Parish Profiles

Langbank

linked with Port St Andrews

Table of Contents Section One—Introduction

(Click on Page no to go to specific page)

Contacts ...... Page 3 Linkage ...... Page 3 The Challenge ...... Page 4 Our New Minister ...... Page 4 Section Two – Church Linkage ...... Page 5 Parish of Langbank ...... Page 5 Worship ...... Page 6 Finance ...... Page 6 Stewardship ...... Page 7 Section Three— St Andrew’s The Manse ...... Page 8 Parish of Port Glasgow ...... Page 8 Worship ...... Page 9 Youth Work ...... Page 9 Adult Organisations ...... Page 9 Junior Church ...... Page 9 Young Christians ...... Page 10 Old Boys’ Union (OBU) ...... Page 10 The Guild ...... Page 10 Thursday Morning Coffee ...... Page 10 Tuesday Fellowship ...... Page 10 Kirk Session ...... Page 11 Statistics ...... Page 11 Administration ...... Page 11 Magazine ...... Page 11 Finance ...... Page 12 Stewardship Campaign ...... Page 12 Uniformed Organisations ...... Page 13 Congregational Support:- Worship Team ...... Page 14 Praise Band ...... Page 14 Pastoral Care ...... Page 14 Messy Church ...... Page 14 2

If you are reading our profile, thank you for showing an interest in our linked charges. We hope the enclosed information will give you a sense of two vibrant congregations who are earnestly seeking a leader who will empower and lead our people. Please continue reading and if you require any further information, contact:-

Rev David Stewart (Interim Moderator) [email protected] 01475 675159

Sheena MacFarlane [email protected] (Convenor - Nominating Committee).. 01505 873514 Gillian Hart [email protected] (Clerk - Nominating Committee) Langbank linked with St Andrews Port Glasgow

The linkage of Langbank with Port Glasgow St Andrews took place in November 2011 and was warmly welcomed by both congregations.

Each congregation continues with their own style of worship and mission as they reach out to their differing parishes and communities

Both are united not just by geography (they are less than 4 miles apart linked by a major dual- carriageway and railway line) but by a shared appreciation of the value of diversity.

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This is an exciting and challenging appointment for someone with vision, energy and a sense of humour. We look forward to working with our new minister in responding to the many challenges and opportunities for the future.

The challenge facing ministry in our parishes is to achieve a good balance between encouraging Christian living among the members of both congregations, through worship and pastoral care, while at the same time taking a lead in outreach into both communities, identifying spiritual and social needs and working in a partnership with the community agencies.

Our new minister should not only be a source of pastoral care for the members but also a catalyst for change in the communities we serve and be able to formulate initiatives and action plans which address the needs of the two local communities.

We are prayerfully seeking a minister who will:

 Excite and inspire us with his/her preaching, and be open to developing a menu of worship

 Be a good communicator and relate to people on all levels

 Nurture our faith and encourage us to develop worship, pastoral care and mission

 Personally provide strong, enabling, inclusive leadership while at the same time developing leadership from within our own membership;

 Be forward thinking, approachable and take on board the opinions of others

 Help us develop ways to engage with the 25 - 45 age group in our parishes.

 Have a passionate vision of how the future could be, and can enthuse and encourage people to grasp that vision

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The linkage of Langbank with Port Glasgow St Andrews was entered into willingly by both congregations, and has since been fostered enthusiastically by all members. Links between the two congregations date back to 2007, when the initial Presbytery Plan envisaged a four-way linkage including Langbank and St Andrews, following which a number of joint activities took place such as evening worship.

The two churches still retain their own distinctive approaches to worship and outreach, reflecting the difference in environment between a major urban church in the heart of a commercial district compared to a rural church in a small village, but are united not just by geography (they are less than 4 miles apart linked by a major dual-carriageway and railway line) but by a shared appreciation of the value of diversity.

Langbank itself is a distinct village with a population of 932 of whom 16% are of school age, and 18% are aged 65 or more, which is in line with as a whole (2011 census). It is situated on the banks of the just off the main A8 road to the east of Port Glasgow, with views across the broadening Clyde towards Ben Lomond. Administratively it is part of Renfrewshire Council, whose boundary with Inverclyde Council runs through Finlaystone Estate, the ancestral seat of the Clan Macmillan, whose chief is one of our Elders. As well as the compact village, the parish incorporates parts of the surrounding rural area which includes a number of farms and a large hotel and leisure complex (Gleddoch House). Langbank Primary School has approx. 80 pupils, and is a feeder school to Park Mains High School in Erskine to which the village children travel by bus each day. The Village Centre (community hall) is maintained by Renfrewshire Council, and can host events for up to about 80 people; it is often used for our larger fund-raising activities.

