Whitburn South Parish Church 

Mission Statement

We aim to be a friendly, welcoming family, encompassing people of all ages, which joins together in faith to worship God joyfully and prayerfully. 

We endeavour to express God’s love in the way we live our daily lives and show this love to others in the way we act and speak. 

We seek to encourage and nurture those we meet, whether friends or strangers, while affirming our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

THE CHURCH AND ITS BUILDINGS

Whitburn South Church is the only listed building in the burgh and was originally built around 1729. Over the years it was altered, improved and extended until, in 1955, the Church was destroyed by fire – all that remained being the substantial stone walls. However, it was rebuilt and re-opened for worship in 1959. Therefore it now has the advantage of a relatively modern interior within the original 18^th century walls giving it a unique character.

Campbell Thomson Memorial Windows
Although these two windows are set apart in the Chancel, they are visually linked through the ‘Tree of Life’. The branches twist and turn, reminiscent of the triumphs and tribulations of life. They are alive with wildlife; brightly coloured birds and the ubiquitous squirrel celebrate God’s gift of nature.

This theme of nature is carried throughout the two windows. The borders contain features of the seasons with daffodils, corn, ripened fruit, holly leaves and berries. We are reminded of Campbell Thomson’s love of nature in the fields of poppies, his love of theatre in the masks of comedy and tragedy, and his love of music in the open hymnary.

Green fields and the Scottish hills are seen in both windows. On the left, children are at play; on the right, the shepherd tends his sheep. Both these scenes, the children and the flock, are fundamental symbols of our Christian belief in care. The Spirit is ever present through the cascade of light from Heaven, the image of the Dove descending to Earth and our symbol of Christ through the border of Thorns. 

Try and spot which one of God’s small creatures is quietly feasting.

Stained Glass Windows (left and right transepts)
Explanation of the Stained Glass Windows installed in the left and right transepts in 1979.

Left Hand Window                                Right Hand Window

The left hand window was donated by the Reverend William Hume in memory of his wife and the right hand window was donated by the Guild to mark their 75^th anniversary.

Left Hand Window
Being on the pulpit side, the theme here of “Preaching” is quite appropriate. The central anagram is a symbol of Christ – the “Chi Rho” – coupled with a Greek Cross. This in itself gives a radiatory impression: the Word, too, has spread outwards from a single source (Christ). The Word was initially spread by Christ’s disciples, and the symbols of the four Evangelists have been chosen as representing the spreading of the Word through preaching.
The symbols are: Matthew : on a winged tablet.
                 Mark       : winged lion.
                 Luke       : winged ox.
                 John       : eagle.
These four symbols are drawn in a night sky, contrasting with the brighter central section.
The figures Alpha and Omega represent the beginning and the end (i.e. a life), and the Lamb of God holds the banner of victory.

Right Hand Window
The Guild Window takes as its subject “Fishers of Men”. The theme is taken as a parallel within the Whitburn Community : as man takes fish from the sea, so does man take coal from the body of the land. The hands in the central panel can be seen as symbols of manual work.

The fish is also a symbol of Christ, for the 5 Greek letters forming the word “fish” (seen in the upper sections of the window) are the initial letters of the 5 words “Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour”. A reference is made to night, here also, as work must continue throughout the daily cycle. In each window, a raven in flight is mentioned, as a reminder of the deeper powers of darkness.   

Inside Whitburn South Parish Church

 
The Church Floodlight as part of the Millennium Project

 
The Church has also been fitted with an alarm system and an induction loop system and PA system to help the hard of hearing. Recording equipment is now installed allowing for the recording of all church services. CDs and tapes of each service are made available to the lending library for people to share the service with those who can no longer attend church. We have also modified two pews to accommodate two wheelchairs and have a wheelchair located in the church for anyone who requires the use of one during worship or activities held in the church.

In 1994, we installed a Makin Overture two manual electronic organ.
 

