Funds needed to publish book on history of church
Memories of a Rutherglen church are set to be captured forever in a new book – if amateur historians can secure funding.
The Royal Burgh of Rutherglen History Group are looking to release a guide to St Columbkille’s church, filled with anecdotes and tales from the congregation over the years.
Having worked on the project during lockdown, they are now close to being able to release it, with £1500 needed to ensure the manuscript is edited, laid out and published.
They are currently just under £500 short of their target, having only started campaigning earlier this month.
Geraldine Baird MBE, a member of the history group who also runs the Auld Rutherglen Facebook page for sharing past memories of the Royal Burgh, believes the book would be a fitting tribute to St Columbkille’s.
She explained: “We are really just a group of parishioners and some other locals who got together to keep out of mischief, and because we are interested in history. That was back in 2018.
“It’s over 30 years now since there was anything written about St Columbkille’s and we started thinking that should change. So it started out as an idea for a pamphlet and then grew into becoming a book.
“We decided it would be written in sections, so the first part is on the history of the church in Rutherglen, then a section on who has been involved in the church over the years, and lastly we have parishioners’ memories.
“It is something that is written by the
community and is for the community.”
Geraldine insists that although the book will cover the history of St Columbkille’s, the group were determined to make sure it was not simply a dull listing of what happened to the church over the years.
She explained: “This book is not a dry long-winded historical account.
“Yes, it is partly history, but we also write about some very funny and amusing memories that people have there – those
memories are the things that you want to capture before they are gone for good.”
The group continue to meet regularly, having switched their meetings to Zoom calls during the coronavirus pandemic, and Geraldine believes the club has been terrific over the years.
She said: “It has really helped to break down social isolation and been something we can all focus on. Rutherglen has a fascinating history and we all love the
Burgh. Davy Jackson, who passed away last year (aged 74), was brilliant in the group.
“He has been sorely missed and hopefully the book being published would be a nice tribute to him.”
The book is non-profit and all funds from their online appeal will go towards publication costs.
Visit : www.gofundme.com/f/help-thest-columbkilles-church-history-group for more details on the fundraiser.