Story so far

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Price ÂŁ1 to go towards the Conservation Fund 1


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Contents

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Our logo and description

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A brief history of Christian worship in Alloa

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A list of ministers from the reformation

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The current St Mungo’s

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A walk around the current St Mungo’s 13 Various organisations through the years

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More detail of the building

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The Various phases of reconstruction 24 Further details

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Sources

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Timeline for St Mungo’s

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Our Logo The bird that never flew the tree that never grew the bell that never rang and the fish that never swam The verse refers to the following: The Bird — Mungo restored life to a robin, that had been killed by some of his classmates. · The Tree — Mungo had been left in charge of a fire in Saint Serf's monastery. He fell asleep and the fire went out. Taking a hazel branch, he restarted the fire. · The Bell — the bell is thought to have been brought by Mungo from Rome. It was said to have been used in services and to mourn the deceased. The original bell no longer exists, and a replacement, created in the 1640s, is now on display in Glasgow. · The Fish — refers to the story about Queen Languoreth of Strathclyde who was suspected of infidelity by her husband. King Riderch demanded to see her ring, which he claimed she had given to her lover. In reality the King had thrown it into the River Clyde. Faced with execution she appealed for help to Mungo, who ordered a messenger to catch a fish in the river. On opening the fish, the ring was miraculously found inside, which allowed the Queen to clear her name.

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Welcome to St Mungo’s We thank you for taking the time to visit our historic Parish Church. It continues a tradition of Christian Witness dedicated to St Mungo which can be traced from approximately 540 AD through to the current building completed in 1819 and on to the present day. In The Life of Saint Mungo written by the monk, Jocelin of Furness, in about 1185, we learn that Mungo's mother was Princess Thanew daughter of Loth, the King of the Gododdin, who ruled an area centred on today's East Lothian. After an illicit encounter with her cousin, the young King Owain of North Rheged, now part of Galloway, Princess Thanew fell pregnant. She was cast adrift in a coracle without oars on the River Forth, drifted up-river and came ashore at Culross in Fife, where Kentigern was born. Kentigern was given the name Mungo, meaning something like "dear one", by St Serf, who ran a monastery at Culross and he took in both mother and son. St Serf then oversaw Mungo's upbringing. At the age of 25, Mungo began his missionary work on the banks of the River Clyde and became Bishop of Glasgow around 540 AD. We believe that, along with St Serf, St Mungo brought Christianity to this area As a result of Mungo’s work, a shrine was established and acted as a chapel for the Feudal Lords and the inhabitants of the habitation then known as Alloway. This shrine was served by the clerics from Cambuskenneth Abbey. By the 14th century a chapel dedicated to St Mungo occupied the site at Greenside where the ruins of a later church still stand. The reformation came to Alloa in 1549 5


and the first minister was Rev James Duncanson. By 1680 the 14th Century chapel had become too small for its congregation and had to be enlarged. The present ruin at Greenside is all that remains of this later church. The steeple of the pre-1682 church was left as a belfry and can still be seen. The chapel was enlarged and the tower raised in 1680-2. The mason was Tobias Bauchop, whose house still stands in Kirkgate. Around 1700, John, 6th Earl of Mar, built a private aisle with burial vault on the north side of the church and in 1717 a gallery was added. By 1793 it could accommodate 900 people. Eventually, however, the old kirk became overcrowded and in a bad state of disrepair and by 1815, services were held out of doors whenever possible because of the danger of falling masonry. In June 1815, after rain started, Mrs Maxton the minister’s wife led the congregation to “the Tabernacle” –a nearby building which housed an independent congregation. The congregation of the Auld Kirk worshipped here for the next four years until the new kirk was built and records exist which show the rent paid to the Tabernacle. Rev Maxton thus became the first minister of the present day St Mungo’s and his elder brother John, was assistant minister. Alloa was at that time a very prosperous town and this is reflected in the grandeur of the new church. The kirk at Greenside was condemned in 1816 and The Mar and Kellie Mausoleum was built on the site of the Mar Aisle in the old kirk. It was designed by James Gillespie Graham, the architect who also designed the new St Mungo’s. The original ceiling in the Mausoleum was painted brightly and decorated with flowers and Rococo panels, 6


