The establishment of a congregation and minister did not take long to put into effect but the provision of their won suite of buildings that took a wee bit longer. In the interim the congregation met for Worship in Giffnock Courthouse which then was attached to Giffnock Police Station in Braidholm Road. It still is a Police Station and Courthouse to this day.
For the next 2 years the small but enthusiastic congregation continued to meet for worship in this unorthodox setting until the construction of the Hall/Church at the present site in Ravenscliffe drive. The Building consisted of a Large Hall, Vestry and Small Kitchen. It served a dual function for the meeting for Worship on Sunday mornings and their use by the congregation and various organisations throughout the week. Wedding parties may well remember the physical difficulties in signing the Register, for example. This by today’s standards had limited accommodation but would effectively be the first of three phases of Building. In the meantime the congregation became very used to and adept at moving the church’s furnishings around in order to adapt to every occasion.

The Rev David McMahon eventually received a call to a new charge and in 1945 the Rev Theodore M.G. Lamb was inducted and over the next 10 years oversaw the next phase of building when the Church Halls were extended to their current size now. In 1956 the Rev R.T. Hassal came to be the minister at what was then Orchard Park Church. Of the 6 ministers appointed to serve as Parish minister His woud be the shortest term of office lasting only 3 years.

Helpful though the extended accommodation had been, it became clear that this was not the final solution and so with the start of the 1960’s there also began a new ministry under the leadership of the Rev. David Norwood. The decision was to retain the old Church using it as Hall accommodation whilst a new Orchard Park Church Building would be built alongside the existing Church halls. With the Rev Norwood’s guidance, the congregation set about the task of raising the capitol for this new build project. Their efforts were given further encouragement when with the granting of permission for the work to project to proceed, it was accompanied by the promise of financial Assistance from Glasgow Presbytery.

 

 

Whilst the members of this young church applied themselves to their task with characteristic commitment of effort and money, a church in the centre of the city with a long and distinguished record of service to its community was coming to the end of its active life. The Park Church on the North side of the River Clyde in Glasgow was to be closed and Presbytery decided that its funds should go to help this younger striving congregation. This was a fitting gesture as the Park Church had a long standing tradition of interest in Outreach to the suburban communities. Events moved swiftly from the laying of the Foundation Stone in the October of 1965 and almost exactly a year later when the congregations of the Park and the Orchard Park were united under its new name – The Park Church Giffnock. On the Sunday 6th November 1966 the Presbytery of Glasgow held a Service to Dedicate the new Park Church in Giffnock, the new congregation meeting for the first time for Public Worship in this their new sanctuary building. This new Sanctuary had become a skilful blend of old and new using some of the Stained glass windows and wood panelling from the Old Park Church which has enhanced the Modern look of the building in its simplicity of design. This was enhanced by its furnishings through the many generous gifts from past and present members. The “new” church would continue to flourish over the next 11 years until Rev David Norwood followed a Call to a new Charge in Lisbon in Portugal.

In the October of 1974 Rev Mike Gibson was Ordained and Inducted into what would be his first and only Charge. He would faithfully serve the congregation fulfilling his term of office at the Park Church as its longest serving Minister, serving for a period of some 26 years before retiring and moving to Yorkshire with his family.

In the August of 2001 , Glasgow Presbytery inducted the Rev Calum D. Macdonald to the Park Church where he remains to date as its Parish Minister. Serving as Parish Minister previously in Saltcoats in North Ayrshire for 8 years he has been the minister here in Giffnock these past 17 years. The terms of these 6 ministries has spanned a period of over 75 years and the congregation over that time led by its ministers have remained faithful in their service to God and the community in which they live.

That’s the story so far , but the story continues and we look forward to the blessing of God in the future and the challenges of sharing our faith and demonstrating faith in action to all around the Giffnock Area and beyond - where all are welcome to share in the future that awaits.