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Bearsden Cross Church - Organisations


Kirk Session Committees
  • Pastoral Group
  • Worship
  • Christian Nurture
  • Local Mission
  • World Mission and Service
  • Mission Partner
  • Publications and Publicity
  • Social Functions
  • Eco-Group
  • Safeguarding Committee
  • Archive
Congregational Board
Poitiers twinning
Association of Bearsden Churches
Christian Aid
Scottish Bible Society
Mission Partner
Church Organisations
  • Choir
  • Transport to Church
  • Prayer List & Prayer Group
  • Bible Study Groups
  • Coffee After Church
  • Guild
  • Knitting & Sewing Circle
  • Children Activities
  • Phoenix Circle
  • The Way Ahead Group
  • The Forum
  • Walking Club
BEAM
Glasgow City Mission
Uniformed Organisations
  • Girls' Brigade
  • Boys' Brigade
  • Girlguiding
  • Scouting

Kirk Session Committees

Worship and Faith

This group has primary responsibility for worship and Christian education, as well as publications and communications. This relates to 'Worship' (Tell) and 'Nurture' (Teach).

Faith in Community

This group encompasses all aspects of pastoral care, outreach and hospitality. This relates to 'Service' (Tend) and 'Witness' (Transform and Treasure).

External Relations

This group encompasses all aspects of church life beyond our own congregation, such as Presbytery, the Presbytery Mission Plan, ABC, Faifley, and our forthcoming linkage with Drumchapel: St Mark's. The work of Glasgow City Mission, Christian Aid, Eco-Congregation, and other external  agencies also fall under the remit of this group.

Business Group

This group involves all aspects of governance and congregational life not covered by the above groups. This group has limited and designated decision-making powers between Kirk Session meetings and its responsibilities include:- liaison with Congregational Board, Safeguarding, Congregational Roll, Communion & Aisle duties, reporting from congregational organisations, and Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade.

Pastoral Group

The Pastoral Group support the Minister in telephoning and visiting the elderly and housebound.
Joint Convenors: The Minister
                                Anne Henderson
                                Diane Walker

Mission Partner

Our Church of Scotland Mission partner is Kenny Roger, who is based in the Holy Land.
Contact: Lesley Shaw

Communications

Oversees the production and distribution of the monthly magazine, Year Book, and this Website, as well as parish cards at Christmas and Easter.

Website: Neil Wilson
Magazine Editor: Peter Grant
Magazine Distribution: Christine Cogan
Parish Card Distribution: Diane Walker

Safeguarding Panel

Convener and Safeguarding Officer: Keith Wright

Members: John Pollock, Mary Munro, and Wendy Owler.

Archive

With the union of the North and South Churches, the new Cross Church Kirk Session appointed an Archivist for each of the former congregations to keep historical documents.
North: Allan Struthers
South: Margaret Campbell
Cross: Alistair Henderson

Early Minute Books are held in the National Archives of Scotland, but there are a lot of records of both previous congregations in the Cross church. However, there are gaps which the archivists would appreciate help with filling. If anyone is having a clear out and finds anything that might be useful, please get in touch.

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Congregational Board

The Board is responsible for the maintenance of the Church Buildings and the general administration of the congregational finances. It is made up of the Minister, twelve elders appointed by the Kirk Session and twelve members elected by the congregation at the Stated Annual meeting.

Chairman: The Minister
Clerk: Gordon Aitken
Treasurer: Alison Mackay
Gift Aid Treasurer: Julie Wilson
Freewill Offering Convener: Lesley Shaw
Property Committee Convener: Jim Stewart
Finance Committee Convener: Alison Mackay

Stewardship Campaign

All congregations of the Church of Scotland are instructed by the General Assembly to hold Stewardship campaigns looking at money, time and talents, or a combination of these. A Stewardship campaign will take place in 2026.

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Poitiers

We have a Twinning arrangement with L'Eglise Réformée de Poitiers in France and have organised visits/exchanges. 
Contact: Keith Wright or the Minister
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Association of Bearsden Churches

Representatives from the Bearsden Churches of all denominations. The ABC organises various ecumenical events such as 'One World Week ' and Holy Week.
Representatives: The Minister, Alisdair Meldrum.

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Christian Aid

christian_aid

The Churches' charity working with people of all faiths and none, helping them to find their own way out of poverty. Anyone who has ideas or would like to help with fundraising contact the Church Office otherwise see the website.
Representative: Katherine Thomson
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Scottish Bible Society 'The Word for the World' scottish_bible_society

The Since 1809 the SBS have sought to put the Bible into people's hands and hearts. For more than 200 years the Society have helped to make a difference to countless lives the world over - but this has only been possible with generous donations. There is still continued work to be done, both in Scotland and overseas. Your support helps the Society in its work, see the website.
Contact: Diane Walker
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Church Organisations

Church Choir

Church music is under the general direction of the Organist and Choirmaster. The church choir is open to everyone interested in singing. No experience is necessary as training is given at the weekly choir practices before the morning service from 10am. The choir leads the praise and sings an Introit and Anthem at Sunday services, contributes to Easter and Christmas, and gives concerts and recitals from time to time. The repertoire is varied, including music from the Renaissance to the present. To find out more contact the choirmaster without obligation.

We have a pipe organ in our church building which underwent an extensive renovation completed in 2012. Details of the instrument are recorded on the National Pipe Organ Register follow the links to see the entries. The organ is a TC Lewis organ from 1911 thought to have been originally in Buchleuch Church and was moved to its present location about 1955.

