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Lanark: St Nicholas Parish Church
Parish Profile
Lanark: St Nicholas Parish Church
High Street, Lanark, ML11 9EA
Website: www.lanark-stnicholas.co.uk
Lanark: St Nicholas Parish Church. Charity No. SC011368
Our history in brief
Lanark: St Nicholas Parish Church, with its
beautiful stained glass windows, stands
proudly at the foot of Lanark High Street at
the cross.
The church was constructed in 1774. It is
a 5 bay, 2 level rectangular Church with
a tower. A major internal and external
restoration took place in 1994/95 at the cost
of £600,000, half of which was raised by the
congregation. The fine Foster & Andrews of
Hull pipe organ was restored to its original
specification at the same time.
About the local area
The Parish of St Nicholas covers half the town of Lanark and two outlying
villages, Nemphlar to the west and New Lanark to the south. The area is
mostly rural with many farms and small hamlets on the edge of the town.
It is 25 miles from Glasgow and 30 miles from Edinburgh. The population of
Lanark is around 8,855.
There are four primary schools namely Robert Owen Memorial Primary
School, Lanark Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School and New Lanark
Primary School. Lanark Grammar is the main Secondary School. The Manse is
in the catchment area for Lanark Primary and Lanark Grammar Schools.
Wishaw General Hospital, 12 miles from Lanark, is the main hospital. The
Lockhart Hospital, which is a community hospital, is located in Lanark.
There is a residential care home and various care homes in Lanark and the
surrounding area.
Lanark has excellent transport links, with a bus and railway station. Trains to
Glasgow are very regular during the day form Lanark, and trains to Edinburgh
are available from Carstairs Junction (10 minutes drive).
A wonderful sense of community exists within Lanark, none more so than
during our Lanimer Celebrations that take place in June each year. A recently
built swimming pool and fitness complex, along with a new mountain bike
track and multiple adventure play areas for children and young people ensure
that there is plenty opportunity for exercise and fitness. New Lanark World
Heritage site offers outstanding walks and activities around the falls of
Clyde, and with a strong musical tradition, various groups including Music in
Lanark, bring world-class musicians to the town on regular basis.
St Nicholas has four neighbouring churches. They are Greyfriars Parish Church
(Church of Scotland), Christ Church (Scottish Episcopal Church), St Mary’s
(Roman Catholic) and Lanark Congregational Church.
Worship
The mission of St. Nicholas Church is “Following Christ’s example to be a
caring Church central to the life of the community.” We believe that worship
is at the core of our mission and life together as a congregation.
The main service of worship takes place on a Sunday at 10.30am with an
average attendance of 150. A transport service is provided for those who
cannot walk to Church and CDs are available to those who are not able to
come. Children are usually present for the first part of the service before
going to Sunday Morning Group (Sunday School). There is also The Group for
older children from primary 7 to secondary year 2 who meet for half an hour
on Sunday morning before joining the morning worship half way through the
service.
The beautiful flower arrangements which adorn the Church every Sunday are
delivered by our team of distributors after the service to members who are
ill, housebound or have suffered bereavement.
There is also a short Wednesday service at 10.15am. Special services are held
during Holy Week and on Christmas Eve. The Bible Study Group meets every
two weeks for most of the year.
Holy Communion is celebrated at 10.30am and 6pm on the second Sunday
in March, May, September and December and on other occasions during the
year. Home Communion can also be arranged.
The Church role is currently 508. There are 43 Elders. During 2014 the
Minister conducted 15 baptisms, 5 weddings, 51 funerals.
Our Choir is superbly led by our Musical Director Roy Henderson who is also
the organist. The Choir is 24 strong and consists of 9 Sopranos, 7 Altos, 4
Tenors and 4 Basses. The well balanced four-part choir sings at all Sunday
morning services.
The Church building itself plays a huge part in the civic life of the town
as it is the centre point for the Lanimer Week celebrations in June. The
celebrations commence with the Kirkin’ of the Lord Cornet elect on the
Sunday. The annual Remembrance Service in the last few years has also been
held in St Nicholas, and bi-annually the Church hosts the annual “Sing a Song
for Christmas”, organised by the local Christian Aid Council, involving local
schools and uniformed organisations.
Areas of Ministry
St. Nicholas Church offers many opportunities for members of the
congregation to develop their own ministry.
One of the key endeavours of St. Nicholas Church is to ensure that people are
cared for, both within the church and within the local community.
