy a Fairtrade item someone else has brought. We hope this will do several things. The first is it will help to increase the number of Fairtrade items bought locally, and allow us to see what comes with the Fairtrade label. Coffee, tea, sugar, flower, bananas, wine, biscuits, chocloate and all sorts of other things are available at local supermarkets, and the Fairtrade ‘bring and buy’ sale lets us all see what we might have missed.

It also allows us to raise money for the Malawian farmer and ensures his child has another year of secondary education, helping his family to live above the poverty line, and increasing the education rate of one of the world’s poorest countries. And it tells our local shops that we care about Fairtrade and about the benefits Fairtrade brings to the lives of others in the world’s food produc- ing nations.

Please support our bring and buy sale. Our local schools are supporting nearby food banks and home- less projects. The Old Parish can help to boost our thanks for harvest by ‘acting local and thinking global’.

I hope to bump into you in Scotmid, Tesco, Sainsburys’, Marks and Spencer and many of the other shops in our parish selling products bearing the Fairtrade label, and finding out on October 14th what we have all brought to our Harvest.

Best wishes,

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The Chaplain is on Fire!

I’m always feeling guilty that because I am spread pretty thinly, and only have a part time post, I don’t get to spend valuable time with various people in my care. One such group who deserve more support are the firefighters at Edinburgh Airport. So it was great when I was able to spend a morning with Blue Watch doing some training. (Picture below!) And I was interested to read of Rev. Monica Arnold. She’s a minister from Bloxwich, and has been awarded a Citizen Recognition award for her chaplaincy work with firemen. Her duties are split between general work around the parish churches of Bloxwich and an innovative chaplaincy role with the West Midlands Fire Service. It is part of a scheme organised by West Midlands Fire Service and the Diocese of Lichfield.

“Fire Service chaplaincy is a national thing” says Rev. Bill Mash of the Black Country Urban Industrial Mission, a charity part- nership of four church denominations. “We now have chaplains in seven fire stations in the region, and the aim is for every station to have their own chaplain. “The community puts its fire-fighters in difficult and danger- ous situations and then subjects their actions and decisions to detailed scrutiny. Chaplains are there to complement other wel- fare provision that the fire service makes, picking up on the concerns that this gives rise to, to be a listening ear.”

As Rev. Monica puts it. “People in church often don’t understand what being a chaplain is about. It doesn’t translate into bums on seats on a Sunday. It is about being an expression of Christ’s love to people in their workplace. Faith is about relationships and vulnerability. “There are four fire service watches based at Bloxwich Fire Station plus an ambulance. "When I began, most of my time was spent getting to know the crews. Now we know each other well, there are no no-go topics in the office”.

But being supportive to staff isn’t what has earned her recognition and an award from Walsall Borough Council. The nomination was made by the Fire Service for her work with the wider com- munity. The Fire Service currently spends a lot of time in the community on preventative work. “We’re all about making people safe in their homes,” says Station Commander John Kempson. “There are many people who won’t open their doors. Monica is an important link who meets and works with community groups, spreading the Fire Service message and enabling us to make con- tact with those who need us to fit alarms – both smoke and community/panic alarms which we fit in partnership with Social Services.” “She comes into the station every week, and is always willing to offer a compassionate ear to anyone. We inducted her in and all Watches have received her very well. I can’t praise her enough really, we’ve a very good working relationship.” Describing the award as an acceptance of the church within the community, she said: "Chaplaincy is not about the person offering the role but the people who are open to receiving and embracing what the role can offer a community. It was a great privilege to receive the award on behalf of the Bloxwich Fire Station community.”

