Galston Parish Church celebrates 200 years

Jul 3 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

TWO hundred years of worship in the same church building were celebrated in a special bicentenary service in Galston Parish Church.

The Reverend Graeme Wilson conducted the worship and the Rt Reverend Bill Hewitt, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, preached the sermon.

Among those who enjoyed the service were Des Browne MP, Provost Stephanie Young and Councillor Stuart Finlayson.

The service also included a reading from Pastor Martina Sieder of Ahrensfelde, Berlin – Galston Parish’s partner church of 21 years.

The Reverend Julia Huggett, Moderator of the Presbytery and Chaplain at Crosshouse Hospital, led a prayer. Provost Young gave a short speech.

The Reverend Wilson said: “This service was the most appropriate way to celebrate our bicentenary. It was a very special evening to top off all our recent celebrations. Most importantly, members of the congregation were very happy with the event.”

Provost Young said: “It was a most enjoyable service and I was delighted to see so many people present. It was a pleasure also to meet guests from other congregations, especially the visitors from Ahrensfelde, to celebrate two hundred years of worship in Galston Parish Church.”