Health & Wellbeing
Good 2 Talk - The Good 2 Talk Group has now been in existence for nine
years. This group provides an opportunity for people who have suffered a loss
in their lives to get together and provide support.
Church Visitors/Pastoral Care - The Church visitors provide a link for
members of the congregation who are housebound. Twelve people are being
visited although more people are visited on an informal basis by friends and
other members of our Church.
The Lanark Exercise Group, addiction charities, Lanarkshire Association
for Mental Health and The Blood Transfusion Service also use our halls on a
regular basis.
Spiritual
The Guild - The Guild meets every second Wednesday at 7.30pm. There are
about 30 members of the Guild.
Bible Study – A group of members meet regularly to deepen their
understanding of the Bible and prayer.
Christian Aid - St Nicholas is whole-hearted supporter of Christian Aid. We
host Lenten Lunches organised by the local Christian Aid Council, sponsored
walks and participate in the annual house and street collections.
Hear for You – An independent charity, started and developed by members
of St. Nicholas, Hear For You is a project to counsel people who may be
contemplating suicide and to help and support families and friends who have
been affected by a suicide. The project has 3 counsellors and operates as a
separate charity and has its own board of trustees. Fund raising through the
Church of Scotland’s “Go for it” was provided for the initial 3 year period and
St Nicholas supports the funding of the project through a “match funding”
arrangement.
Children & Young People
Alongside the Sunday activities for children and young people mentioned
earlier St. Nicholas also offers activities throughout the week.
Girls’ Brigade and Boy’s Brigade - The Girls’ Brigade numbering 50 meet on
Monday evenings in the Church Hall and the Boy’s Brigade numbering 20 on
Wednesdays.
St Nicholas Toddlers and Playgroup - Although not now a church organisation,
the Toddlers and Playgroup are very valued and welcome users of the Church
Hall, having been established by St Nicholas Church over 45 years ago.
Social & Recreational
Fellowship Group - The Fellowship Group organise a number of activities
to not only provide additional funds for the Church, but also ensure that
the members of the congregation grow together in friendship. In the past
the group have organised a annual Burns Supper, a Spring Fair and various
concerts, most recently when the Phoenix Choir entertained the community.
For many years, a Saturday Tea Room took place in our hall to raise funds for
the work of the congregation and provide an important meeting place for
many within the community.
The following shows the areas of ministry at a glance
Communication
St Nicholas has a Church magazine A.D. mail which is published four times
a year. It is the main general communication tool for our Church groups are
encouraged to contribute to this magazine.
School Chaplaincy
The former minister was the Chaplain for Lanark Primary School and was a
member of the Chaplaincy Team for Lanark Grammar School.
Engaging with the local community
As can be seen from our profile, engaging with the local community is an
important part of our Church life and encourages us to try to fulfil our
mission statement “Following Christ’s example to be a caring Church central
to the life of the community.” Outreach to the local community enables us
to engage with many people who have no other contact with the Church.
As a congregation we believe that encouraging local groups to use our suite
of halls ensures that our church stays at the heart of the community. The
Church Halls provide suitable accommodation for the various organisations
referred to above. They consist of a suite of three halls, kitchen, toilets and
office space. The halls were restored in 1984 and further work was carried
out to the main hall in 2013.
The Manse
The Manse at 2 Kairnhill Court, Lanark is a
beautiful, well-maintained, modern split-level
detached dwelling built in 1992 and is situated
in a quiet residential area within walking
distance of the Town Centre. The Manse
comprises of 3 Public Rooms, 4 Bedrooms,
study, 2 bathroom/shower rooms, toilet,
kitchen and utility room and a Double Garage.
One of the public rooms is a sun room offering
splendid views across the Clyde valley. The
Manse has a well maintained garden and is
situated on a corner site.
Finance
The principal source of income is the offerings of the congregation. St.
Nicholas meets all ministry and mission contributions and the Kirk Session
count it a privilege to support the work of the Church of Scotland through
their contribution. A stewardship campaign was carried out during 2014 and
resulted in an increase in income of £23,710. The total income raised by the
congregation, including income tax reclaimed in 2014 was £94,563. Income
from Hall Lets was £19,945 and the balance of income came from weddings,
funerals etc. The Expenditure incurred was £142,560. At the end of 2014 the
congregation held reserves of £151,634.