Church services

Morning worship is held weekly throughout the year commencing at 11:00 am each Sunday. There are also monthly evening services from September through to June commencing at 6:00 p.m. Communion is celebrated four times a year with two tables each time, morning and afternoon or evening. 

We hold a number of special annual services which incorporate re-dedication of The Guild, Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades, Harvest Thanksgiving, and Remembrance Sunday. In addition, separate afternoon services have been held occasionally on request from the Masonic and Orange Lodges. These are all services of public worship.

 The Manse
 The Manse, a Weir Oliver detached bungalow, was built in 1973 and stands in a moderately sized walled
 garden adjoining the Church. Accommodation comprises Living room, Dining room, Kitchen, four
 Bedrooms (one with en-suite facilities), Study and Bathroom. It is heated by Gas Central Heating.
 Externally, there is a separate single garage and paved paths around the house.

Church Halls

The Church Halls, which are situated across the road from the Church, were built in 1963 and extended in 1992. Accommodation comprises of a large main hall, three sub rooms, a fairly large kitchen with a gas fired oven unit, ladies, gents and a disabled toilet facility which incorporates a baby changing unit. There is a large car park, (tarmac), adjacent to the halls. The halls are utilised by the various Church organisations, Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades, The Guild, Sunday School and Focus group, Women’s Fellowship, craft group and Sunday teas after morning service. They are also used by external organisations e.g. Sporting, Community services, Religious conferences. The Halls have a Health and Safety certificate.

Kirk Session (and Core Groups)
The Kirk Session, comprising of ordained elders and minister is the ruling body of the church in matters of doctrine, worship, government and discipline. The Kirk Session is responsible for the spiritual life of the congregation and parish and meets approximately eight times a year. The parish we serve is divided up into districts and each district has an elder who is responsible, with the minister, for the pastoral care of those in that district.
The Church was previously contracted with the Church of Scotland Department of National Mission resulting in the formation of four working groups covering Mission and Outreach, Worship, Pastoral Care and Education/Communication. These work groups meet regularly and report back to the Core Group. Each working group has two convenors and together with the Session Clerk and Minister, form a Core Group. The Core Group meet quarterly and report back to the Kirk Session. All elders are assigned to one of the groups with each group enlisting the help of members of the congregation to assist with the groups projects.


Child Protection
The Church of Scotland takes the safety and well being of children and young folk very seriously indeed. Consequently we train our staff to the highest standards and ensure that our leaders are checked in accordance with current government standards. All people working with children and young people in the church undergo the church's Child Protection Training Course.
 

Congregational Board
The Congregational Board's function is to manage and control the financial and temporal affairs of the congregation. The Board is made up of 16 elders and an equal number of communicants elected by the congregation. The Board has three operating sections - Finance, Fund Raising and Fabric/Property. Each section has its own convenors. Meetings of the Board are held bi-monthly. All Board members have been allocated to one of the three groups. These sub-groups meet on a regular basis.


Sunday School and Focus Group
Sunday School for young people between the ages of 3 and 11 each Sunday morning. The young people are under the guidance of fully trained Sunday school teachers. The teaching staff use material from SALT, and other material produced by the relevant religious education companies, including Video and DVDs. An annual prize giving is held every year and the children are involved with Bible readings, prayers and singing and the children enjoy taking part and being part of the Church. The FOCUS GROUP looks after the young people from the age of twelve. The Focus Group is supervised by two of our youth leaders.  A creche is available each Sunday morning for children under the age of 3.
There is an emphasis within the Church to make the children an integral part of our worship and the Kirk Session encourage them to participate in communion with their parents/guardians.


Kirk Choir
The Kirk Choir plays an important part in the worship at every Sunday morning service. They lead the congregation's singing and help in the learning of new songs. At most services they sing an introit or anthem. The choice of music varies from the traditional to the modern. Rehearsals are held every Sunday at 10am. New members are made most welcome.