Rev James Stewart

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Magazine Donation Guild News Issued with every copy of the Church Maga- Tuesday 9th October zine this month is a Magazine Donation en- 7.30pm in the High Street Hall velope. This is to provide an opportunity for West Craigie Farm—John Sinclair all who receive the Church Magazine to help offset the cost of paper and production. Tuesday 23rd October 7.30pm at Corstorphine Old Parish Church There are nine copies of the Area Joint Meeting Church Magazine produced in a Rev Cammy Mackenzie year. The cost of producing the (followed by refreshments in the High Street Hall) magazines continues to rise and

a donation of £5 is suggested. Tuesday 6th November We would be grateful if envelopes could be 7.30pm in the High Street Hall returned as soon as possible and certainly CrossReach — Heart for Art — Guild Project within the next four weeks. Mrs Corrine Gillies

As in previous years, those who receive

their magazine by post will receive a sepa-

rate request for the cost of postage if they

wish to continue. Please note that we are Sunday 18th November now also able to send the magazine via email 10.30am in the Old Parish to those who request it (please just email Guild Week Service the office if you are interested :

For more information please contact [email protected]) and you can also access it Brenda Russell, on the website: President of the Guild on: www.corstorphineoldparish.org.uk 0131 629 1456 Many thanks.

David Drummond, Magazine Editor

Seedling Coffee Morning

The next few dates for the Seedling Coffee Morning are as follows: We meet at 10am for about an hour in the Kirk Loan Hall. Monday 24th September Monday 29th October Monday 26th November Monday 17th December

All welcome! 4

Our Castle Connection

All that remains of the Forresters’ Corstorphine Castle, which used to be situated between Dove- cot Road and Castle Avenue, is the large heavy padlock in the vestry! However, most of the For- resters’ Torwood Castle, located north of Larbert, still stands albeit in semi-ruin. In my article on Forrester flags in the June edition, I promised to expand on the link between Torwood and the Corstorphine Forrester family who founded our church. 1. Over the summer the church displays both the heraldic banner of the Lords Forrest- er and that of the Forresters of Torwood (differenced by a central star) from the balcony. This is because Sir George Forrester, 1st Lord Forrester and Baron of Cor- storphine, inherited Torwood Castle (via the Baillies of Castlecary) in 1653 from his cousins, the Forresters of Torwood and Garden. Two charters bearing the Great Seal dated 1450 and 1463 had conveyed the lands known as the King’s Royal Forest of Tor Wood to the Forresters of Garden. Sir Alexander Forrester of Garden built Torwood Castle in 1566 to an L-shaped plan in early Scots Baronial style, most likely partly on remnants of an older castle. Sir George Forrester of Corstorphine is thought to have completed buildings (now collapsed) enclosing the north courtyard and created a large garden to the east. The Castle commands views over the Rivers Forth and Carron and the vicinity was a forward posi- tion used by Bruce just before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. 2. A local Corstorphine walking group including the writer visit- ed Torwood Castle as part of a walk by the Tor Wood to Denovan near Denny in March this year We also saw the 2500 year old Pictish Tappoch Broch, the route of a Roman Road and the mysterious blue pool in the forest. Those on the walk were surprised to see how complete the walls of the Castle are despite being a shell in overgrown surround- ings. Fellow Corstorphinites may wonder, as we did, why it appears abandoned and yet not perhaps beyond restoration. 3. The decline of the Castle doubtless began in the early 18th century when the Baillie-Forresters were falling into debt. Following the death of the 6th Lord Forrest- er of Corstorphine, Torwood Castle was sold to Thomas Dundas of Fingask in 1751. Further changes in ownership left it in a sorry state, but then in 1946 Gordon MacLachlan Millar, a Glasgow accountant, acquired the Castle. He dedicated nearly fifty years of his life to stabilising the structure in particular repairing the ground floor vaulted space in the main rectangular block and the spiral stairs. Apparently he lived or camped in it for a time! Before he died in 1998 he established the Torwood Castle Trust, a registered charity dedicated to the building’s restoration. The Clan Forrester Society is involved but the plans seem to be in limbo, said to be par- tially over differences of opinion with Historic regarding

4. 5 the extent of works needed. Hopefully a satisfactory solution can be found to what will be a very expensive project.

