Moderator visits wreck of ‘iconic’ church devastated by hearth

The Moderator of the Normal Meeting of the Church of Scotland visited the ruins of an iconic church destroyed by hearth to face in solidarity and help the devastated congregation.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew stood shoulder to shoulder with visibly upset members of the previous St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld yesterday as they surveyed the wreckage of what was an iconic landmark on the coronary heart of the city.

Struggling to include her personal tears, she mentioned they’re “grieving” the lack of a beloved gathering place and the ideas and prayers of the broader Church of Scotland household had been with them.

With its pyramid formed roof, the B-listed constructing is within the city centre and has been an essential landmark because it was constructed within the Nineteen Sixties, designed by notable Scottish architect Alan Reiach.

The alarm was raised round 7.50pm on Saturday, 2 August that the constructing and connecting halls, was nicely alight.

The emergency providers attended the scene however sadly the advanced couldn’t be saved. There have been no experiences of accidents

Detective Sergeant Craig Jeffrey of Police Scotland mentioned: “Enquiries to date have established the fireplace was deliberate.

“We’re interesting to anybody who could have witnessed something to contact us.

“We would additionally ask anybody with footage of the world on the time to please come ahead.”

Talking at a gathering outdoors what’s left of the constructing, Mrs Frew mentioned: “How usually will we hear it mentioned and sung that the ‘church isn’t a constructing, the church is folks?’

“However folks want a gathering place and this has been your gathering place since 1966.

“A constructing described as iconic, a landmark – a constructing that holds a particular place within the lives and the reminiscences of so many.”

St Mungo’s Church is now a part of Trinity Parish Church, a union shaped from Cumbernauld Previous Church and Kildrum and St Mungo’s church buildings on 15 August, 2024.

Mrs Frew mentioned: “I am acutely aware that there was a lot change in current instances with the approaching collectively of the church buildings that make up Cumbernauld Trinity.

“I’ve learn of your plans and hopes and goals, the St Mungo’s Hub was, is, an enormous a part of your imaginative and prescient for the longer term.

“Following this terrible hearth, a lot can be on maintain, time can be wanted to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to hunt God’s steering.

“You might be very a lot within the ideas and prayers of members and congregations throughout the Church of Scotland.”

Mrs Frew led these gathered, together with members of the congregation, Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, and her chaplain Rev Dr Karen Okay Campbell, in prayer.

“Loving God, gathered right here at the moment we give thanks for this church constructing

A spot of worship the place God has been glorified in phrase and music, in magnificence and creativity

A spot of gathering for this neighborhood, the folks of this parish

A spot the place the excellent news of Jesus Christ has been preached faithfully Sunday by Sunday

A spot of pleasure the place life and love have been celebrated within the happiest of instances

A spot of refuge the place tears have been shed and anguished prayers uttered within the hardest of instances

A spot of consolation the place the peace of God has been felt in coronary heart and thoughts

Gathered right here at the moment we pray

For this congregation and this neighborhood

Previous and current

As they grieve this loss

As they arrive to phrases with this tragedy

As they share reminiscences

As they make plans for the longer term

Gathered right here at the moment we ask

That you’d be their consolation

That you’d give them power

That you’d be their information

Within the days and months forward

In Jesus’ identify we pray.

Amen.

Amongst these gathered was Morag Rusk, the Session Clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church and he or she was the Session Clerk of St Mungo’s Parish Church earlier than the union.

Reflecting on Saturday night time, she mentioned: “I used to be alerted simply after 8pm by a member of the congregation who was hysterical and instructed me ‘St Mungo’s is on hearth, it is horrible, I am heartbroken’.

“I instantly went as much as the church and simply stood wanting on the scene for an hour or two with folks from the congregation.

“We’re completely devastated and nonetheless coming to phrases with it, it’s such a well-loved and distinctive constructing for the congregation and other people within the city.

“It was an iconic landmark for Cumbernauld and the pyramid tower be seen as you drive into the city from no matter path, Glasgow, Airdrie and Falkirk.”