The Guild  "Motto - Whose We Are and Whom We Serve"
Whitburn South Parish Church Guild has an active membership and meet on the second and fourth Thursday evening of every month between September and May. The Guild offer a wide and varied syllabus which includes the ongoing Guild Project, speakers whose topics relate to the Guild theme, demonstrations, musical evenings and other practical activities. The Guild also support many charitable organisations through fund raising events. The annual day outing organised each year in May is always well attended. Whilst new members are always made welcome, an invitation is extended to anyone who wishes to attend and share in any of the Guild evenings. The Guild of Whitburn South have twinned with St. Bryce Kirk Old in Kirkcaldy.


Boys Brigade    For boys aged 5 years to 19 years
"Object: The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among boys by the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Manliness"
1st Whitburn Company. All sections of The Company meet on Wednesday evenings during school term time. The Company offers a varied achievement programme for boys aged 5 to 19 years of age. The Company is very active within West Lothian Battalion and assists by running some Battalion events and also support many charitable organisations through fund raising events.
Anchor Boy Section (P1 - P3, 6:20pm to 7:50pm)
Junior Section (P4- P6, 6:20pm to 7:50pm)
Company Section (P7 - S1 Upwards, 7:30pm to 9:30pm)


Girls Brigade - For girls aged 5 years to 17 years 
"Motto - Seek, Serve and Follow"
1st Whitburn Company. All sections of The Company meet on Tuesday evenings during school term time. The company offers a varied achievement programme and plays an active part in the life of the Church and community as well as supporting charities relating to young people. Explorers Section 6:15pm to 7:30pm and Junior and Brigader Sections 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Prayer Group
Prayer should be at the heart of the life of the Christian. As well as prayer at worship the prayer group meet regularly in the Church Hall. This being an informal group everyone is welcome. The group meet together and share information for prayer for those in need, for the work of the Church and the world. A prayer diary is issued two or three times a year.


South Kirk Singers
The Singers comprise of regular worshippers who meet weekly on a Sunday evenings between September and May to rehearse and share fellowship. They have performed many concerts throughout Scotland's central belt and support many charitable organisations through fund raising events. The Singers hold their annual concert in May.

Womens' Fellowship
This group within the Church allows women of all ages to meet to share faith, fellowship and fun. They meet on the first Thursday of each month where they enjoy a varied syllabus including speakers, demonstrations and practical activities.


Craft Group
The craft group meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 10am -12noon in the church hall. Time to share in fellowship and try your hand at making different crafts. You don't have to be experts - come along and try something new.


Friday Coffee Morning
Each Friday between 10am and 12noon a coffee morning is held in the church halls. Drop in for a cuppa, home baking and a blether with friends. You will be made most welcome.


The Burgh of Whitburn

Whitburn is situated mid-way between Edinburgh and Glasgow and has a population of around 11,000. It was once a small local mining community and staging centre but has grown over the years and now has the fourth largest population in the county of West Lothian with a significant amount of the working population commuting to work in Livingston, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Whitburn has excellent access to the national transportation network i.e. Edinburgh and Glasgow international airports being approximately 30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively via the M8 motorway, which passes the town, rail network access via two nearby railway stations, plus limited stop express coach travel to the major towns.

Approx 4,600 of the Burgh’s population live within the parish boundaries of Whitburn South Church but there are plans to erect a large housing development of 2,000 houses within the next 5 to 10 years.

Whitburn South Parish Church is one of two Church of Scotland Churches which serve the town.

 
Schools in Whitburn

There are four local Primary schools within the Burgh – three non-denominational and one Roman Catholic. Two of the non-denominational – Croftmalloch and Polkemmet – fall within our parish boundaries as does the RC primary school and a secondary behaviour unit – Burnhouse School – which caters for pupils from all parts of West Lothian who have behaviour problems and cannot be catered for in local secondary schools.

There is also a secondary school – Whitburn Academy – where a joint chaplaincy with Brucefield Church is established.