Free Church makeover

FORT FREE CHURCH TRANSFORMED

Iain Ferguson Since it was built in 1846, Fort William Free Church of Scotland, the town’s oldest church, hadn’t seen many changes to the inside of its granite building and until recently had retained many original features. However, the interior of the building has undergone a complete transformation over the past two years, resulting in a bright, contemporary place of worship. By comparing the ‘before and after’ images of the church interior, the changes are impressive.

What makes this refurbishment even more remarkable is the unselfish generosity of the individuals involved in the project. Monetary donations, locally and from around the world helped to buy materials, allowing much of the joinery, plumbing and redecoration to be voluntarily carried out by members of the congregation and local community. The design plans were drawn up by a local architect and generously donated to the church, the local Men’s Shed was commissioned with making the new pulpit and the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce kindly donated the wall art featuring Psalm 121, which was provided by local company Allround Signs.

As a result of the hard work and dedication, the church now boasts a modern, welcoming worship space with comfortable seating. Large, folding doors create a full width glass partition at the back of the church separating the main hall from the vestibule/ communal meeting room. There is a new modern kitchen with tables and chairs which provides an inviting space to welcome visitors to an after service cup of tea and fellowship. The toilet has also been relocated from the basement of the church to the same upper level and has disability access.

Due to the flexibility of being able to stack and rearrange the individual seats and the ability to fully open the folding glass doors, the larger open space makes the building an attractive venue for hire to locals and visitors. If you would like more information on using the church as your venue please get in touch by email at fortwilliamfreechurch@gmail. com

Although the church is currently without a resident minister, you are warmly invited to attend our weekly 11am Sunday services conducted by visiting ministers and speakers. Details are available on the church website https:// fortwilliamfreechurch.co.uk

RED ROOFS IMAGES OF SUCCESS

Iain Ferguson In recognition of the anniversary of Fort William’s Highland Cinema a competition was launched to reflect its iconic red roof with pictures of red roofed buildings from anywhere in Scotland.

This was very successful with 360 entries from a total of 162 people which gave the judges not only a lot to look at, but much discussion on the exceptional quality of images. Selections were made ‘blind’ with no idea of who had taken the picture and by sheer chance 1st and second places went to Father and daughter Peter and Francesca Rose from Roybridge with third place awarded to Innes Newton from Acharacle.

Peter’s entry, Loch a Bhàigh, Berneray, took the top prize of £500, sponsored by The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh.His stunning, vibrant photograph depicts a garden shed with a red roof sitting amongst restored croft buildings in Berneray in the Outer Hebrides.

Francesca submitted a captivating and atmospheric forest photograph featuring a multilevel red roof on the Brackletter Road between Spean Bridge and Fort William. Her reward was £300, sponsored by Highland Cinema.

Innes produced a panoramic, charming View, capturing a famous red roof in Wester Ross in beautiful conditions. The third prize of £200 was sponsored by Resipole Studios and Fine Art Gallery, Acharacle.

In addition to the three winners, 17 runners-up were also chosen, each of whom wins £100, sponsored by Angus MacDonald, the owner of the iconically red-roofed Highland Cinema in Fort William and the creative force behind the idea for the competition.

All 20 winners and runners-up photographs have now been printed and are on display in the Highland Cinema for everyone to view and enjoy.

They can also be seen on the Highland Cinema website now at www.highlandcinema. co.uk/redroofcompetition

When the turkey and trimmings are cleared away and we have toasted in the New Year many people view their waistline and start trying to diet. January is a boom time for gym membership start ups. In fact the only thing young people in Scotland seem to join is a gym. Youth organisations find it hard to get young people join up and as for churches, even old people are fewer in the pews, and consequently church buildings are being shut down all over Scotland.

So I was encouraged to hear from my sister in Northern Ireland, that they had just attended a church service conducted by ‘the youth’. She tells me the problem with their churches’ Friday night youth club is overcrowding, with about a hundred attending.

What are we Christians in Scotland doing wrong? Perhaps that question should be what are we not doing right? Over the last 16 years I have been happy to deliver church magazines to homes where no-one attends. Some elderly and infirm people can’t do so, and may be glad of a visit from elder or minister to pray with them. But have we allowed a culture to develop where people think they are Christians if their name is on a church membership list but never publicly worship God?

People who do attend church must take some responsibility for our own behaviour. Some have told me they have been hurt by other Christians and just want to avoid them, and that is the saddest thing to hear.