Ms Rusk mentioned the constructing was used each day of the week by a spread of neighborhood teams together with a Gaelic choir and was the bottom of a well-used free café for tackling poverty that was arrange after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst our shock and grief, we try arduous to discover a constructive and we all know there can be in the future,” she added.

“Cumbernauld Trinity Parish Church’s internet web page refers to a passage from the Ebook of Isaiah about new beginnings and we’ve got to cling onto that hope.

“Wanting ahead in to the longer term after the reason for the fireplace is thought, I might hope that we are able to recreate one thing on the positioning.

“I do not know what that can be but and I do not know the way lengthy it should take however the bell continues to be there within the tower and we’ve got retrieved some plaques.

“We now have to get by means of our grief however we hope to honour this particular place and recreate one thing in its reminiscence as there may be a lot historical past for folks – the scene of so many funerals, weddings and household occasions.

“You possibly can see from the large outpouring of shock and disappointment locally that it’s such a liked constructing.”

Rev Alastair Duncan, Interim Moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, mentioned he felt “deep disappointment” over what has occurred.

“St Mungo’s was a spot that has seen many, many essential events for 60 years so it is simply deeply, deeply distressing and devastating for the congregation,” he added.

“Though it wasn’t the principal place of worship of the united Cumbernauld Trinity congregation, it was nonetheless very a lot in use.

“To lose all of that, the historical past, the reminiscences, the associations, in addition to to lose the capability for all of the neighborhood teams that had been utilizing it and the potential of what may need been sooner or later, is completely devastating.”

Mr Duncan mentioned the congregation is “very a lot in mourning for what it is misplaced”.

“It is early days however the hope is that there will be one thing new as Cumbernauld is to be extensively redeveloped for the following 10 to fifteen years, new homes are to be constructed very near the positioning,” he added.

“This church and all of the inventive impressions of the longer term was very a lot within the plan so it might be tragic if there wasn’t one thing fit-for-purpose constructed to interchange it within the years to come back.

“That continues to be to be seen and determined however in the meanwhile it’s a time to grieve, a time to mourn, a time for lament.”

The Moderator of the Normal Meeting of the Church of Scotland visited the ruins of an iconic church destroyed by hearth to face in solidarity and help the devastated congregation.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew stood shoulder to shoulder with visibly upset members of the previous St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld yesterday as they surveyed the wreckage of what was an iconic landmark on the coronary heart of the city.

Struggling to include her personal tears, she mentioned they’re “grieving” the lack of a beloved gathering place and the ideas and prayers of the broader Church of Scotland household had been with them.

With its pyramid formed roof, the B-listed constructing is within the city centre and has been an essential landmark because it was constructed within the Nineteen Sixties, designed by notable Scottish architect Alan Reiach.

The alarm was raised round 7.50pm on Saturday, 2 August that the constructing and connecting halls, was nicely alight.

The emergency providers attended the scene however sadly the advanced couldn’t be saved. There have been no experiences of accidents

Detective Sergeant Craig Jeffrey of Police Scotland mentioned: “Enquiries to date have established the fireplace was deliberate.

“We’re interesting to anybody who could have witnessed something to contact us.

“We would additionally ask anybody with footage of the world on the time to please come ahead.”

Talking at a gathering outdoors what’s left of the constructing, Mrs Frew mentioned: “How usually will we hear it mentioned and sung that the ‘church isn’t a constructing, the church is folks?’

“However folks want a gathering place and this has been your gathering place since 1966.

“A constructing described as iconic, a landmark – a constructing that holds a particular place within the lives and the reminiscences of so many.”

St Mungo’s Church is now a part of Trinity Parish Church, a union shaped from Cumbernauld Previous Church and Kildrum and St Mungo’s church buildings on 15 August, 2024.

Mrs Frew mentioned: “I am acutely aware that there was a lot change in current instances with the approaching collectively of the church buildings that make up Cumbernauld Trinity.

“I’ve learn of your plans and hopes and goals, the St Mungo’s Hub was, is, an enormous a part of your imaginative and prescient for the longer term.