Of the 780 residents aged over 16 years, two-thirds are living as a married couple, and there are 375 distinct households; approximately 40 of these households comprise one-person households where the villager is aged 65 or older. 21% of the families have dependent children still living with them. Just under half of the population are considered daytime residents (ie they do not leave the village for work or education). The population has been stable over the last 10 years (in 2001 the population was 934), although immediately prior to that there was a boost brought about by development of the former seminary site for housing. Nevertheless, facilities in the village remain limited; in addition to Gleddoch House (which in any case is a 5-10 minute drive from the village), there is a restaurant on the main street in the village (Main Road), and the only shop closed about six months ago. The railway station is served by regular trains to Paisley, Glasgow and Inverclyde.

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Langbank Church of Scotland is the only place of worship in the village and parish, and we therefore welcome all local Christians, particularly at key times such as Easter and Christmas; the primary school hold regular church services, and the parish minister is welcome to take part in activities at the school.

Because of the limited facilities in the village, the church has the opportunity to form a focal point for activities for all villagers, and this is something we have been developing recently. Given our knowledge of the village, we have been trying to develop daytime outreach (eg to some of the older/retired villagers), and we would want to continue our positive engagement with the primary school to reach out to younger families as well as their children.

The church itself has 137 members and adherents, of which around 60-70 take communion regularly; typical Sunday services have around 40-50 worshippers ranging in age from pre-school to well over 80 years of age. Sunday worship is at 10am to accommodate a second Sunday morning service at St Andrews at 11.15am; there are occasional additional services, such as during Holy Week and at Christmas. Communion is celebrated three times a year.

We have just switched to a unitary form of constitution, with 13 Elders and a number of former Board Members who have become corresponding members of the session. The congregation itself is a wide range of ages, and many of our younger members are active in helping us sustain the life of the church. We offer a crèche for pre-school children (we currently have 4 regular users of the crèche) and a Sunday Club for school-age children (currently 12 regular attenders); the church is extremely supportive of our work with children, and they contribute regularly to worship and fund-raising activities both for the church and other worthy causes.

With a relatively small congregation, the parish faces continuing pressure on our financial resources and on the time our members can devote to church activities. In 2014 our income was £30,766, representing £225 per member, and resulted in a small deficit of £831. Following the linkage with St Andrews, we were able to rent out the Manse (which is adjacent to the church on Main Road) and we have made good use of the income from that rental to support improvements to the manse itself, and for other planned improvements to the church fabric. We have also taken advantage of grants to support this work, and will continue to do so as we tackle other significant structural work to safeguard the future of the building (some interior work associated with damp is required, and the structure of the steeple needs stabilising). Our pipe organ has recently been repaired, and we also have access to other musical instruments

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Given our unique role in the village, we see our stewardship and outreach campaigns as mutually supportive. We want to secure the recognition of our importance to all villagers, whether regular or occasional worshippers or even just those attending our community social events, and there is a careful balance to be struck in such a small community to ensure that we are not just seen as only reaching-out to the wider village in times of financial need. Nevertheless, we take stewardship of our funds very seriously, and currently have reserves of £22,500 reserved for fabric purposes. During 2014 a reinvigorated outreach and stewardship campaign not only involved more members (and villagers) in our activities, but also resulted in a range of new ideas coming to fruition with a regular series of village lunches, and a monthly car-wash among the initiatives.

We would like to thank the Langbank Camera Club for providing all the photographs used in our contribution to the Parish Profile.

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The Church Manse, in Port Glasgow, is situated on Barrs Brae and offers panoramic views over the River Clyde. It is a traditional stone, semi-detached , two storey building with two public rooms, a fully fitted kitchen, utility room and toilet downstairs. Upstairs, it has four bedrooms, newly fitted bathroom and converted attic. The manse has double glazing, carpeting and gas central heating throughout.

Port Glasgow is one of the largest towns in the Inverclyde area. It is situated on the south bank of the River Clyde, east of . The Parish of St Andrew's encompasses the whole of lower Port Glasgow.