and this was partly restored in 1994-6. The old kirkyard contains a good collection of early trade gravestones and fine memorials for many of the people responsible for the development of Alloa into a busy industrial town. The Auld Kirk was mostly demolished and many stones were All that remains of the old St Mungo’s reused to build the new parish church in Bedford Place in order to cut costs. The land for the new church was gifted by John Frances Erskine, later seventh Earl of Mar, with the express provision that it should never be made a burying ground. Within the new church are stones with engravings on them which would indicate that they had been used in a different building previously. Prior to 1929, the Parish Kirk in Alloa was known at various times as Alloa Parish Kirk, the Established Kirk or the Auld Kirk. In 1929 it became St Mungo’s Parish Church as it is today. The Alloa Parish Church had its congregation depleted by secession on three occasions - in 1742, in 1749 and again in 1843 (“the Great Disruption”) when the ministers and 7


elders who broke away formed the Free Church of Scotland. Nevertheless, it fared better than some parish churches. For instance for over 50 years following a secession at Muckhart Parish Church there was no congregation other than the Minister and the Church Officer. A children’s rhyme of the time reflects this: The Wee Kirk, the Free Kirk, The Kirk without the steeple: The Auld Kirk, The cauld Kirk, The Kirk without the people! The Wee Kirk and the Kirk without the steeple are references to the newly formed Free Kirk while the Auld Kirk etc refers to the established Church of Scotland. Statue of St Mungo In the previous St Mungo’s Church at Greenside, in a niche high up on the east wall of the tower, overlooking the sanctuary was a statue of St . He is attired in 17th century costume. As a result of the re-using of much of the Auld Kirk to build the new St Mungo’s only the tower and west end wall of the sanctuary remain intact today and it is currently maintained in a safe state by the local authority. Until a number of years ago St Mungo still looked down from his lofty perch on the side of the 8


tower but he was being ravaged by the weather and had become the target of some mindless vandalism. It was then decided, by the local authority, that he should be removed for his own safety. St Mungo has been lovingly looked after, some of the damage he has sustained has been repaired. The statue provides a very tangible link with the past right back to the late 1600s. As a result of speaking to the local authority and the Church of Scotland Church Art and Architecture C o m m i t t e e , arrangements were made for St Mungo to return to St Mungo’s in February 2017 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the new St Mungo’s in February 1817. He now stands in a blocked off doorway in the church - not dissimilar to his niche in the Old Church, Be sure to look for St Mungo on the left hand side near the organ. 9


List of ministers from the time of the reformation, (new and old parish church) 1589 - 1624: James Duncanson MA, Publication: He wrote a letter to King James (1604) 1626 - 1664: John Craigengelt MA 1664 - 1689: James Wright MA 1690 - 1699: George Turnbull, son of George Turnbull, Philosopher and Theologian 1704 - 1724: John Logan 1726 - 1735: John Taylor MA 1736 - 1749: James Gordon MA also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1734 1750 - 1753: James Syme MA 1753 - 1760: James Fordyce DD, Publications: List of sermons including Sermons to Young Women which is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Mr Collins attempts to read the book aloud to the women during a visit to the Bennet household) 1760 - 1803: James Frame MA 1803 - 1828: James Maxton, (last minister of the Auld Kirk and first in the present church) 1828 - 1862: Peter Brotherston DD 1863 - 1869: William Shaw MA 1870 - 1900: Alexander Bryson 1901 - 1911: Lauchlan Maclean Watt MA BD DD also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1933 – 1934 1911 - 1919: Augustine Waitworth Scudamore Forbes MA BD 1919 - 1927: Robert John Thomson MA BD 1927 - 1929: Alexander Macdonald DD, also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1929 - 1946: James Pitt Watson DD, also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1953 – 1954. He presented the Queen with a Bible at her Coronation in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. 1947 - 1986: Peter Philip Brodie MA BD LLB DD, also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1978 – 1979 1986 - 1994: Keith Ferrier Hall BD 1994 - 2011: Alan F.M. Downie MA BD 2011–Present: Sang Y. Cha BTH MTH 10