“Following this terrible hearth, a lot can be on maintain, time can be wanted to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to hunt God’s steering.

“You might be very a lot within the ideas and prayers of members and congregations throughout the Church of Scotland.”

Mrs Frew led these gathered, together with members of the congregation, Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, and her chaplain Rev Dr Karen Okay Campbell, in prayer.

“Loving God, gathered right here at the moment we give thanks for this church constructing

A spot of worship the place God has been glorified in phrase and music, in magnificence and creativity

A spot of gathering for this neighborhood, the folks of this parish

A spot the place the excellent news of Jesus Christ has been preached faithfully Sunday by Sunday

A spot of pleasure the place life and love have been celebrated within the happiest of instances

A spot of refuge the place tears have been shed and anguished prayers uttered within the hardest of instances

A spot of consolation the place the peace of God has been felt in coronary heart and thoughts

Gathered right here at the moment we pray

For this congregation and this neighborhood

Previous and current

As they grieve this loss

As they arrive to phrases with this tragedy

As they share reminiscences

As they make plans for the longer term

Gathered right here at the moment we ask

That you’d be their consolation

That you’d give them power

That you’d be their information

Within the days and months forward

In Jesus’ identify we pray.

Amen.

Amongst these gathered was Morag Rusk, the Session Clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church and he or she was the Session Clerk of St Mungo’s Parish Church earlier than the union.

Reflecting on Saturday night time, she mentioned: “I used to be alerted simply after 8pm by a member of the congregation who was hysterical and instructed me ‘St Mungo’s is on hearth, it is horrible, I am heartbroken’.

“I instantly went as much as the church and simply stood wanting on the scene for an hour or two with folks from the congregation.

“We’re completely devastated and nonetheless coming to phrases with it, it’s such a well-loved and distinctive constructing for the congregation and other people within the city.

“It was an iconic landmark for Cumbernauld and the pyramid tower be seen as you drive into the city from no matter path, Glasgow, Airdrie and Falkirk.”

Ms Rusk mentioned the constructing was used each day of the week by a spread of neighborhood teams together with a Gaelic choir and was the bottom of a well-used free café for tackling poverty that was arrange after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst our shock and grief, we try arduous to discover a constructive and we all know there can be in the future,” she added.

“Cumbernauld Trinity Parish Church’s internet web page refers to a passage from the Ebook of Isaiah about new beginnings and we’ve got to cling onto that hope.

“Wanting ahead in to the longer term after the reason for the fireplace is thought, I might hope that we are able to recreate one thing on the positioning.

“I do not know what that can be but and I do not know the way lengthy it should take however the bell continues to be there within the tower and we’ve got retrieved some plaques.

“We now have to get by means of our grief however we hope to honour this particular place and recreate one thing in its reminiscence as there may be a lot historical past for folks – the scene of so many funerals, weddings and household occasions.

“You possibly can see from the large outpouring of shock and disappointment locally that it’s such a liked constructing.”

Rev Alastair Duncan, Interim Moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, mentioned he felt “deep disappointment” over what has occurred.

“St Mungo’s was a spot that has seen many, many essential events for 60 years so it is simply deeply, deeply distressing and devastating for the congregation,” he added.

“Though it wasn’t the principal place of worship of the united Cumbernauld Trinity congregation, it was nonetheless very a lot in use.

“To lose all of that, the historical past, the reminiscences, the associations, in addition to to lose the capability for all of the neighborhood teams that had been utilizing it and the potential of what may need been sooner or later, is completely devastating.”

Mr Duncan mentioned the congregation is “very a lot in mourning for what it is misplaced”.

“It is early days however the hope is that there will be one thing new as Cumbernauld is to be extensively redeveloped for the following 10 to fifteen years, new homes are to be constructed very near the positioning,” he added.

“This church and all of the inventive impressions of the longer term was very a lot within the plan so it might be tragic if there wasn’t one thing fit-for-purpose constructed to interchange it within the years to come back.

“That continues to be to be seen and determined however in the meanwhile it’s a time to grieve, a time to mourn, a time for lament.”