For members wishing to take a gentle boot-walk by the impressive Torwood Castle, drive (or take a bus) northwards from Larbert on the A9 towards Stirling, then take the Glen Road in Torwood vil- lage and turn left at a sign saying ‘Public Right of Way to Denovan 3km’ There is an informal car park not far up the track and the Castle is a short distance ahead. A visit there helps to give more meaning to our church’s medieval past in Scottish history.

David Cameron 5. Photographs 1. Forrester family banners on church balcony 2. West elevation over fields from Public Right of Way 3. South elevation with grand windows at first floor 4. Stair tower in cobbled courtyard to North 5. Approach to Castle with building in silhouette

Footnotes  Garden (Caerdun) was the site of the demolished fortified tower between Kippen and Buchlyvie owned by the Torwood Forresters  Other skions of the Forresters owned lands around the neighbouring area in the early 13th and late 14th centuries  Access to Torwood Castle can be arranged by phoning the local contact person, readily found by googling the Clan Forrester Society website

Crèche Rota Fairtrade Bring and Buy Stall Sunday 14th October October

As mentioned in Moira’s letter this year we 7th Aileen Drummond are hoping that everyone will bring along a 14th Tracey Berry Fairtrade item of food and donate it to the 21st Keren Henderson Old Parish Fairtrade Bring and Buy Stall at 28th Norma Thomson our Service of Harvest Thanksgiving on Sun-

day 14th October. November

We then hope you will purchase a different 4th Linda Ingle Fairtrade item. All proceeds raised will go 11th Eilidh Sinclair towards supporting a Malawian farmer to en- 18th Liz Allan sure that his child has another year of sec- 25th Aileen Drummond ondary education. For more information

please speak to Moira after any service. Liz Allan: 332 5809

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13th Edinburgh Boy’s Brigade

As well as taking orders for our Webb Ivory catalogue we will also have available an extra item as a special order this year. We will print labels, to your design, for you to use inside your Christmas Cards, hopefully saving you a lot of writing e.g.

Wishing you a merry Christmas And a Happy New Year John and Jean (Smith)

The cost will be £5.00 for 5 sheets of labels (minimum order) and £1.00 per sheet for each extra sheet. There will be 14 labels per sheet. To order please contact:

Donald Baird 0131-334-7591 or [email protected] Kevin Aitchison 0131-334-7731 [email protected]

Duties for November

Welcome, Uplift and Count S Simmons I Laing J Darling P Salton I Stewart

Sunday Beadles 4th D Pearson 11th A Thom 18th R Allan 25th D Salton

Bell Ringers 4th A Sinclair 11th P Carnie 18th R Ingle 25th I Laing

Sunday Coffee 4th Guild 11th Remembrance Sunday (no coffee today) 18th R and M Bowerbank 25th R and L Allan

Thursday Beadle 1st D Drummond 8th S Bryson

Wednesday Church Opening 7th S MacFeeters 14th D Davidson 21st D Stewart 28th D Baird

Magazine Distributor Required

We are currently seeking a volunteer church magazine distributor for District 19. This involves 3 houses in Gylemuir Road and 2 in Glasgow Road (total of 5 magazines).

If you think you would be able to help out, please contact Rena Ingle on 334 9467 or the church of- fice, 334 7864, email: [email protected]

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13th Edinburgh Company, the Corstorphine Literary & Boys’ Brigade Geographical Society (http://13edinburgh.boys-brigade.org.uk)