Bible Study Group

We have a regular Bible Study Group 'Bible Basics' to which all are welcome. The group usually meets on Tuesday mornings and the dates and times are in the weekly intimations and monthly magazine. For details see magazine.
Contact: The Minister


Transport to Church

The church has a contract with a local taxi firm which members may use to book taxis to/from Sunday services, at no cost to themselves. To register for the service contact the church office.

Coffee After Church

Tea & coffee is served after church most Sundays. We urgently need helpers to assist with serving & clearing up afterwards.
During the year the profits have gone to Glasgow City Mission, Crossreach, Erskine and St Margarets's Hospice.
Convener: Jo Moody

Church Flowers

Flowers are arranged in the church weekly (except during Advent and Christmas) by a team of willing arrangers. After the service the flowers are distributed at the Ministers direction. Anyone wishing to contribute to the flowers in church e.g. to mark an Anniversary may sign up in the vestibule. New arrangers are always welcome as are distributors.
Provision and Arrangement Convener: Gwen Stokes
Secretary & Treasurer: Christine Taggart
Distribution: Barbara Skett, Jo Moody

Children & Young People's Activities

Elder for Young People:  Miss Lesley Shaw

Cradle Roll: Maureen Meldrum

Funday Sunday: Children (age 3-P7 inclusive) gather before the morning service in the Guild Room on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. They attend part of the church service then continue their exploration of Bible Stories in the halls.
Contact: Lesley Shaw or Anne Reid


Bible Class

The Bible Class is open to all interested young people at Secondary school.
Co-ordinator: Ross Greer

Messy Church

Messy Church is open for children from age 3 to P7 and uses craft, fun and hospitality to communicate Bible stories. Messy Church runs on a Friday afternoon every 6-7 weeks from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
Contact: Keith Wright

The Guildguild

The Guild is open to everyone, meeting fortnightly on a Monday afternoon from October to March to enjoy a short act of worship, an interesting and varied programmer, and a time of fellowship, see the calendar for details.
Secretary: Thelma Sturthers

The Phoenix Circlephoenix

The Phoenix Circle hosts a variety of talks & events. The group meets fortnightly on Monday evenings. The meetings take place fortnightly in the Church Hall on a Monday evening and run from September to March, see the calendar for details. A very warm welcome is extended to visitors and new members.
Contact: Senga Dempster

TMC ('Too Many Candles')

TMC (Too Many Candles) For ladies who consider they have Too Many Candles on their Birthday cakes, we meet once a month, usually the last Monday, for chat, fellowship and a bite to eat in a local restaurant. We have an annual outing and theatre trip and contribute to different charities each month via our "collection". Please watch for our notices in Intimations and just turn up. You will be made most welcome. We have a WhatsApp group which communicates daily.
Contact: Anne Henderson

Men's Group

The group meets for conversation and company every seven or eight weeks usually for a meal in a local restaurant. For details see the magazine.

Knit & Stitch

The Knitting and Sewing Circle is currently involved in two outreach projects.
The first is to knit, stitch or provide warm hats, scarves or neck and hand warmers, gloves, mittens for the homeless. Items may be left in the Assembly are box to be passed on. There is plenty of wool available and some fleece fabric for those who prefer to sew.
The second, is collaborating with New Kilpatrick Church with outreach projects to those in local care homes or housebound. See the magazine for updates.
Convener: Jean Wilson

Walking Club

The group meets each Wednesday at 9.30am at the car park at the Allander Leisure Centre, weather permitting. There is no set programme of walks but more information can be had from Callum Mathie.
Contact: Callum Mathie.
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BEAM

Bearsden & Milngavie Talking Newspaper Association is a service for the blind, the partially sighted and those otherwise labouring under temporary or permanent incapacity or disability. Formed as an outreach service by the Church and provides weekly recordings of the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald and other material free of charge to listeners.

Volunteers are divided up into teams to read, record and copy material. BEAM is always happy to hear from new volunteers but most of all it is keen to hear about anyone who would like to receive and hopefully enjoy its recordings.
Contact: Alisdair Meldrum
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Mind that Song

‘Mind that Song’ is run in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and uses music, song and hospitality to provide a supportive environment for those living with Dementia and also for those who care for them. It meets in our Large Hall at 2pm, usually on the second Friday of each month - see the magazine for dates.
Contact Anne O'Donnell (Alzheimer Scotland)

The Way Ahead Group - A Stroke Club for Bearsden

Members meet every Thursday in Killermont Parish Church from 1.00 - 3.45 p.m. New volunteer drivers and helpers, who are only 'on-duty' one Thursday in the month, are alway welcome. For more information see here.

Glasgow City Mission

Glasgow City Mission helps Glasgow's most disadvantaged people through free meals at its evening drop-in and a range of daytime activities. Its project workers advise and support clients personally through issues of housing, finance, job-seeking, health and rehabilitation. GCM runs a winter night shelter for rough sleepers and also a children's nursery and family centre in Govan. It believes firmly that only God can turn lives around and is therefore grateful not only for donations or volunteering help but especially for prayer. The church tries to give all three.
Contact:  Katie Thomson

Uniformed Organisations

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The Boys' Brigade - 1st Bearsden Company


Jointly with neighbouring churches. For details see the website.


The Girls' Brigade - 98th Glasgow Companygb_logo


Jointly with neighbouring churches. The company meets in Baljaffray Church on Thursday evenings.  use the Company Finder.


Girlguiding 'Girls in the Lead'girl_guiding

Various units for girls meet in the Guide hall in Pendicle Road and in other school and Guide Halls in the area.


Scoutingscouts_scotland

24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scouts have groups meeting in the local schools and the local Scout Halls. For current contact details use the search section of Scouts.

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