The Current St Mungo’s Minutes from 16th June 1816 tell us that with John Francis Erskine of Mar, later to become Earl of Mar, presiding, the Heritors met and agreed the architect and builders. (Heritors were people within the parish who owned land or houses which had written into the title deeds the responsibilities for certain of the upkeep of the parish eg the minister’s stipend or church repairs etc. This was a legal requirement even although some of the Heritors might not be church members). The architect was James Gillespie Graham and the builders, John Smith and Ramsay Traquair – both of Alloa - who undertook the contract for £4,700. This sum was later increased to £5,917 and this was met by the Heritors of the Parish in proportion to their land holding within the parish. The addition of the prominent steeple increased the cost to a final £7,000 – the extra £1,083 for the steeple being raised from public subscription. The building of the current church was started by the laying of the foundation stone with full Masonic Honours on 24th February 1817 and the building was completed and opened on 20th June 1819. The position of the foundation stone is unclear - it is thought that the later building of the porch (1936-7) covered over the original foundation stone. The church is built in early Neo-Gothic style. Visitors from further afield may notice a similarity to the steeple at Montrose. This is not a chance resemblance as the beautiful steeple at Montrose was also designed by Gillespie Graham and completed in 1834. He also repeated the church design (without the steeple) at Dunbar, East Lothian (1818/21). The Church was built what now seems like the wrong way round as the south side with the tower was at that time 11


the front with the entrance to the church being through the tower and there was much open space to the south so the church was seen to great advantage, as can be seen in the picture on page 9 taken from the front cover of “An Abstract of Accounts (1933). Alloa was, during the nineteenth century, a very weathy and prosperous burgh and port, trading as it did with much of the western seaboard of Europe and so it was expected that Alloa would extend south towards the river Forth but instead it extended to the North. The porch had therefore to be added on to the east end of the church to allow entrance from the North side. In 1936, a major reconstruction was started which added the

porch and replaced the Gothic interior with the present light and more modern concept designed by Leslie Graham Thomson. The cost of the reconstruction was met from public subscription, and the then minister of St Mungo’s, Rev Pitt Watson, gives much detail in his book “A Reconstruction of St Mungos” Unfortunately, the onset of war in 1939 left the work only partly completed. It was not until 1967 that the alterations to the chancel and other improvements were undertaken to the same architect’s plans at a cost of £30,000 under the leadership of the then minister, Rev Peter Brodie. Interior of St Mungo’s pre 1967 12


In 1927 the church acquired a nearby building which was converted to become St Mungo’s Halls but these were sold in 1994 due to the cost of renovation. A Walk around the Church Please take time to look at the many features of the building. Remember the Church remains a place of Public Worship and treat it in the appropriate manner. Others may be using the church for silent prayer and devotion. Entry to the church is through the stone built porch added in 1936-7. The book rack in the porch is in memory of William Walter Duncan, Kirk Treasurer, 1925 - 45. The door into the nave of the church was originally an outside door. On entering, the light, spacious and simple nave is an unexpected but pleasing surprise in its simplicity and dignity. Stop at the junction of the back and centre aisles to examine the lowered and panelled ceiling. The ceiling has fourteen carved and coloured bosses, four of which are symbolic representations of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. On the wall immediately above the entrance door is a striking cross of modern design. The cross was gifted by the late Countess of Mar and Kellie to mark the 150th Anniversary (in 1969) of the Church’s opening. The sculptress was Jenepher Wendy Ross (born 1937). You will see within the Church many crosses of one type or another. To your left and right are the organ pipes. These belonged to the organ installed in 1906 This was a beautiful instrument, unusual for its time in that it was of German construction. The organ and organ pipes were originally at the front of the church but, during the reconstruction of 1967, the organ was rebuilt at the rear. Regrettably, in 1996, the Kirk Session agreed that the costs required for 13