The latest population figures shows 15,100 people living in the town with our parish population being around 5000. Port Glasgow, for a number of years , has been an area of regeneration with investment in new housing, a bypass and much of the town's waterfront has been cleared and redeveloped.

St Andrew's Church is the Burgh Church of the town, and as such the minister has responsibility for all civic religious ceremonies which take place in the town.

The last remaining shipyard on the lower Clyde, Ferguson's Marine Yard , is situated within the parish and as minister you will have pastoral involvement within the Yard.

The school situation within the town has been completely overhauled in recent years. Due to amalgamations, there is now no primary or secondary schools with our actual parish, although our minister is one of the chaplains to the new ground breaking Port Glasgow Community Campus which includes Port Glasgow High School, St Stephen's Roman Catholic School and Craigmarloch Special Needs School.

There is a care home, a housing complex, and three blocks of high flats all of which cater for elderly residents within the parish area. The parish also takes in the town centre including the Health Centre, the local Railway Station and a new retail

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The Sunday morning service in St Andrew’s is at 11.15 am. There is an evening service at 7.00 pm on the first Sunday of each month except July and August.

The Congregation meets for tea and fellowship in the hall from 10am prior to morning worship.

Members of the Congregation regularly contribute to worship by reading the scriptures and suitably trained members occasionally conduct the full service and St Andrew’s has a long standing lead the children in worship commitment to minister among the young people of our town and Parish A new audio visual system has recently been installed in the Church for the benefit This is carried out through organisations of the Congregation and to help with the like the Junior Church, the Lazers, the YCS, outreach work/mission work of the Church the Boys Brigade, the Girls Brigade, the The roll has 450 members and 25 Guides and the Scouts. adherents and the weekly congregation is around 100 to 120. In addition, over 300 In all, we reach out and, through our young people attend our weekly youth programme of work with young people, organisations and Sunday School. touch the lives of around 400 members of our community. This is accomplished During 2016 the Minister conducted 6 through the voluntary participation of over Baptisms, 4 weddings and 29 funerals 70 adult volunteers. Special services held throughout the year include:- Christmas Watch Night service; a Dawn Service on Easter Sunday at Newark Castle; and special services on the Monday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week. Communion is held on Maundy Thursday and this along with the Good Friday service alternates with Langbank

St. Andrew’s also has a long tradition of The Worship Team comprising of a number servicing the adult population of Port of elders help to conduct monthly worship Glasgow. services at the local nursing home and at the local sheltered housing complex. There This is carried out through such groups as is a newly formed Pastoral Team who The Guild, The Old Boys Union, the regularly visit the housebound, members in Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship Group and Care Homes and the bereaved within our The Thursday Morning Coffee Club congregation and parish

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The Junior Church meets every Sunday morning. The young folk leave Almost unique in the modern Church of Scotland, The YCS gives the young people the service after the children’s talk. of our church and congregation a direct They are split into the following voice in the Courts of the Church. section: Members of the YCS have, in recent years, Creche - up to 3 years attended the National Youth Assembly and Sparklers - 3 - 5 years three of them attended the General Assembly as youth representatives.. All Stars - 5 - 8 years

Trail Blazers - 8 - 12 years The YCS has a place on every Kirk Session Lazers - 12 - 17 years Agenda and makes reports on activities or raises concerns that are current among the young people of our church and Parish.

For over one hundred years, the Old Boys’ Union of Port Glasgow has been a source of fellowship and deepening commitment for men from every part Prior to the lunchtime Communion service, of the town’s Christian Community. the halls are open for fellowship and goodies in a traditional coffee morning Founded by The Reverend Herbert atmosphere Reid as a way of providing discipleship training and adventure for young men who had grown too old for The Boys’ Brigade, the OBU has grown to welcome men with a background in other uniformed youth organizations The Guild in St Andrew’s is an integral part and with a background in none. of the congregation’s Ministry to our town and parish. The weekly meetings are times Now the town’s main Christian Men’s of fun and fellowship when our Guild Fellowship, the OBU meets upstairs in members come together to develop their St Andrew’s Church Hall each own discipleship and faith. Wednesday evening. Meetings begin at 7.30 pm. The Guild meets on Monday evenings at 7.30 in the small hall at St Andrew’s

Each Tuesday the senior Citizens of the Church and Parish enjoy a chat, a laugh, a cup of tea and time to share with others. The afternoon programme contains a variety of activities and on occasions a guest speaker.

