The members of Blantyre Old Parish Church knew exactly what was going on in the world on the day that their former church hall was opened in November, 1891.
For when the demolition contractors moved in during 1989 to knock down the hall they found six newspapers behind the date stone. Session clerk at the time, Tom McLean had studied the church records and knew that mementos had been placed behind the stone.
Newspapers during 1989, as provided here by Tom’s daughter Anne document the event well.
He said: “We had expected to find some coins and other mementoes but only the papers were there. However, we are delighted, particularly as they are in very good condition. We hope to put copies of them, together with today’s newspapers, in our new building.”
The newspapers included a Hamilton Herald, Glasgow Weekly Mail and the Scotsman. The papers reported a major earthquake in Japan; an explosion in a Motherwell mine — and the demise of the Anti-Swearing Society in Blantyre! (which I’ve previously found only started the previous month)
Mr McLean’s records show that the first stone in the old hall was laid by Grand Master of 557 Masonic Lodge and that 18 lodges marched to the opening ceremony, a story I’ve told in detail very recently here on Blantyre Project.
The ceremony itself was carried out by Old Parish Church minister Charles Scrimgeour Turnbull and former grand master, Colonel Clark Forrest. Money for the old hall was raised by public subscription and a substantial sum was raised at a fair in Hamilton Town Hall.
Mr McLean added: “The present church is the third, the first being built in 1567 on the site of the present graveyard. However, the hall built in 1891 was the first hall for the Old Parish Church.”
Plans for the new, (current) hall at that time were well advanced and it was hoped to start building work in May 1990, with a completion date in October.
Mr McLean said: “We were sorry that the old hall had to be knocked down to make way for the re-alignment of the road, particularly as it was just two years short of its centenary. However, things must move forward and we hope to leave a splendid hall for future generations of church members.”