the overhaul were too great and the decision was taken to install an Allen digital organ but the organ pipes remain in place. The cost was generously met by former choir member Miss Isobel Stewart in memory of her parents. On the organ casing are inscribed the names of the ministers since the reformation. The names with a star were Moderators of the Church of Scotland and so the list reads as a Roll of Honour for the Church of Scotland. Perhaps the most famous names are those of the Gaelic speaking Lachlan McLean Watt, subsequently Minister of Glasgow Cathedral which is also dedicated to St Mungo and Dr James Pitt Watson who, as Moderator, presented the Bible to Queen Elizabeth at her coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953. The reliefs on the organ pipe casing depict Thanew’s boat (Thanew was St Mungo’s mother) and the Burning Bush, a recognised symbol of the Church of Scotland. The first stained glass window on the right hand (north) side dates from 1910 and is the “Gethsemane Window” (so called because it depicts the arrest by night of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane), a memorial to the wife of James Brown, JP and made on his instructions “to be of similar make and design to the Gethsemane Window in Dunfermline Abbey”. The next window moving forward is to the memory of Rev Alexander Bryson and commemorates his ministry at St Mungo’s from 1870 to 1900. The theme of this window is “Te Deum” (meaning “God we praise you” - from the first line of the hymn Te Deum laudamus) Beyond is the memorial window to those thirty three members who gave their lives in the Second World War. 14


It is the work of William Wilson RSA and depicts St Andrew and St Mungo. The window bears the signature of William Wilson in the bottom right-hand corner. It was unveiled by Mrs Pitt Watson, wife of the current minister who was, at that time, Moderator-Designate. Mrs Gilbert Purgavie, wife of a former Session Clerk, whose only son, Captain David Purgavie, had been killed in Normandy in 1944 laid a wreath “on behalf of the kinsfolk of the fallen”. William Wilson was, throughout the 1940s and 50s, the dominant artist in Scottish stained glass. He received his early training under James Ballantyne II, but the crucial influences on his style were Douglas Strachan and his tutor at Edinburgh College of Art, Herbert Hendrie. An excellent teacher of stained glass, Wilson taught John Blyth, who was responsible for the last window on the North side. John Blyth (1915 - 99), local to Markinch in Fife, produced the window nearest to the pulpit which gives thanks for the forty year ministry of the Very Reverend Peter Brodie in Alloa and in this window the old St Mungo’s (the Auld Kirk at Greenside) and Alloa Tower are depicted. John Blyth signed his work by incorporating a small bumble bee in the window and you can see the bee immediately above the words “loving memory” in the dedication at the

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bottom of the window. This window is entitled “Fishers of Men”. Facing it on the south aisle is the “Good Shepherd” window, dedicated to William Duncan Bruce, for 50 years an elder of St Mungo’s and Session Clerk, and his wife Elizabeth Thomson (1895). This window was produced by Wm Meikle and sons who were glass merchants and craftsmen in stained glass in Glasgow in the 1890’s. Still on the North side is the Book of Remembrance in which the names of deceased members of St Mungo’s are inscribed. Beside the book are the colours of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades - both organisations flourished in the church in recent memory: the Boys Brigade (1st Alloa Company) was in existence before the first world war. It was disbanded on the outbreak of war and in 1923 it was restarted. It continued throughout the years, changing its name at some point to 17th Stirling Battalion (1st Alloa Company). Sadly, the Boys’ Brigade at St Mungo’s ceased around 2010, although there is still a company attached to Moncrieff Church in Alloa. The Girls’ Brigade started in 1977 with the help and encouragement of Lady Mar. As mentioned before, Lady Mar donated the cross above the entrance door to the church and she also donated the embroidered kneeler in front of the communion table. The Girls’ Brigade continued until 2002 when it was finally disbanded.