The Moderator of the Normal Meeting of the Church of Scotland visited the ruins of an iconic church destroyed by hearth to face in solidarity and help the devastated congregation.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew stood shoulder to shoulder with visibly upset members of the previous St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld yesterday as they surveyed the wreckage of what was an iconic landmark on the coronary heart of the city.

Struggling to include her personal tears, she mentioned they’re “grieving” the lack of a beloved gathering place and the ideas and prayers of the broader Church of Scotland household had been with them.

With its pyramid formed roof, the B-listed constructing is within the city centre and has been an essential landmark because it was constructed within the Nineteen Sixties, designed by notable Scottish architect Alan Reiach.

The alarm was raised round 7.50pm on Saturday, 2 August that the constructing and connecting halls, was nicely alight.

The emergency providers attended the scene however sadly the advanced couldn’t be saved. There have been no experiences of accidents

Detective Sergeant Craig Jeffrey of Police Scotland mentioned: “Enquiries to date have established the fireplace was deliberate.

“We’re interesting to anybody who could have witnessed something to contact us.

“We would additionally ask anybody with footage of the world on the time to please come ahead.”

Talking at a gathering outdoors what’s left of the constructing, Mrs Frew mentioned: “How usually will we hear it mentioned and sung that the ‘church isn’t a constructing, the church is folks?’

“However folks want a gathering place and this has been your gathering place since 1966.

“A constructing described as iconic, a landmark – a constructing that holds a particular place within the lives and the reminiscences of so many.”

St Mungo’s Church is now a part of Trinity Parish Church, a union shaped from Cumbernauld Previous Church and Kildrum and St Mungo’s church buildings on 15 August, 2024.

Mrs Frew mentioned: “I am acutely aware that there was a lot change in current instances with the approaching collectively of the church buildings that make up Cumbernauld Trinity.

“I’ve learn of your plans and hopes and goals, the St Mungo’s Hub was, is, an enormous a part of your imaginative and prescient for the longer term.

“Following this terrible hearth, a lot can be on maintain, time can be wanted to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to hunt God’s steering.

“You might be very a lot within the ideas and prayers of members and congregations throughout the Church of Scotland.”

Mrs Frew led these gathered, together with members of the congregation, Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, and her chaplain Rev Dr Karen Okay Campbell, in prayer.

“Loving God, gathered right here at the moment we give thanks for this church constructing

A spot of worship the place God has been glorified in phrase and music, in magnificence and creativity

A spot of gathering for this neighborhood, the folks of this parish

A spot the place the excellent news of Jesus Christ has been preached faithfully Sunday by Sunday

A spot of pleasure the place life and love have been celebrated within the happiest of instances

A spot of refuge the place tears have been shed and anguished prayers uttered within the hardest of instances

A spot of consolation the place the peace of God has been felt in coronary heart and thoughts

Gathered right here at the moment we pray

For this congregation and this neighborhood

Previous and current

As they grieve this loss

As they arrive to phrases with this tragedy

As they share reminiscences

As they make plans for the longer term

Gathered right here at the moment we ask

That you’d be their consolation

That you’d give them power

That you’d be their information

Within the days and months forward

In Jesus’ identify we pray.

Amen.

Amongst these gathered was Morag Rusk, the Session Clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church and he or she was the Session Clerk of St Mungo’s Parish Church earlier than the union.

Reflecting on Saturday night time, she mentioned: “I used to be alerted simply after 8pm by a member of the congregation who was hysterical and instructed me ‘St Mungo’s is on hearth, it is horrible, I am heartbroken’.

“I instantly went as much as the church and simply stood wanting on the scene for an hour or two with folks from the congregation.

“We’re completely devastated and nonetheless coming to phrases with it, it’s such a well-loved and distinctive constructing for the congregation and other people within the city.

“It was an iconic landmark for Cumbernauld and the pyramid tower be seen as you drive into the city from no matter path, Glasgow, Airdrie and Falkirk.”

