Church extends hand of friendship to MSP
The people of Rutherglen offered a hand of friendship to the burgh’s newest MSP as Clare Haughey attended West and Wardlawhill Church.
Clare visited the church’s Friendship Cafe on Tuesday, August 23 as part of a wider project launched by the Church of Scotland, which encourages its members to get to know their elected representatives.
Clare was treated to some delicious food at the cafe and met regular customers, as well as some new faces.
Ian Duncan of the church said: “As session clerk I was pleased to welcome Clare Haughey and her office administrator, Gerry, to join the people of the West of Rutherglen who meet regularly on Tuesday mornings for some of the best home baking in the burgh and rolls n’sausage, tea and coffee and right good blether.
“West and Wardlawhill wanted to be involved in the initiative at the early stages as we are a congregation that always includes the local community in as many activities as possible which includes welcoming many local groups into the kirk since the closure of the local Burnhill Sports centre.”
The visit was instigated by the Church of Scotland and Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO) with a view to building links between congregations and their recently elected MSPs.
The SCPO want church communities to be at the heart of the decisions that affect their everyday lives and asked all 129 MSPs to take part in the project over the summer recess.
It has been deemed a great success.