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The oak pulpit was the gift in 1937 of Baron Blanesburgh who was born in Alloa in 1861. He was the son of James Younger and Janet McEwan, and younger brother of the 1st Viscount Younger of Leckie. Educated at Edinburgh Academy and Balliol College, Oxford he was a Scottish barrister and judge. His father was a member of the Youngers of Alloa brewing family while his mother was a sister of William McEwan who founded the Fountain Brewery at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh and who funded the McEwan Hall in the University of Edinburgh. Younger’s Breweries were first established in 1764 in Alloa and the Younger family has a connection with Alloa stretching over many years. George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, who was Secretary of State for Defence under Margaret Thatcher is also descended from James Younger.

On the pulpit, carved wooden reliefs depict the traditional symbols of the Evangelists: St Matthew, an angel; St Mark, a lion; St Luke, an ox; St John, an eagle. There are also carvings of a pelican with its young and a saint. There was no Chancel prior to the reconstruction of 1967. It was created from the rear entrance and choir loft. However, the chancel window is original and corresponds 17


with that in the East Wall which cannot be fully seen because of the lowered ceiling. The Chancel furnishings were gifts from members except for the Communion Table which predates the reconstruction of 1937. The wrought iron work by Charles Henshaw contains symbols inspired by the legend of St Mungo:

– as detailed in the description of our logo, the salmon with the ring in its mouth refers to the story about Queen Languoreth of Strathclyde, who was suspected of infidelity by her husband. King Riderch demanded to see her ring which he claimed she had given to her lover. In reality, the King had thrown it in the River Clyde. Faced with execution, she appealed to St Mungo for help. He ordered a servant to catch a fish in the river. On opening the fish, the ring was miraculously found - this allowed the Queen to clear her name. - the crossed Mitres and Crosiers symbolising the meeting of Mungo and Columba possibly in the community Clas-gu which later became the modern city of Glasgow (c 612), a meeting which is well authenticated. - a ship - reminding us that Mungo’s mother, St Thanew (or St Enoch as she is also known), was set adrift in the Forth by her own father because she was pregnant. They 18


are said to have landed at Culross. At one time the Young Mothers’ group which met in St Mungo’s was known as the Thanew Club. - and finally, the bear with the honey was supposed to

have led Mungo, during a stay in Wales, to a clearing in the forest where food could be found. Moving on, the Baptismal Font was designed by architect Scott Horton and was gifted by Mrs Hepburn and her two daughters and son, the Rev Charles Hepburn, in memory of Mr James Hepburn. He was, for many years, The Sunday School Superintendent.

The carvings on the font are of a Dove, a Cross, an Anchor and a Heart. The chairs on either side of the Book of Remembrance and the wrought iron stands are recent additions to the furnishings. The organ console is located to the left of the Chancel. Its oak panel reliefs compliment the pulpit. On the Organ screen, there are two carvings which show some humour. You will see a carving of crossed keys over an upside down cross which are symbols of St Peter, and the other carving is of two cottage loaves, symbols of St Philip. The architect knew that Dr Brodie, who led 19


