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Kirk of Calder
is a 16th Century Church built on the site of an earlier
12th Century Church.
Today's Church is the Parish
Church for Mid Calder and Pumpherston; it has a active
congregation with services each Sunday.
During the summer months, it
opens between 2 and 4pm to allow visitors the
opportunity to view and learn some of its long and
fascinating history with guides on hand to provide tours.
The Church is part of the local
community, a place of worship and where its history and its
rich heritage are shared.
A Church has stood
on the site since the 12th century. Kirk of Calder, The
present church dates from 1541 with an extension added in
the 1860s. Two carved stone Celtic crosses, survive from the
original Church, one is on display within the Church.
The Church has close links with the Reformation and John
Knox was a regular preacher and one of its ministers
helped draft the Scots Confession of 1560. The first
reformed communion after the Reformation took place in
nearby Calder house.
The Church was also at the centre of persecution, and
at least 5 women were tried and convicted under the
witchcraft act. Information about these events is
available in the Church.
The Church was also a place of
worship for Frederic Chopin during his time in Scotland.
James ‘Paraffin’ Young and his family were regular
worshipers and the family later donated a number of fine
stain glass widows. It is believed that the explorer
David Livingston also visited the Church. Call to
worship is made each Sunday by the 17th century
Rotterdam bell.
"The
Friends of Kirk of Calder" open the church to visitors 2- 4pm on
Sundays, May to September and the Co-ordinator is Mr. John Jamieson
01506-411722.
For those who can't visit John Jamieson has
prepared a 14minute long Virtual Tour you can view
here or
click the image.
We were fortunate this last season to host a special exhibition within
the Kirk by a separate organisation called "The
Calder Witch Hunt ". The Kirk was the actual setting for some of the
trials and even where some of the "witches" were tried and tortured.
We are negotiating to host this again in the 2023 season
More details here
E
The Kirk minutes and Witch Hunt Exhibition
The Calder Witch Hunt have a comic book created by
brilliantly talented artist Caitlyn Bannatyne and it tells the stories
of the people who were affected by the Calder Witch Hunt.
 
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Over the next 3 years,
Kirk of Calder is embarking on a fundraising campaign to raise
£60,000 for property and maintenance work at the Church, Glenalmond
Hall, and the Manse.
This will also help to support the church mission and its ability to
deliver pastoral services in the local community and beyond, for example
with the future installation of a new sound and audio system to enhance
the online streaming of Church services and events.
ReGen 2025 will also focus on extending friendship and fellowship
both within the Church and local area in this post Covid era. It will
aim to create the infrastructure to attract a new minister when
permitted to do so.
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ReGen2025 Total raised now £17,315
(@ 8th April 2023)
Future events
Jazz night in the Church - Friday 19th May 2023
Sing-a-long Glenalmond Hall Thur 25 May 7:00pm
Gala Sunday Stall in Park - 28th May 2023
Gala Day Stall - Saturday 3rd June 2023
Highlights Concert Friday 23rd June 2023 at 7:30pm
in the Church
Kiltwalk Sunday 17th September 2023
Recent Events
Easter Fair 8th April 2023 raised
£1,106
(for more photos see the
Fundraising Page)
Easter Sunday - Easter Bonnet Competition
and
Easter Breakfast - 9th April 2023
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Pop In Café
– Every Tuesday from 10am – 12pm at the Glenalmond Hall. Tea,
coffee, soft drinks, and cake all proceeds to ReGen 2025 project.
Everyone welcome
To donate online to the cause....
Visit the Fundraising page to see earlier
REGEN 2025 activities
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View to Rear Balcony
The Kirk in 1547
Inside view of the Bell Tower
Some Pew Graffiti
Inside view
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Service every Sunday at 10:30am
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Next Service Sunday
21st May 2023 at 10:30 - :
Rev. Dr Brenda Robson
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Teas and Coffee in the Glenalmond Hall after the service -all
welcome.
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Sunday Club for 4 to 11
year olds every Sunday- Meet in the church
at 10:30 then go on to the Glenalmond Hall for pick up at 11:30pm
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| The Sunday Opening of the Kirk
(including the Calder Witch Hunt Exhibition) has now reopened
Sundays 2pm to 4pm.
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| A box for Donations for the West
Lothian Foodbank and toiletries for Dignity Box can
both be left at the main door.
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| Andrew McLeman, James Hendrie and
William Brown have achieved 30 years service as Elders at
Kirk of Calder and the award of Long Service Certificates.
Andrew and James received theirs from the Rev Jonanda Groenewald
at the service on 14th May 2023. William will receive his later
this month
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| Anyone willing to join a
Congregational Working Party carrying out small jobs at the
church and manse please contact Jim Hendrie
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A great new drone picture
(Page banner and above) of
the Kirk by local Droneography expert Liam Bullerwell who has
kindly agreed that it can be reproduced here
If you click the picture above
you can see Liam's Video
Drone Fly Past of the Church lasting 38 seconds. Please note
it takes a little while to load or it will buffer so its best to let
it load fully first before playing!
We are without a
minister at present , our Interim Moderator is Rev. Nanda Groenewald (The present minister of Polbeth Harwood and
West Kirk of Calder) She can be contacted by telephone
07846 539 841 or by e-mail at
jonandagroenewald@gmail.com
View
West Lothian Council Memorial Service 16th September 2022 Slideshow Pics
38 seconds long click here https://fb.watch/fBTtaeYJ3O/
View West Lothian
Council Memorial Service for the Queen on 16th September 2022 (click link) 48
minutes long https://fb.watch/fBUtCjJK8O/
Kirk of Calder service
for Sunday 18th September 2022
- Gordon Pennykid can be viewed at the link below.
https://fb.watch/fPeiaQrUDx/
Previous weekly services can be accessed
here
(If anyone can't access this
the sermons are also available on DVD's- contact Eleanor Blair 01506
881302) Please Note - not all services are recorded
Updated Presbytery Info
November 2022
On the 15th November
the Edinburgh and West Lothian Presbytery approved the
Presbytery Mission Plan to be submitted to he Church of Scotland
General Trustees for review and approval. It is anticipated
assuming no substantial changes are required by the General
Trustees, that the plan will be returned to the Edinburgh and
West Lothian Presbytery for final release at their 22nd February
2023 meeting. At that point permissions to call ministers, unite
churches etc will be forthcoming. |
The Guild
meet on the second and fourth Thursdays
(Sept-Nov and Feb-April)- now in the afternoon
at 2pm in the Glenalmond Hall
The Choral Highlights Choir
meet on Wednesday evenings in the Church at
7:30pm
New members welcome. Contact John Rankine 01506 880029
The Choir sing a selection of Traditional Scottish Songs Pop-up Sing
along
including Street Songs lasting 16 minutes. Click
here
or on image below
Kirk of Calder Giving
Please consider that the Kirk of Calder
relies on regular giving and if you have not already set up a
direct
debit or standing order please do so now. Most banks allow you to
set up a single payment online then convert it into a regular
monthly payment. Alternatively you can download a form
here
Very Important if you are a UK taxpayer
(even many pensioners pay tax!) the Kirk gets 25% extra on top of
your payment from the Government as “Gift Aid” - provided you
complete the form for this
here
Bank details - Account Name: “KIRK OF
CALDER GENERAL ACCOUNT” Account No.: 10047047 Sort Code: 82-66-22
(Virgin Money, Livingston)
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Please visit the Photo
Gallery to see all aspects of the Church
r
Windows and altar
For More photos visit the Kirk's Photo
Gallery
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