Interim moderator. Rev. Anna Rodwell. 01573 440761
Locum Minister: Rev. Anna Rodwell. 01573 440761
Session Clerk: Lt.Col. Colin Hogg. 01835 863368
Church Treasurer: Miss Fiona Geddes. 01835 865106.
Email: Fionageddes@crba.co.uk
Parish Page editor.
Mrs Fiona Ralston. 01835 840600
Elders.
Mrs Ann Fraser. 01835 863020
Mr Rob Young. (fabric convener) 01835 862181
Mr Douglas Cairns. 01835 864777
Mrs Jan Scott. 01835 840225
Mrs Moira Land. (presbytery elder.)01835 864776
Mrs Valerie Hunter. (Sunday School.) 01835 840358
Mrs. Geraldine Strickland. 01835 830650
Please call one of the above nos. or E mail, rather than E mail this website, if you would like further information.
At our session meeting last night, 7/3/11, our retiring session clerk, Mr Scott Elliot, handed over to Rev. Anna Rodwell, who we are delighted to have as our new interim moderator. Many thanks to Scott for holding this office for the last 2 years, & we hope to see him back at Oxnam when he has a spare Sunday.
Many thanks to Fiona, our treasurer, for once again producing our accounts, & all the work involved. We are most grateful.
A message from our retiring session clerk. Hugh Fraser.
As this is the last article I will write as Session Clerk I must acknowledge with gratitude all the help I have had since 1998 from everyone connected with Oxnam. No-one could have had better support and I am glad Session has found such an able successor in Colin Hogg. My best wishes go to him, I will do my best to make the ‘hand over’ as seamless as possible. Good luck Colin! Au revoir is not goodbye!
Hugh Fraser
We are all extremely grateful to Hugh, assisted by Ann, for all his hard work as session clerk. He has steered us through various interim moderators, but remained steadfast in keeping Oxnam independant, with a rising membership, & the finances & the building in good heart. We shall endeavour to continue this good work, & hopefully, very soon, resolve the issue of our locum minister.
Thank you, Hugh, for all your hard work & commitment, & we shall enjoy having you on the back benches for many years to come!
KIRK HOSPITALITY
For the past 11 years, on the first Sunday of each month, members of the congregation have enjoyed fellowship with their coffee and biscuits in the vestry. This enjoyable interlude has only been possible because of the faithful service of Elizabeth Darling and Betty Turnbull who took on responsibility for this task right from the start. They very discreetly get themselves into the vestry in time for hot coffee to be available at the end of the service. A big thank you to these ladies who not only make and serve the coffee but also take home all the crockery for the washing up!
NEW ELDER
The Kirk Session is delighted to have recently welcomed Col. Colin Hogg of Mounthooly as a new elder.
Colin was admitted as an elder at Oxnam Kirk during a service on Sunday 30th August. He had already been ordained a ruling elder and admitted to Office in the Congregation of The King’s Own Scottish Borderers in January 1979.
Colin was brought up at Kersmains Farm near Roxburgh and worshipped at Roxburgh Kirk which for many years was linked with Oxnam. The Reverend Bill Thompson being the Minister.
He joined The King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 1962 and was Commissioned from Mons Officer Cadet School in 1965. He saw service in the Middle East, Far East and the British Army of the Rhine including Berlin. He taught at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and Commanded the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers amongst many other appointments.
On leaving the Regular Army in 1991 he became the Regimental Secretary of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Berwick-upon-Tweed until December 2008.
Colin, his Wife Cynthia and two daughters (Vanessa and Sarah Jane) moved into Mounthooly in 1987. Vanessa was married in Oxnam Kirk in June 2007 and in December 2008 her son, George, was christened at Oxnam. Vanessa and her husband live in London and Sarah Jane lives just outside Hawick.
In 2005 Colin was awarded the OBE for his work with SSAFA Forces Help. He is a Trustee and Honorary Director of Poppyscotland. Since 1986 he has been a member of The Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland, The Royal Company of Archers and in 1995 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
PRESBYTERY
Presbytery meets approximately once a month with a break in the summer. Many important issues are discussed, deliberated, argued and voted upon. Different committees meet regularly to discuss business such as ministers log books, inspection of records, insurance, proposed sales of property e.g. manse in Hawick. They have set rules which of course in time are reviewed and reformed.
Latest developments of interest for Oxnam Kirk is the arrival of a new Minister, Rev. Dougal Nicol, to Hobkirk and Southdean linked with Ruberslaw. The induction was held on Friday 12th June at Hobkirk with a very enjoyable social evening in the village hall.
The Presbytery has also decided to bring forward Oxnam’s five yearly visit. This consists of a panel, usually four members of Presbytery, visiting Oxnam Kirk to find out the views of the congregation and session, to ascertain their hopes, aspirations and difficulties. This will take place in the next two to three months and the congregation is urged to give some thought to their Church so they can express their views to the visiting committee. They can also contact their elder and/or minister if they would prefer. Younger members of the congregation and children are encouraged to give their opinions.
The Presbytery is aware of and fully approves of the toilet plans but now wishes to have a fully costed business plan drawn up by the Kirk Session. This will include all fabric works proposed to take place over e.g. the next ten years. This has to be drawn up and costed by early August 2009.
We would welcome any views expressed by members and congregation.
Moira Land
KIRK IMPROVEMENTS 2010
It is very satisfying at last to be able to report real progress with Kirk improvements. Scott Collins has done a great job to its interior and has also painted the outside porch and vestry doors.
Work is now well advanced on the toilet. At the time of writing only the fitting and finishing of the inside remain to be done.
We will be asking for volunteers to make a wheelchair friendly path from the vestry round to the toilet to if anyone has the tools and time to help with this task please contact Rob Young or myself. Doing it this way will keep the cost down and make the Kirk’s money stretch a lot further in enhancing and repairing its exterior.
We have recently put protective glass over the south facing windows for a lot less than we feared it might have cost so now the north aisle windows can be considered for similar treatment.
Everyone would like the rest of the building to look as sparkling white as the west gable but Session will have to consider very carefully how it can be done. Do we take a loan or can we get a grant and, if so, where? Your views are very important to us so don’t be afraid to make them known. The job would be best done all at once but what will it cost? We must budget carefully before we act but we will keep you up-to-date with our decisions.
It all sounds a bit daunting but we are confident of your support if we act sensibly. Oxnam Kirk is surely worth the effort.