the congregation in funding the second restoration through the raising money in various ways, was christened Peter Philip Brodie! On the south side the centre window appears dull in comparison with the others. This is because the steeple rises outside this window and, as has already been stated, this was the site of the original entrance. The 1936 plans included the addition of a new vestry on the south side but this was never completed. Passing through the door on the right of the pulpit to the vestry which was originally the men’s choir room you then come to the Session Room hallway where there are four pictures of the interior of the church depicting the different stages of reconstruction. How different it looks today. There is also a picture of the Rev James Pitt Watson presenting the Queen with the Bible at her Coronation. On the opposite wall are pictures of all the ministers who have served this Church. Before leaving, notice the War Memorial in the porch bearing the names of members and adherents who gave their lives in the Great War of 1914-8. We invite you to linger and enjoy the peace of this holy place. We are custodians of many years of history, faith, devotion and endeavour and we thank you for your support. Over the next two years we hope to fulfil a major restoration plan for the church so that St Mungo’s will continue to play an important part in the community of Alloa for the next 200 years. Remember that you do not leave God behind here but that he is walking with you during every step of your life. 20


Above: St Mungo’s interior 1937 - 1967 but this photo is pre 1952 as the War Memorial window is not yet in place. Below: 1967 - 1991 - the Brodie “Fishers of Men” window has not yet been installed. Note that the pulpit has been moved from left to right.

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Various Church Organisations through the years Throughout the years, the church has supported various organisations. Possibly the one which has been associated with the Church for longest is the Sunday School. Currently as well as the Sunday School, we have a Bible Class, the Guild (which was already going strong in 1947), the Craft Group and the very popular Wednesday Coffee Mornings. There is also a Thursday evening bible group and if you want to become healthy in body, spirit and mind the church is running the Daniel Plan which looks at issues of faith and what causes us to have unhealthy habits. Other organisations which flourished in previous years are the Tufty Club (for toddlers), Sunday Workshop (for teenagers) which was active during the 1980’s in the time of Rev Peter Brodie, Fellowship of Youth (also for teenagers), Thanew Club (for Young Mothers), Choir, Kentigern Singers, Men’s Own, Lifeboys and, as mentioned previously, Boys and Girls Brigade. More detail of the building When it was originally built, the Church had a seating capacity of 1561 (935 of these were in the main area of the church with the remainder being seated in the galleries). Today the capacity is more like 600 - 700. The church measures 124 ft by 78 ft; and the steeple is 207 ft high, its design is based on the recessed and crocketed spires of South Lincolnshire and it is often said to have a louth-spire after the church of St James in Louth "Louth ….is what it is thanks to its steeple, which has good claims to be considered the most perfect of Perpendicular steeples”¹. 22


St Mungo’s tower, “clasped at the corners by four octagonal buttresses, is placed centrally on the long south wall and rises in four equal stages; it is topped with a parapet in the form of a series of Gothic arches. The crocketed spire is set back within the parapet. The buttresses rise over the parapet terminating in tall crocketed spirelets repeating in miniature the form of the spire. Slender flying buttresses link the pinnacles to the spire but serve no structural purpose; they smooth the visual transition between the two parts of the steeple. The body of the church is embattled and has four corner towers which housed the access stairs to the long vanished galleries. The north wall has a shallow advanced central section which rises above the roof line as a gabled pediment. The short East and West walls also have advanced middle sections rising as pediments. Each is surmounted with a cross and has crocketed side pinnacles which mirror those on the tower. The pointed windows contain simple tracery.”³ However, “Within two years of its being opened for worship, dry rot was spreading rapidly and virulently throughout the interior.”² Remedial work was carried out in 1824. In 1829 iron pillars had to be inserted under the galleries to give additional support because of public disquiet; “there was a widespread feeling of insecurity which, on one occasion, almost resulted in a panic”² The interior has undergone three major reconstructions. Robert Rankine FSA seems unimpressed with the first one in 1936: “A wooden panelled ceiling replaced the original. 23


