Maybole Gala Week 2011 got off to an uplifting start on Sunday, June 5, with a united open air service in the ruins of Crossraguel Abbey. Rev Brian Hendrie, minister of Maybole Parish Church and chairman of Maybole Council of Churches, welcomed everyone to the service. Having been inducted only last October, this was Mr Hendrie’s first Crossraguel service and he introduced representatives from local churches who had chosen the hymns for the day.

 

These included Gwen May, Baptist Church; Cathy Massei, Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s Church; Lillias McFarlane, Maybole Parish Church; and Rev Anne Tomlinson, St Oswald’s Church. Prayers were led by Fr Philip Kitchen and Rev Ian Meredith with Rev Tom McVicar reading the Gospel. The Rt Rev Gregor Duncan, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway, thanked everyone for the opportunity to be with them and gave the Benediction.

 

This was also the first public engagement for Ryan Speirs and Jacqui Gibson who will be crowned Gala King and Queen of Carrick this coming Saturday during the town’s annual gala. The Council of Churches would like to thank everyone who organised and participated in the service with special thanks to Historic Scotland who gave permission to use the Abbey precincts.