Ms Rusk mentioned the constructing was used each day of the week by a spread of neighborhood teams together with a Gaelic choir and was the bottom of a well-used free café for tackling poverty that was arrange after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst our shock and grief, we try arduous to discover a constructive and we all know there can be in the future,” she added.

“Cumbernauld Trinity Parish Church’s internet web page refers to a passage from the Ebook of Isaiah about new beginnings and we’ve got to cling onto that hope.

“Wanting ahead in to the longer term after the reason for the fireplace is thought, I might hope that we are able to recreate one thing on the positioning.

“I do not know what that can be but and I do not know the way lengthy it should take however the bell continues to be there within the tower and we’ve got retrieved some plaques.

“We now have to get by means of our grief however we hope to honour this particular place and recreate one thing in its reminiscence as there may be a lot historical past for folks – the scene of so many funerals, weddings and household occasions.

“You possibly can see from the large outpouring of shock and disappointment locally that it’s such a liked constructing.”

Rev Alastair Duncan, Interim Moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, mentioned he felt “deep disappointment” over what has occurred.

“St Mungo’s was a spot that has seen many, many essential events for 60 years so it is simply deeply, deeply distressing and devastating for the congregation,” he added.

“Though it wasn’t the principal place of worship of the united Cumbernauld Trinity congregation, it was nonetheless very a lot in use.

“To lose all of that, the historical past, the reminiscences, the associations, in addition to to lose the capability for all of the neighborhood teams that had been utilizing it and the potential of what may need been sooner or later, is completely devastating.”

Mr Duncan mentioned the congregation is “very a lot in mourning for what it is misplaced”.

“It is early days however the hope is that there will be one thing new as Cumbernauld is to be extensively redeveloped for the following 10 to fifteen years, new homes are to be constructed very near the positioning,” he added.

“This church and all of the inventive impressions of the longer term was very a lot within the plan so it might be tragic if there wasn’t one thing fit-for-purpose constructed to interchange it within the years to come back.

“That continues to be to be seen and determined however in the meanwhile it’s a time to grieve, a time to mourn, a time for lament.”

The Moderator of the Normal Meeting of the Church of Scotland visited the ruins of an iconic church destroyed by hearth to face in solidarity and help the devastated congregation.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew stood shoulder to shoulder with visibly upset members of the previous St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld yesterday as they surveyed the wreckage of what was an iconic landmark on the coronary heart of the city.

Struggling to include her personal tears, she mentioned they’re “grieving” the lack of a beloved gathering place and the ideas and prayers of the broader Church of Scotland household had been with them.

With its pyramid formed roof, the B-listed constructing is within the city centre and has been an essential landmark because it was constructed within the Nineteen Sixties, designed by notable Scottish architect Alan Reiach.

The alarm was raised round 7.50pm on Saturday, 2 August that the constructing and connecting halls, was nicely alight.

The emergency providers attended the scene however sadly the advanced couldn’t be saved. There have been no experiences of accidents

Detective Sergeant Craig Jeffrey of Police Scotland mentioned: “Enquiries to date have established the fireplace was deliberate.

“We’re interesting to anybody who could have witnessed something to contact us.

“We would additionally ask anybody with footage of the world on the time to please come ahead.”

Talking at a gathering outdoors what’s left of the constructing, Mrs Frew mentioned: “How usually will we hear it mentioned and sung that the ‘church isn’t a constructing, the church is folks?’

“However folks want a gathering place and this has been your gathering place since 1966.

“A constructing described as iconic, a landmark – a constructing that holds a particular place within the lives and the reminiscences of so many.”

St Mungo’s Church is now a part of Trinity Parish Church, a union shaped from Cumbernauld Previous Church and Kildrum and St Mungo’s church buildings on 15 August, 2024.

Mrs Frew mentioned: “I am acutely aware that there was a lot change in current instances with the approaching collectively of the church buildings that make up Cumbernauld Trinity.

“I’ve learn of your plans and hopes and goals, the St Mungo’s Hub was, is, an enormous a part of your imaginative and prescient for the longer term.