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Kirk Session 62 The Kirk Session meets at 7pm on the fourth Thursday of January, April, June, Guild 30 September and November and at other JuniorChurch 27 times as intimated . BB 63 The Kirk Session has 66 active Elders GB 114 and they are subdivided into a number of Guides 64 committees Scouts 50 Youth -This committee liaises with all the youth organisations and brings any problems back to Session. They also meet once / twice per year with all the organisation to arrange parents evenings, youth services etc. In addition anything coming from 121 / Presbytery regarding youth is normally St Andrew’s is governed by the remitted to them for further discussion and if Unitary Constitution with committees necessary bring back a report. Elders appointed from the committee visit every covering:- organisation at least once per year.  Adult/Community One senior Elder who is part of this  Youth Committee is responsible for all PVG  Resource.

Adult/Community - As per youth committee this committee looks after the senior organisations and liaises with the session if necessary. Each organisation is visited by an Elder and again if anything is sent from 121/ Presbytery it is remitted to them. They are The Church magazine, called Good also involved in any communication received News is published at every from the local council / region regarding community events. Communion season and is distributed by Elders during their Resource -This committee mainly looks after the finance and the property with all its various components

Each committee has a convenor who has no direct powers to do anything major without session approval. They can ask for a session meeting at any time, however arranging for parents evenings, organisation services etc are normally discussed without the need for a meeting.

There is one other committee, the business committee, who meet on an ad hoc basis for anything remitted from session that is not covered by the above, e.g. a new session clerk, or a new convenor. The business committee comprises the Minister, the 2 session clerks and the 3 convenors.

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Annual contributions to Ministries and Missions in 2016 were £40,428, paid in full as required by 121.

Offering £96,582 (£81,770 offerings £14,812 tax reclaim)

General fund balance £640, and Fabric Fund £14,074

There are also Sundry accounts belonging to the Church Organisations holding around £4,699 which form part of the Church's Annual Financial position. These are unrestricted.

Restricted Accounts are the Flower and Gift Fund (£1,768) and the Link/20p day/ New Manse Fund (£12,906).

In the latter part of 2014, the congregation took part in a Stewardship Campaign. The aspect of finance was the first part of the programme to be tackled. Many of our members completed this programme and have found that it has benefited St Andrew’s in some or all of the following ways:

 A better understanding of where money is spent

 A renewed sense of the meaning of a financial offering

 An increase in the offerings.

 A change in individual methods of giving

 A greater awareness of the work of the church. This is an on-going programme for our congregation and through prayer, enthusiasm and commitment we hope to enhance the work of our congregation

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The 2nd Port Glasgow Company, founded over 100 years ago,number over 80 members with 20 staff. The Company band is well known throughout Inverclyde and Scotland. They perform at various events and recently performed as part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations at George Square and Glasgow Green. The Company meets every Wednesday and

St. Andrew’s has two Girls’ Brigade companies, the 1st and 2nd Port Glasgow.

The 1st Port Glasgow, the oldest company in Scotland, meets on a Thursday in the local Primary school and has over 100 members and around 15 staff.

The 2nd Port Glasgow Company meets in the Church halls every Tuesday and has around 25 members and 7 staff

The Guides in St Andrew’s are split into the 1st Port Glasgow Brownies and the 2nd Port Glasgow Rainbows and Guides. They both meet together on a Monday evening in a local Primary school, their numbers are 85 girls with 10 staff.

The 47th Greenock and District Scouts (4th Port Glasgow), also founded over 100 years, number over 80 boys and girls and around 15 staff. They meet in the local Primary school every Monday. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts meet on the same evening.

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Congregational Support for the Mission Outreach work within St Andrews and surrounding Parish

Our congregation is fortunate to have a number of worship leaders. The leaders Our new Praise Band —Lynsey, Reece help conduct monthly and Alan use their talents to enhance worship at the local our worship once a month. Sheltered Housing Complex within the parish, and assist at times with the conduct of worship.

A Pastoral Team, comprising of elders and church members, regularly visit those in need within our congregation and parish. Visits are made to Nursing/Care Homes, the Housebound, members who are recovering at A number of our youth leaders have home and those who have undertaken to pilot Messy Church on a suffered a bereavement Saturday Afternoon, 4 – 6pm. This is a work in progress but hopefully a number Pastoral Cards are placed on the of young families will be encouraged into pews and when completed by the Church Fellowship. members of the congregation, are passed on for the attention of the team.

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