The galleries, the original pews and furnishings including a dominant central pulpit with its sounding board topped by a splendid crocketed crown were destroyed when the dignified Georgian interior was replaced in an austere internal “art deco” reconstruction in 1936.”³ However, the then minister, Rev J Pitt Watson, says “ Ugly and obsolete features of the old interior have disappeared. By the removal of the galleries the church has been brightened out of knowledge and the fine proportions of the windows are now revealed.”² Interestingly, the new pulpit, gifted by Baron Blanesbugh, was originally installed on the left hand side of the church. With the help of the Lottery and Historic Scotland as well as members of the congregation and friends in Alloa and beyond, we have recently finished yet another reconstruction which saw much exterior repair work to the roof and walls as well as some interior re-organisation of the kitchen, etc in order to enable the church to be used to good effect in the 21st century. We are also installing a stained glass window to commemorate the reconstruction and bicentenary of the church (“Bi-con-cent”). The stained glass window has been financed by OI in recognition of the fact that glass has been being produced in Alloa for longer than the current church has existed. The bicentenary of the opening of the Church is in June 2019 but celebrations have been taking place since February 2017, two hundred years from the laying of the foundation stone. The various phases of reconstruction 1936:1st phase of reconstruction of interior: galleries removed, church refloored and panelled ceiling fitted; refurnished; vestibule built at east end. (Leslie G Thomson, Architect, 1896-1974)³ (Adopted the name of McDougall 24


from 1953 when his wife Coline Helen became Chief of the Clan McDougall.) 1967: 2nd phase of reconstruction of interior: (Leslie G Thomson-McDougall, Architect). Organ rebuilt at rear of church; chancel created. Vestry and Session room, matching the 1936 vestibule built at west end - extra ground for the building of a session house having been gifted by Lord Mar, then an elder and vice convener of the Reconstruction Committee. 1986: 3rd phase – Exterior, including tower and spire, renovated. Replacement parapet to the tower. Replacement stone crosses over three gables. Architects: Stewart Tod and Partners. Cost £123,000 Further details Stained Glass by: Wippell and Co. 1910 “Gethsemane” Window (Brown Memorial) A L Moore, London 1901 “Te Deum” window (Bryson Memorial) William A Wilson, RSA (1905-72) “War Memorial” 1939-45 John W Blyth (1915-99) –“Fishers of men” (Brodie memorial - 1991) Wm Meikle and Sons 1895 – “The Good Shepherd” (Bruce Memorial) Wm Meikle and Sons - glass Merchants and craftsmen in stained glass from Glasgow. War Memorial (1914-18): by Alexander Camet RSA Pipe Organ 1906 by Walcker, Ludvigsberg It had 40 stops (Great 11; swell 12; choir 8; pedal 9) and was replaced in 1997 with a digital organ by Allen. This organ has three

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manuals, simulating a pipe organ sound. It incorporates among other things a memory and play back system. Sources 1. Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England — Lincolnshire p300 2. J Pitt Watson, St Mungo’s Church, Alloa — The Book of the Reconstruction. Alloa 1937 3. Robert Rankine FSA(Scot.) Survey of St Mungo’s. 1997, 1998 Specifications for alterations to St Mungo’s, Alloa 1936. (Central Regional Council Archives Dept.) James Lothian: Alloa and its environs, p17. Alloa 1861 James Lothian: Lothian’s Annual Register for the County of Clackmannanshire. 1874 L McL Watt: Alloa and Tullibody. Alloa 1902 Richard Foster: Discovering English Churches. 1981 Various issues of Alloa Advertiser and Alloa Journal newspapers Copies of The Parishioner (1947 - present) In particular, the picture on the front page of this booklet appeared on the July 1947 edition of The Parishioner and on several more editions throughout 1947/8/9. This booklet should be considered as an ongoing and still developing work. Any information which adds to (or corrects) the current contents will be welcomed and considered for inclusion in later versions.

