Langbank Port Glasgow St Andrews Parish Profiles
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Parish Profiles Langbank linked with Port Glasgow 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 –Langbank Church Linkage ......................................................... Page 5 Parish of Langbank ......................................................... Page 5 Worship ......................................................... Page 6 Finance ......................................................... Page 6 Stewardship ......................................................... Page 7 Section Three— Port Glasgow 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. SCO15085 SC009018 3 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 4 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 Scotland as a whole (2011 census). It is situated on the banks of the River Clyde 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. 5 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