The 40th Anniversary Celebrations

The celebrations began with a service of Holy Communion celebrated by the Minister, where two of the elders distributing the elements came from Hobs Moat U. R. C., and a total of 119 people took communion.

The morning Thanksgiving service then took the form of a service of lessons and readings read by representatives of all sections of the church. During the service a pair of kneelers which had been made by Mrs. Joyce Nunn were presented by her, and received by two of the youngest member of the Junior Church. A set of framed photographs of Mrs. H. Alexander and of the Reverends W. S. Ferrie, Cedric Mercer and John Forsyth, former ministers of the church, were presented to the church and received on its behalf by representatives of the young people in the Uniformed groups. The Minister dedicated the kneelers, the cross and the new furnishings.

A combined congregation of 270 people from St. Ninian’s and Hobs Moat Churches, including all the uniformed organisations, and representatives from Christ Church, Knowle, Olton, and Digbeth in the Field United Reformed Churches attended the services. It was pleasing that many who had been part of the life of St. Ninian’s in the past were able to come. According to the signatures collected on the day, they came from as far north as Stirling, and as far south as Sutton in Surrey.

 

Greetings were received from the local churches, in addition to greetings from the Minister of St. Ninian’s Church of Scotland at Whithorn, and also from St. Ninian’s United Reformed Church, Pagham, near Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

There can be no doubt that the augmented choir under the direction of Mr. Tom Gibson, helped to make that service one which must be remembered as one of the high points of the worship of the church throughout its history.

After an excellent buffet lunch provided by the ladies of the church led by Mrs. Pat Stark, the Church Secretary, Mr. T. W. Rintoul, gave an account of the life and work of St. Ninian.

It is planned that the celebrations will continue through the year with special social occasions including an evening barbeque at the church on 21st June, a Harvest Thanksgiving Supper on 20th September and a ploughman’s Lunch on 4th October. In addition to the service including the dedication of the organ on 22nd June, special services during the year will be held at Harvest Festival, and the year of celebration will draw to its close on 26th April 1987 when it is planned that the Moderator of the West Midlands province, the Reverend John Waller, will be the preacher.