Copies of our 2014 income and expenditure, as well as our 2015 budget are
below:
Income
Voluntary Income
WFO Scheme
Ordinary Offerings (Open Plate)
Tax Recovered on Gift Aid
Charities Aid Foundation
Congregational Organisations
Donations
Activities for Generating Funds
Use of Premises
Investment Income
Dividends Received
Actual
2014
Budget
2015
65,965
10,336
16,693
248
250
1,071
94,563
60,000
10,000
15,000
240
0
300
85,540
19,945
19,945
20,000
20,000
7,010
7,010
6,500
6,500
Incoming Resources from Charitable Activities
Weddings and Funerals
2,331
Fundraising Events
5,000
Saturday Tearooms
6,666
13,997
Hall Restoration Grants
Other income
105
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
135,620
Bequests
30,573
TOTAL INCOME
166,193
2,000
5,000
0
7,000
0
119,040
119,040
Expenditure
Costs of Generating Funds
Offering Envelopes
Charitable Activities
Ministries and Mission Allocation
Presbytery Dues
Minister's Travelling Expenses
Minister's Telephone and Broadband
Minister's Other Expenses
Pulpit Supply
Other Salary Costs
Fabric Repairs and Maintenance
Heating and Lighting
Water Charges and Insurance
Council Tax
Cleaning and Laundry
Other Buildings Costs
Printing, Stationery and Photocopying
Licences
Office phone, Post, Clerks Exp, Equipmnt and Depreciation
Congregational Organisations
Publicity and Advertising
Organ, Piano and Music Expenses
Flowers and Christmas Decorations
Child Sponsorship, Care 2 Share, Holiday Club,
Other Expenses
Accountants Fees
Church Restoration
Hall Renovations
Actual
2014
Budget
2015
270
270
270
270
66,500
1,295
4,610
446
384
645
17,393
6,888
14,805
4,077
1,941
1,344
400
639
406
1,926
1,451
1,504
288
484
1,560
68,000
1,500
4,500
0
0
150
19,000
15,000
15,000
4,500
0
1,400
400
1,600
400
4,700
2,240
1,500
100
300
500
1,500
128,986
142,290
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
129,256
142,560
TOTAL INCOME (excluding Bequests)
135,620
119,040
Surplus/ Deficit
6,364
-23,520
Full copies of the annual accounts are available on request from the clerk to
the nominating committee.
Professional Staff Appointments
The continuing work of the Church is supported by a small professional parttime staff team.
Musical Director and Organist; Church Office secretary; Church Officer; Hall
Caretaker/ Cleaner
Working with other Churches
As a ministerial team within Lanark, we are looking forward to welcoming the
new minister of St. Nicholas Church into our group.
We meet once a month for lunch and planning, with a lot of fun and laughter
thrown in. The churches in Lanark work well together and frequently join
together for services, initiatives and fellowship. From Holy Week services to
Songs of Praise gathering, nursing home worship to Carols around the nativity
there is always something for the new minister to be doing ecumenically.
Twice a year, at Easter and Christmas, we join together and produce publicity
to go into every home in the town, assuring people of a welcome in any of
our churches.
We cover each other pastorally, support each other prayerfully and genuinely
enjoy each other’s company and friendship. Many people in the community,
both within and outwith the church, speak of how heartened they are in the
positive relationships that exist between the churches and ministers.
We look forward to working with the new minister of St. Nicholas Church and
look forward to new and exciting ideas and initiatives in the years to come.
Rev Susan Durham (Congregational), Rev Dan Gafvert (Scottish Episcopal),
Rev Bryan Kerr (Church of Scotland) and Fr. Jim Thomson (Roman Catholic)
Our New Minister
With the support of the Kirk Session and congregation, we would like our new
minister to have the capacity to
• Nurture our faith
• Inspire us with their preaching
• Help us to reach out to the missing younger generation
• Provide strong leadership and encourage others to develop leadership
from within our own membership
• Be a good listener who supports the needs of others
• Have lots of energy and a good sense of humour
In return, the Kirk Session and congregation offer our new minister our
prayerful and practical support in working to bring people to church where
they can see and experience the love of God.
This will be a stimulating appointment for someone with a passionate vision
of how, through God’s grace, the Parish Church of St Nicholas can move
forward to greater achievements in the twenty first century.
Contacts
Laura Watson, Clerk to the Nominating Committee
E: laura_laurz@hotmail.com
Informal enquiries to Rev Bryan Kerr, Interim Moderator
E: bkerr@churchofscotland.org.uk T: 01555 663363