Thankfully the writer of the last book in the Bible tells us of a wonderful future we call Heaven:

“The Main Street of the city was pure gold.. but there was no sign of a temple, for the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple… The nations will walk in its light”

What a lovely motto for all in 2023.

Walk in the light !!

Now well settled in to its surroundings, the fi rst turf was cut for the new Acharacle Primary school on 14th

January 2008. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, The Write Image

* all types of UPvc work * exterior Painting * Cladding * Gutterings * Down Pipes * windows and eaves * Facias and Soffits

Tel 01397 712120 or 0755 311 1093

Painters & Decorators

For High Quality Workmanship

ames Taping, Coving, airless Spray, New Builds Commercial, industrial & Domestic

Sollas, Bunree, Onich, FOrT williaM Ph33 6Se Mob 0780 335 7221 Tel: 01855 818026

Established 1988

M & L

LANDSCAPING

WE ARE SPECIALISTS

IN LANDSCAPING

AND DRIVEWAYS

ALL TYPES OF LANDSCAPING FENCING / GARDENING /TREES ETC PATIOS / CONCRETE / SLABBING BLOCKING PAVING Pressure Washing on all outside building works No Job too Big or too Small | 7 day Cooling off Period

Tel 01397 712120 & 07553 111093 FOR A FREE QUOTATION

(FOrT williaM) lTD.

YOUR ONE STOP LOCAL BUSINESS FOR ALL HIRE EQUIPMENT

• PLANT & TOOL HIRE • DIY / GARDEN TOOLS & EQUIPMENT • DIGGERS / DUMPERS • ROLLERS / MIXERS • POWERTOOLS • PRESSURE WASHERS • CARPET CLEANERS • ALLOY TOWER SCAFFOLDING & LADDERS • TRAILERS • SMALL PLANT SERVICE & REPAIRS • DELIVERY SERVICE • SPECIAL WEEKEND RATES AVAILABLE CONTACT US

Website: www.hirecentreltd.com Email: info@hirecentreltd.com

TEL: 01397 700077 FAX: 01397 701664

Unit 32, Ben Nevis Ind Estate, Fort William PH33 6PR

Open Mon – Fri 0730 - 1700

an ornate metal gate guards an electricity sub-station, but where? LAST MONTH: a really easy one for Christmas. Laggan Dam

LIGHT UP THE LOCKS

Last October a light and laser show at Neptune’s Staircase was staged to mark the 200th anniversary of the Caledonian Canal. This attracted a crowd of spectators and even a wedding couple to join in the spectacle.

However in December 2000, the same area looked equally as spectacular without the hi-tech, but with a few lights under the lock gates and cascading water.

Photographs by The Write Image, Abrightside Photography and Bill Cameron

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS WITH SOUP AND CHAT

Joan MacKintosh While many people were getting ready to wrap-up warmly for Guy Fawkes Night several volunteers were already in full operation and welcoming all-comers into good company at Fort William Kilmallie - Duncansburgh Church.

Warm Space Soup Saturdays began on 5th November in MacIntosh Hall at the church from 11am until 2pm. The idea is for a warm welcoming space to enjoy company, chat, a bowl of soup and a cup of tea or coff ee. In their fi rst 3 weeks they had served about 70 bowls of soup, but we know there are more people in the area who may benefi t from some company and who doesn’t love a bowl of homemade soup?

The soup is made on the premises, by volunteers who have undertaken a level 2 hygiene qualifi cation and the ingredients and rolls and biscuits are provided thanks to some generous donations.

There are newspapers, board games and jigsaws, if people fancy lingering to enjoy them and also information and some practical items to help keep warm this winter, such as blankets, hot water bottles and thermal socks. We also have free WiFi. People are welcome to pop in quickly for some soup or stay as long as they feel comfortable.

This idea is being replicated across the country to help us all through what could be a very tough winter. It is not aimed at any particular group but at all of us as a community, to come together to help each other. Maybe you know someone who would benefi t – why not invite them along and visit together?

Or maybe weekends drag for you and you would like a wee bit company yourself. Maybe you would like to help, by being a soup maker or helping serve and chatting to visitors. Whatever your reason, you’ll receive a warm welcome if you come along – MacIntosh Hall, Duncansburgh Church, The Parade, Fort William.

If you would like any more information, please email fortwilliamkilmalliecofs@ gmail.com

K

Trees

Ktrees Ltd offers a professional and comprehensive Arboricultural and tree surgery service With over 10 years experience in the business No job too big or too small Give us a phone for a free quotation Available in Lochaber & surrounding areas 07827 515023