“Following this terrible hearth, a lot can be on maintain, time can be wanted to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to hunt God’s steering.

“You might be very a lot within the ideas and prayers of members and congregations throughout the Church of Scotland.”

Mrs Frew led these gathered, together with members of the congregation, Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, and her chaplain Rev Dr Karen Okay Campbell, in prayer.

“Loving God, gathered right here at the moment we give thanks for this church constructing

A spot of worship the place God has been glorified in phrase and music, in magnificence and creativity

A spot of gathering for this neighborhood, the folks of this parish

A spot the place the excellent news of Jesus Christ has been preached faithfully Sunday by Sunday

A spot of pleasure the place life and love have been celebrated within the happiest of instances

A spot of refuge the place tears have been shed and anguished prayers uttered within the hardest of instances

A spot of consolation the place the peace of God has been felt in coronary heart and thoughts

Gathered right here at the moment we pray

For this congregation and this neighborhood

Previous and current

As they grieve this loss

As they arrive to phrases with this tragedy

As they share reminiscences

As they make plans for the longer term

Gathered right here at the moment we ask

That you’d be their consolation

That you’d give them power

That you’d be their information

Within the days and months forward

In Jesus’ identify we pray.

Amen.

Amongst these gathered was Morag Rusk, the Session Clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church and he or she was the Session Clerk of St Mungo’s Parish Church earlier than the union.

Reflecting on Saturday night time, she mentioned: “I used to be alerted simply after 8pm by a member of the congregation who was hysterical and instructed me ‘St Mungo’s is on hearth, it is horrible, I am heartbroken’.

“I instantly went as much as the church and simply stood wanting on the scene for an hour or two with folks from the congregation.

“We’re completely devastated and nonetheless coming to phrases with it, it’s such a well-loved and distinctive constructing for the congregation and other people within the city.

“It was an iconic landmark for Cumbernauld and the pyramid tower be seen as you drive into the city from no matter path, Glasgow, Airdrie and Falkirk.”

Ms Rusk mentioned the constructing was used each day of the week by a spread of neighborhood teams together with a Gaelic choir and was the bottom of a well-used free café for tackling poverty that was arrange after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst our shock and grief, we try arduous to discover a constructive and we all know there can be in the future,” she added.

“Cumbernauld Trinity Parish Church’s internet web page refers to a passage from the Ebook of Isaiah about new beginnings and we’ve got to cling onto that hope.

“Wanting ahead in to the longer term after the reason for the fireplace is thought, I might hope that we are able to recreate one thing on the positioning.

“I do not know what that can be but and I do not know the way lengthy it should take however the bell continues to be there within the tower and we’ve got retrieved some plaques.

“We now have to get by means of our grief however we hope to honour this particular place and recreate one thing in its reminiscence as there may be a lot historical past for folks – the scene of so many funerals, weddings and household occasions.

“You possibly can see from the large outpouring of shock and disappointment locally that it’s such a liked constructing.”

Rev Alastair Duncan, Interim Moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, mentioned he felt “deep disappointment” over what has occurred.

“St Mungo’s was a spot that has seen many, many essential events for 60 years so it is simply deeply, deeply distressing and devastating for the congregation,” he added.

“Though it wasn’t the principal place of worship of the united Cumbernauld Trinity congregation, it was nonetheless very a lot in use.

“To lose all of that, the historical past, the reminiscences, the associations, in addition to to lose the capability for all of the neighborhood teams that had been utilizing it and the potential of what may need been sooner or later, is completely devastating.”

Mr Duncan mentioned the congregation is “very a lot in mourning for what it is misplaced”.

“It is early days however the hope is that there will be one thing new as Cumbernauld is to be extensively redeveloped for the following 10 to fifteen years, new homes are to be constructed very near the positioning,” he added.

“This church and all of the inventive impressions of the longer term was very a lot within the plan so it might be tragic if there wasn’t one thing fit-for-purpose constructed to interchange it within the years to come back.

“That continues to be to be seen and determined however in the meanwhile it’s a time to grieve, a time to mourn, a time for lament.”