Forthcoming Events

Monday 8th October Spotlight on Scotland’s Cinemas The Anchor Boys and Junior Section started Elizabeth McCrone, Historic Scotland back at the beginning of August and we are de- lighted to say that all the boys have returned Monday 15th October and we even have a few more. The Senior Fel- Pack-ice and Penguins (Antarctica) lowship is due to start back at the end of Sep- by George Sutherland tember. We hope to get into the Schools over the next few weeks to try and recruit new mem- bers. We meet as follows on Monday nights (All groups meet in the High Street Halls), and if anyone knows of potential new members please Monday 22nd October pass on this information/ contact details. Farming in Scotland in the 21st Century Nigel Miller, President, National Anchor Boys 6.30 - 7.30 (Primary 2 & 3) Farmers Union of Scotland Junior Section 6.30 – 7.30 (Primary 4, 5 & 6) Company Section 7.30-9.30 (Primary 7 - 6th All events commence at 7.45pm in the Public Year) Hall, Kirk Loan. Membership £16. Visitors £2 per evening. For more information please We will be running our usual Webb Ivory Christ- contact Valerie Thomson on 339 6115. mas Catalogue – this is our major fund raising for the session. If anyone would like a catalogue please contact Ken Swinney (334 3461) or my- self. The more money we can make on orders

the more we can subsidise Company activities. Golden Wedding Celebration Many thanks once again to all who supported us Congratulations by collecting Tesco vouchers. I received our to Rena and Ken Ingle first package which included stuff to make bird houses and puppets, coloured activity card, a stopwatch, electronic whistle, CD’s of sounds with flash cards and some sports equipment. We are also awaiting 2 remote control cars and a computer memory stick. We also had about 100 vouchers that were to late for us to use, but we were able to donate these to the Tesco charity who celebrated their so they were not wasted. 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary on 15th September 2012 Kevin Aitchison Captain From everyone at the Old Parish! 334 7731

9 TV FILMING AT THE OLD PARISH - OR WAS IT US?

Passing pedestrians in Kirk Loan on Thursday, September 20 must have blinked when they looked at our church notice board there …. because it proclaimed we were Oaklands Old Parish Church, with worship led, not by the Rev Moira, but by Father Thomas Hughes!

The Loan was of- ficially closed to traffic all day by the City Council to allow filming of scenes for a new series of the BBC3 television situation comedy Pramface to take place, with our permission, in and around the Old Parish Church.

Up to around 50 technicians, pro- duction staff and cast (including Scarlett Alice Johnson, who p l a y ed V i c k i Fowler in BBC-tv’s “EastEnders” from 2003-4) were there, along with large technical equipment, lighting and sound vans.

Our Congregational Board Clerk, Ken Harrower, kindly volunteered to keep an eye on things and give advice to the BBC people (including finding a blacksmith at short notice) – with his day beginning at 6.45am and continuing till 7.30pm (with just a quick visit to the dentist late afternoon when his wife Moira took over). Things were not made easier by persistent and at times heavy rain lasting virtual- ly all day, so a medal is due to the Harrower family!

The BBC are due to return to Oaklands Old Parish Church (sorry, us!) for two more full days’ filming in late October/early November with a bigger cast list, when it is possible they will be looking for “extra cast” playing worshippers in the church. There are no details yet, and any news about this will be given by the Minister from the pulpit on Sundays.

Fees will also be paid to the Old Parish by the BBC for the facilities they are being given. 10 Parish Records

Baptisms

16th . Blair Andrew Lewis, son of Laura and Simon Lewis, 16 Roull Road

Death

6th Sept Jim Moyes, South Gyle Gardens 25th Sept Jimmy Anderson, 101 South Gyle Gardens

Wedding

9th Sept. Helen Ellis and Jim McBride, Forrester Road, Edinburgh

Officebearers, Elders and Magazine Distributors are asked to note these announcements and to adjust their records accordingly.

Flowers

7th October In memory of Jim and Ina Henry from the family

In loving memory of Freda Davidson from Peter and family

14th Mr and Mrs Higgins

Norman and Anne Irons in memory of Bill and Jenny Buckley

Mrs Pirrie and family in memory of her husband Tom and mother-in-law Janet

21st Margaret Scott and family in loving memory of Ian

Wedding: Lauren Finlay and Martin Gallagher

28th In loving memory of Stan Richardson from Brenda and family.

Margaret Scott, Flower Convener Tel: 334 3319

Thank You

I would like to thank everybody who sent me cards for my 70 years with the Scottish Swimming Association. It was a lovely surprise to be presented with my medal down in London at the Olympic Games.

Susan MacFeeeters