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Produced by Jean Nicolson (January 2017) for St. Mungo’s Parish Church of Scotland 10 Bedford Place Alloa FK10 1LJ Web: www.stmungosparish.org.uk Tel: 01259 723004 Email (general enquiries): contact@stmungosparish.org.uk Email (minister): Scha@churchofscotland.org.uk Scottish Charity Number : SC007821 Follow us on Facebook - St Mungo’s Parish Church Alloa

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Timeline for St Mungo’s 540 Mungo becomes Bishop of Glasgow

500 St Patrick brings Christianity to Ireland 563 Columba crosses to Scotland. 600 The centre of Western Civilisation had moved eastwards from Rome to Constantinople. 14th Century Rise of the House of Stewart/Stuart. 1540 James V, father of Mary Queen of Scots was on the throne 1560 Church of Scotland founded 1561 John Knox meets with Mary Queen of Scots

14th Century Chapel established at Greenside Alloa 1549 Reformation comes to Alloa

1680-2 Chapel rebuilt and extended 1815 Old St Mungo’s no longer structurally safe. Services held in “the Tabernacle” –a nearby building which housed an independent congregation. The congregation of the auld kirk worshipped here for the next four years until the new kirk was built. 1817 Laying of foundation stone 1819 New St Mungo’s opened

1800 Glass bottles being made in Alloa 1815 Battle of Waterloo

1837 Victoria becomes Queen 28


1843 The Disruption when many left the Church of Scotland to set up the Free Church of Scotland 1856 Florence Nightingale returns from Crimea 1870 Accounts show that men were paid to ring the bell, clean the church, act as doorkeepers

1879 Tay Bridge Disaster 1887 Church of Scotland Guild formed by Alexander Charteris

1912 Proposal for erection of a new Church and Parish of St Andrew to be created in Alloa with details of its boundaries 1919 The baptism of Euphemia Thomson, daughter of the then minister – the first time this had happened in 75 years 1927 A suite of halls to the east of the church were opened 1929 Church in Alloa officially becomes St Mungo’s 1937 First reconstruction when Rev J Pitt Watson was minister and GH Purgavie was Session Clerk

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1890 Opening of Forth Rail Bridge 1914 - 18 World War 1

1926 General Strike and start of the Depression

1936 Abdication of Edward VIII 1937 Coronation of George VI


1939-45 World War 2 1938 Fellowship of Youth Group active with a programme of talks including titles such as “The materialism of yesterday and the paganism of today” and “The Spiritual Armageddon” 1947 The Supplement is changed to The Parishioner under Rev Peter Brodie 1948 Parishioner costs 2d (old pence) a month 1953 Coronation of Queen 1957 New manse was built Elizabeth II south of the former one 1963 Parishioner costs 3d. Church has 2400 members and 68 elders 1964 The reconstruction was 1965 Young wives group finished 150 years after the laying of the foundation stone started in Church of Scotland. 1965 Extra ground for the building of a session house 1966 First women elders in was gifted by Lord Mar, then Church of Scotland an elder and vice convener of the reconstruction committee 1969 First Woman minister 1969 Oak panel with ordained in Church of ministers names installed. In Scotland June, an anniversary service took place starting in the auld kirk in Greenside and processing to the new kirk 1971 Parishioner cost 6d. Membership was 2327 1986 Rev Peter Brodie retired 1987 Rev Keith Hall inducted. Membership was 1500 30


1991 Dedication of Window to Rev Peter Brodie 1992 Plans for a new hall are drawn up (Architect: Stewart Tod) 1993 Women’s Guild disbanded by order of Kirk Session 1994 Women’s Guild reestablished, St Mungo’s Halls sold, Membership was 1200, Sunday School had 40-50 children 1995 Rev Keith Hall left and St Mungo’s appealed to be able to call a minister 1998 Rev Alan Downie was inducted 2010 Death of Rev Alan Downie 2011 Induction of Rev Sang Y Cha 2017 Start of next reconstruction Feb 2017 Commemoration of the laying of the Foundation Stone May 2017 Church of Scotland Oct 2017 Photographic debates same sex marriage Exhibition of St Mungo’s and Old Alloa Every effort has been made to acknowledge correctly and contact the source and/or copyright holder of each picture, and we apologise for any unintentional errors or omissions, which will be corrected in future editions. 31


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